need moral boost and practical help to get a job - is the job centre the best place?

[dodgyroots]

I'm thinking about getting back to work again after taking redundancy during mat leave with DS2 - been a SAHM for 4 years.

My cv isn't great and needs some work - though I'm finding it really difficult to do on my own sitting in the study!

The job I did was fairly specialised, so not too sure if presenting myself at the job centre (not for benefits but for help) is the right way forward.

Is there anything I can tap into to give me that boost to get my cv out there and go for some interviews.

I'm in Scotland bts - not sure if that make a difference with these things.

Do you still have contacts in your specialised area who can bring you up to speed with the job situation in your career?

I'm finding the job centre only good for NMW unskilled jobs, indeed.co.uk has a bit more, s1jobs worth a try?

The Jobcentre will refer you on to whatever local provision there is for CV help and whatever else you need, give your local one a call. Or if you prefer, there are tips for CV's etc on www.direct.gov.uk/jobsearch.

If you are in Fife I may be able to help with specific places you can go.

HTH

Unless you need the JSA avoid the jobcentre like the plague. Check out online jobsites. There is also lotsb of really good online advice for CV writing etc.

Foo have you asked for a referral to the organisation that offers Professional and Executive help?

Not Fife, sorry.

See I thought things had changed a bit. My friend (London mind you) got a one to one CV help at her local job center and in the next room there was an executive session going on. I thought he job centre might be able to point me in the direction of something like that. Is there nothing specifically aimed at getting women back into the workplace

The problem is that I am trying to use my skills and move into a different field - old job a bit of a monopoly industry, been there done that if you know what I mean. I was in the world of improvement - Six sigma black belt and the like - only means anything if you have heard of it - otherwise people just look at you weirdly!!

All Jobcentres are LEAN-ed

Things have changed but provision is always dependent on where you live and what is out there. Give them a call and see. We have specific sessions for they younglings in our office but not all Jobcentres have space to run their own sessions/offer space to other organisations.

Can you afford to invest a small amount in a session or two of professional support?
I have seen this sort of investment work miracles; it's delivered one-to-one or in small groups and tailored to suit - it's referred to by a range of names/titles: career action coaching, personal development, interview coaching and a good professional will identify your needs and tailor the programme to suit you

There are loads of one-man bands offering this sort of service now - best way to find them is through personal recommendation, or a local Small Business Organisation should be able to point you in the right direction

Good luck!

FE colleges sometimes do sessions for job seekers might be worth looking about
are you a member of a proffesional society they can be helpful

Register with all the job boards/ agencies in your field and area. Look into professional cv writing/ career coaching if you can afford it.

CV books can be useful - we liked Killer CV which has good hints on job seeking by networking

Try Nextstep - you can phone for advice and they will arrange a free 1 session to do a CV review.

thanks for all the advice - never heard of Nextsteps so will check that out and the job centre too. Main problem is after 4 years any network I have is Mums at the playground, not work!

Just need to give myself a big kick up the proverbial to get something done..

Oh bum - Nextsteps is only for adults in England...

When I arrived in the UK I thought going to the job centre was what one does if one wants a job. I'll never forget the total disbelief and bewilderement of the advisor who really didn't get that I hadn't turned up because I wanted benefits, but wanted a job. They were as useful as a chocolate teapot. So I hit the agencies instead. Had a fulltime temp to perm job within 8 days of starting to look.

OK Widow If you say so.

Do you think I'm making it up? I went there because I naively thought they'd help me looking for work. They treated me like a total moron for that assumption.

Might have been just that advisor on an off day. But I found that really offputting.

Agencies will often treat you like a piece of meat, too. However, the better agencies will take time to sit down with you and work on your CV simply because it helps them to market you better and earn their fee with you.

" need moral boost "

DO NOT go to a Jobcentre.