CV

[Drabarni]

AIBU to expect there to be a specific way to produce a CV?
I've googled and there are so many different versions and conflicting advice as to what to include. I have what would be considered lots of past jobs, that would fill one side of A4 before addressing any points.
I know you can't leave gaps, what do you do in this situation?

If anyone knows of a good way guaranteed to gain an interview could they please link, as I'm losing the will.

Yes, lots of different approaches but a few fundamentals: 1. Don't write c.v. or curriculum vitae on it - waste of space! 2. Don't include anything that a recruiter can't take into account - marital status, reference to children etc Photos are also a no no 3. Pick out your key skills and knowledge (esp those transferable to the job you are applying for) and highlight these first 4. Consider grouping roles if appropriate e.g. under headings such as customer service if looks like a long list of bitty jobs. Good luck!

I have got every job I have ever applied for.
What I do is not have a generic CV.
I look carefully at job adverts, I only apply if I am sure I would want to do that job all day, everyday and if I meet every requirement on the person spec. I then make my application relevant to the role and don't include anything unnecessary.
I am a TA, there are literally hundreds of applicants for support roles in education. I walked straight into the first one I applied for after 8 years as a SAHM by doing as above.

YANBU everyone I ever show my CV to says it it utter shite - so I change it and then the next reviewer says it’s shite. I don’t even agree there are basics everyone seems to have an opinion.

I know it's ridiculous. I have done everything mentioned so far, but still can't get it more succinct.
I did get a job on the strength of my last one, but I just don't seem to get to interview stage and they are all jobs I could do standing on one leg.
I wouldn't apply for anything I couldn't do.

The other thing that is done in education is a pre-application visit, I don't know if it is possible in other sectors, I phone and make an appointment with the head to look around the school and chat about the role, that way the first contact they have is a face to face one.

Do companies still ask for CVs? The last job I applied for (which fortunately I got ) had a very specific application form & then you had to list your achievements/qualifications against the specific person criteria.
I would never have a 'general' CV, always tailor it for the job you are applying for.

I find it rarer and rarer that people want cvs rather than their own application forms. But when they do i start, after name adrress etc, with a skills section (bullet points targeted to job app), then education or previous employment swopped round depending on job requirements. I too have a lot of previous roles (30 years worth) : last role is the only one that gets details, the rest are job title, dates and company name with town name only. Any gaps between roles I give dates and reason here (travel etc). To be honest I've probably stretched dates from 15 years ago to cover small gaps, and ensure job titles looked like progression.

The job spec (ring and ask for one if it's not provided) is addressed in the cover letter giving examples of experience requested. A page is enough.

If you are only applying for jobs you can 100% do and have done before perhaps they don't see you as ambitious enough? Companies have an obsession with progression: the whole where do you see yourself in 5 years interview question thing.

There are lots of ways to do it but as long as it’s clear, spell and grammar checked, not too cluttered, laid out well with the relevant jobs and experience then you can’t go too wrong.

I do always tailor it for the job.
I do a statement at the top that basically says the skills that they are looking for, then list jobs from most recent, with their dates.
I only include relevant details and don't include marital status or address/age.
I don't title the document cv, and don't have a generic cv, I change the statement bit at the top for each application.

Could your experience/previous jobs mean that you seem too well qualified for the jobs you are applying for? Prospective employers might consider you 'too senior' and that you might be bored or be a threat to them if they offered you a job. My DM used to have a very senior job in retail management, after a break to have her family she tried to get a sales assistant job, she was frequently turned down & I honestly expect that it was because she listed her previous management experience on her cv.
I was in a very similar position when I applied for my current job, I described a previous job I'd had as an 'admin assistant' where in reality I had run the whole department, managed a team, huge budget etc etc but for various reasons I didn't want a senior role so I down played what I'd done .... I doubt anyone would actually check the exact details (not in the sector I work in anyway).

This might be the case for a couple I've applied for as I'm looking for entry level jobs/ min wage with little responsibility.
Some I'm not qualified to do but don't need any. Other one in particular I could do a much more senior role as have a degree, industry experience and have taught the subject. I have gone for a basic sales job.

This isn't all the problem though, some I've gone for aren't in this category.

I also have an extensive list of previous jobs, and the way I get around it is by listing dates and responsibilities etc of the jobs I have done that are directly relevant to the post I am applying for, and then underneath I have a small blurb briefly outlining relevant skills that I have gained across other less relevant jobs.

For example, I am now a teacher so under a headline of "relevant work experience" I detail all of my teaching roles, roles within schools and my volunteer work with vulnerable children.

Underneath this I have a small paragraph along the lines of "Skills gained in other industries" under which I list skills such as managing people, dealing with customer complaints, managing booking systems, hiring and training employees. Underneath this small list I will write "I have demonstrated these skills in various management roles in hospitality, sales and retail". You might even have room to list the employers - I just find this to be much more concise and/or repetitive than listing everything, when a lot of the time they arent hugely interested. It allows me to show off skills (e.g. having been a manager) without going off topic (half of being a shop manager has nothing to do with the teaching jobs I apply to, so why would I waste room with it?)

I dont know if this would work for you? Hope my rambling made sense.