Pleeeeeeaase help me with my CV.

[giyadas]

I've seen a job that I would really like, but I've been out of work for a year, bar the odd day's work painting and decorating.
The job's guitar technician, which I have some experience of but nothing in my work history shows this.
I've only had sales assistant type jobs before, but now DD is older I really would like a full time job that I can throw myself into. How can I make my CV great, and overcome the gaps in my work history.
Any advice gratefully received. TIA.

Be honest about the gaps. Don't hide them, but state what you were doing when not working.

Include a section on experience you've gained out of work, and explain your experience of being a guitar technician. Show genuine enthusiasm for the job, that you're able to write a coherent CV, and be presentable and friendly at interview and you'll be doing better than many of the applications I see (for work completely unrelated to guitars :))

Thanks MamaC, am trying out the cv template websites for inspiration. Finding the bulletpoints part hard though.

I have no qualifications beyond GCSE. I'm 32, should I put my grades on the cv or will it just make me a laughing stock?

who is the job with? I work in schools and they want grades. when applying for other types of jobs, they weren't interested. I would suggest 6 GSCEs (or whatever) and stress other types of qualifications - like experience and enthusiasm

good luck

Thanks. It's an instrument retail store. Have already milked my 'life experience' skills in my personal statement and key skills sections and I need to write something for my qualifications section. Will probably just put number of GCSE and range of grades, because I can't leave it blank.

Giyadas - I wouldnt list grades but would say something along the lines of:

6 GCSE grade A-C including English & Maths

Obviously only say the above if that is what you have! If you havent English and Maths can you specify one numeric and one discursive GCSE?

Dont forget to dig out your certificates.

Good luck!