Resume help - desperate!

[TooHotToThink]

Can someone give me some guidance with my resume please?

I'm trying to return to work after a period spent mostly studying and looking after children. My varied history mean I can't market myself as anything in particular, and I have no idea how to pull something consistent and useful out of what I've done. I became a single parent a few months ago and desperately need to find work.

Starting from what I've done most recently and working backwards:

• a couple of short contracts in occupation A (from 2 to 9 months long)
  
• a degree in occupation B
  
• several years caring for children
  
• a diploma in occupation C
  
• 9 years working in occupation D
  
• a degree in occupation D
  
• earlier retail work which is too old to use as relevant experience
  

I have suspected undiagnosed autism and can't cope with continuing to do occupation A. It required intense face to face interactions and getting to know people very well, and it turned me into a non-functional anxious wreck.
Occupation B has had a severe funding cut, is not particularly family friendly, and I can no longer access graduate positions because of when I graduated. I have tried and failed to find work in the field.
Occupation C might be a possibility for freelancing but will take time to build up and I need work NOW.
I can no longer work in occupation D due to registration requirements.

If I put all of that in my resume I look like a flake. If I only put in what is relevant to whatever I'm applying for my resume looks very gappy.

My plan had been to move into occupation B and supplement my income with occupation C. That hasn't worked out. I need to find something predictable, family friendly, and preferably not customer facing or involving being around people who are eating.

Help!

[Deathraystare]

Not much help but unless you are American please don't call it a resume!
One of the lovely , clever other mumsnetters with be along in a minute!

[SherryRB]

Are you able to share what these various occupations are? It might help us to pull some patterns or threads for you. What do you enjoy doing? What are you good at? What could you do all day? Do you know what sort of work you want to do now? What bits of the various occupations can you use to demonstrate HOW or WHY you will be good at that work? Or you could use as examples?

hope that helps somewhat.
Sherry

[TooHotToThink]

Oh no, I didn't see that people had responded!

I'm in Australia. Resume and CV seem to be pretty interchangeable here.

To give you an idea of the occupations:
A) teacher aide
B) science area
C) editing/proofreading
D) health area

I'm good at C and it would allow me to work from home and not have to interact with people very much, but there are a lot of steps needing to be taken before it can become viable (including networking). Rubbish executive function makes for a slow, laborious journey to self-employment. If I can get it happening it would be ideal, as it would meet my need for predictability, minimal people contact, and flexibility around children and my own emotional variability.

I really struggle with finding common threads between the various areas. I don't generalise very well. I've also found that HR people are really blinkered; on the few occasions when I've managed to go to interviews armed with examples of how my previous job related to the one I've applied for, their attitude has always been that because it wasn't specifically X job then it wasn't relevant.

At this point I'm looking for something like stacking shelves in a supermarket or putting orders together in a back room somewhere, but I can't even get an interview

[NotCitrus]

Hm. Try looking for examples of a skills-based CV, and listing your work under headings like use of scientific knowledge, report writing and editing, etc?
Maybe a para explaining what you are looking for and what skills and expertise you have to back that up?

I'm in similar place but at least getting interviews...

[AnneDee]

Hello. I'm not au fait with the specifics of the labour market in Australia, but I'd suggest that when giving examples of your skills, try to focus on the skills you think would be most valuable to the particular role/employer to which you're applying. For the kinds of roles you've mentioned, things like attention to detail and reliability spring to mind.

Are you applying mostly with a CV/resume and covering letter, or applications forms?

It might not always be easy or practical, but finding someone to approach other than the HR department can be another way in. Rather than immediately asking them for a job, try to find out as much as you can about the work and what they're looking for, which will help you to target your CV as much as possible.
Good luck!

[PO25]

Hi TooHotToThink

Firstly, you need to sit down do a quick career assessment of what you really want to do instead of what you have done in the past.

As someone who took a career break and then returned, I realised my interest/passion were very different and what I enjoyed previously did not stimulate me any longer.

so first up, if you can do any job which one would that be?

Now for arguments sake if you said its copywriting, next question, which area/industry that you enjoy or prefer to focus on?

Next find all companies that operate in this industry.....

Also do you have samples of work that you can write or if you don't maybe offer to do a couple of free copywriting to get some testimonials.

Once you have narrowed down the company, now look find for the decision makers in the company that will likely hire you.
( This is easier than it sounds with dear google, and linkedin)

Finally reach out to them, firstly expressing your interest in the area, and tell them you are now exploring options to return to work and would like to get their advice.
Most will say yes, or if they are busy follow up with them with a phone call.

Once you meet them, this is your chance to shine besides genuinely asking for advice and more importantly taking action on the advice.

And keep in touch and follow up with them.

Now rinse and repeat. I did the above and got a job.

You need to want it bad enough and willing to put yourself out there. Otherwise you will be stationary and feel less confident each day passes by. ( though you shouldnt be feeling this way).

Hope this helps!!