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Original poster

How to write a cv after a decade with no work!

53 replies

mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:01

I need help, all I have are my gcses and that's it. no work experience at all. I'm 30 now and youngest is going to nursery so I'm sorting my cv but all I have is my name and my gcses from 15 years ago.

I feel so rubbish.

I don't know what to put on a personal statement at the top because all I can do is wipe bums and kiss scraped knees.

OP posts:
Original poster
mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:02

looking online but my experience isn't even a page long. I dod help out at my kids school, reading with the kids do I bother putting that on there?

OP posts:
BritAbroad101 · 16/01/2023 20:02

Sorry to say it but it will be tricky

How come you’ve not worked from 16-30?

TrodOnLegoAgain · 16/01/2023 20:04

Definitely put helping at the school on- that's good experience even though unpaid. What job are you applying for?

Zingy123 · 16/01/2023 20:05

I had 13 years where I didn't work. I just put that I had caring responsibilities. I applied for two jobs and was offered both. Don't let it put you off.

IAmTheWalrus85 · 16/01/2023 20:05

Definitely put volunteering at the school on there. Have you done anything else voluntary like that?

coffeeginandkindness · 16/01/2023 20:06

What do you want to do?

litlealligator · 16/01/2023 20:06

Helping at your kids school is good, definitely include it. It's a big career gap but if you would consider e.g. going into childcare, it's a high demand career and some employers will take you on and support you to get qualified through e.g. an early years apprenticeship.

daemonologie · 16/01/2023 20:07

If you applied for care work then you've got years of experience and transferable skills

LolaSmiles · 16/01/2023 20:09

What sort of role are you looking for?
Some councils recruit for apprentice positions and I think the ones I've seen pay more than the basic apprenticeship wage if you're over 25.

Definitely mention your helping at school and if you've been involved in anything else such as PTAs, parent groups, or any other voluntary work you've done.

MyCatIsAFuckwit · 16/01/2023 20:15

If the time you where off is with your children then put in your CV "time raising family"
Definitely put down the helping out in school, this is an important and trusted role.
I had about 10 years out as a stay at home parent. I put this down.
Could you volunteer at a charity shop, refuge or food bank? This would look great on a CV.
Good luck OP

Original poster
mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:17

Time raising family or caring responsibilities . it sounds a lot more professional than 'teen mom'

OP posts:
Original poster
mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:19

I did an online course to become a ta but nothing cane of it as I had a few weeks in a school taught me all I need to know not cut out for school life!

OP posts:
Original poster
mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:26

I just don't know how to start it

thank you for the luck, I need it!

I've never once doubted My decision, life has gone great despite a baby at a young age but right now trying to write a CV I suddenly feel embarrassed 😳 which is so not like me.

OP posts:
SO224350 · 16/01/2023 20:27

What sort of job are you looking for? If just a basic minimum wage job then most employers won't care. I got my first 'proper' job a year ago at 50 as a community carer. They didn't want a CV just a very detailed application form. I just told them at the interview I had lots of experience caring for family members, was very organised and extremely reliable. They took me on there and then.

RTHJ14 · 16/01/2023 20:34

Don’t be embarrassed! You’ve got loads of transferable skills that you don’t even think about; managing time, people (the kids!) and a budget. As above what is it you want to do?

Howmanysleepsnow · 16/01/2023 20:36

Just explain your time out, and why you want the job you’re applying for/ what values you have. Are you resilient/ motivated/ a hard worker/ flexible? If applying for jobs in care, for example, mention experience caring for family or supporting friends. If applying for fashion retail mention a love of clothes and enjoying helping people look their best. Office work? Say if you’re organised, good on computers, would enjoy dealing with customers etc.
Say what attracts you to the role, what interests you about that field. I’d happily hire someone with zero experience (care sector) if I felt they had a genuine interest and wish to learn. I tend to dismiss applications if they seem to want a job other than the one I’m hiring for (so for example talk at length about their sales skills which are completely irrelevant to the post)

Original poster
mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:36

Its just a work from home job, nothing exciting at all but I still feel a bit out of my depth

OP posts:
movingnorthsoon · 16/01/2023 20:37

Rather than starting from 'what did I do?' you could start from 'what are they looking for?' in the place you are applying to.
Do they need someone who can interact politely with customers? Are they looking for someone who can think on their feet? Who can find solutions to problems? Someone who is reliable and steady? ... What does it say in the job ad?
So if you think you do have these qualities they are looking for, think of where in your life you can provide evidence for them. So eg if customer facing, and looking for someone who will remain polite and patient and helpful at all times - can you think of any situation in your recent life where you did this? Perhaps when helping at school?
If it is more like a stacking shelves sort of job and they are looking for steady, reliable, on time, fast worker ... Where have you shown these qualities? Responding to a crisis ... Have you remained calm when a child needed to go to A&E? Managing multiple demands - have you been running a household with lots of different needs to be met? Experience in child development - did you read up/research on phonics in order to help your children? Strict application of hygiene standards - any examples from home or playgroups or anywhere?
If you start from what they are looking for, then you will be able to see which things that you did will be irrelevant and seem silly if added on the CV, but which other seemingly silly things might be worth mentioning.

GreenEmeraldSea · 16/01/2023 20:39

There will be a manager who went to public school who would love someone to do stuff like wipe his bum. With some light filing or admin in between.

Find the right person and sell it right, you could do very nicely.

Original poster
mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:41

would I need to put the primary school and tea hers name for a reference or would I be OK? reference free?

OP posts:
Dixiechickonhols · 16/01/2023 20:42

Yes put TA course. Yes put volunteering at school - shows commitment. Can you drive? dbs checked? Put that. Any other volunteer experience or courses.

Google cv for 16 yr old. It will give you an idea of a layout of a simple cv - I helped teen dd do one and it looked good.

Good luck. Have you looked on local council they will have application form not cv. Casual school kitchen assistant or transport chaperone are often on and you would naturally have those skills. Even as a stop gap.

Preraph · 16/01/2023 20:43

If you've not worked for a while then your local Jobcentre will be able to help you with a CV, their priority is to help people back to work and they'll have advisors to help you with this.

Dixiechickonhols · 16/01/2023 20:43

mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:41

would I need to put the primary school and tea hers name for a reference or would I be OK? reference free?

I’d check first but yes teacher or headteacher should be able to do that.

Original poster
mousehousehiest · 16/01/2023 20:48

Dixiechickonhols · 16/01/2023 20:43

I’d check first but yes teacher or headteacher should be able to do that.

Show quote history

I asked at the time but that was about 4 years ago!

I have no idea how to word the gap in my education/ work

I wrote 20xx - present raising a family. I was going to put now youngest is going to nursery I'm ready to get to work or would they even care?

OP posts:
AmandaHoldensLips · 16/01/2023 20:50

You probably have loads of skills that you don't even realise. You might say things like...

Well presented, excellent telephone manner, calm and logical approach, problem-solving outlook, able to perform well under pressure, accurate keyboard skills, articulate with good command of written English. Unflappable in a crisis. Full clean drivers license....

you get the general idea!