CV advice anyone?

[jobdilemma]

I wonder if there are any HR bods who may be able to advise me?

I want to change career. I am 49 and have been a family lawyer for 23 years now. I used to enjoy it but I now hate it, mainly because of the nature of the work (extremely depressing, and the clients are, naturally, usually in distress ranging from mild unhappiness to raging fury which is very wearing) but also the firm I work for is crap. I feel very much undervalued and disrespected in many ways.

I have started my own freelance business in a different area of law and it is doing quite nicely but I only bring in a third to a half of my current day job salary so whilst it is tempting to just jack the job in, I do need to top up my income with something. My dh earns ten times what I do and I know that if I blubbed to him and said I couldn't stand it any more, he'd rearrange the finances to make up the shortfall, but I don't want to do that, I like to have at least a little nominal independence/pride.

So, here's the problem.

When I started to fill in a CV template today, provided by TotalJobs, you have to put in a 50 word Personal Statement. I started saying that I am used to working under pressure in a highly competitive field etc, then thought, that does not look at all attractive to an employer who just wants a pleasant, competent receptionist/admin person/other fairly low level job. I will look totally over qualified and like a smartarse if I put that sort of thing in, but can't lie.

Does anyone have any ideas about what I should put in the Personal Statement, I think the key skills thing will be ok because I can waffle on a bit about multi tasking, working to deadlines etc.

Anyone have any words of wisdom?

btw I've name changed, please don't out me!

Thanks

For that kind of job I have always emphasised commitment to customer service being able to work under pressure, good communication skills (in my last job I was renowned for being able to handle awkward customers and fend off unwanted sales rep calls.

Have you ever worked as a receptionist? It can actually be highly pressured! In some receptionist jobs you need to be highly responsive, very calm and collected when you have a phone queue building or several visitors all at once - I would keep stuff like that in as it is relevant. Also agree with Elpha about customer service and 'people' skills.

Thank you. No, I've never worked as a receptionist, but I did work as a legal secretary for a year or so, about a thousand years ago.

So, the advice is, work under pressure, communication, calm & collected.

Thanks very much for your responses.

Hmm, I've now filled in the CV template as best I can and emailed it to Total Jobs - who knows whether anything will ever come of it.

Thanks for advice.