Renewing my cv, need loads of help!

[sharron6970]

Hi, I am looking for work like a mad woman at the mo, and redoing cv. Thing is, I have been a stay-at-home mum since my daughter was born 13 years ago. In between all of this, she has had medical problems and when she was 11, diagnosed with S.E.N., I also have a son who is 8. I was a 'housewife' if you like, for 6 years, then split with their dad when my son was 2,since then been a lone parent. I have two very distinct career directions to go down, but have had difficulty finding work in either-education (as a nursery nurse/classroom asst) and admin. I don't know how to phrase any of this on my cv, and struggling. I also struggle to provide my last employer as a referee as it has been too long since I last worked for them.

So depressed, as I need a job now that fits around childcare, as I don't have anyone else to rely on. To make matters worse, I've been put on the work programme and see my employment advisor next week!! Help plz!!

What exactly do you want help with?

CV - you need to have at least 2 versions of your CV, one for admin jobs, one for childcare jobs. So the admin one details all your admin experience and not so much emphasis on childcare and the other way round. Its probably best to have a functional rather than chronological CV so you don't immediately highlight the lack of recent work experience.

Have you done anything like running a toddler group or other voluntary work while a SAHM, as you should mention that too. If you want help with your CV, PM me and you can email it to me and I will have a look. I used to write CVs for people in a previous job. (pre-baby, so feels like a previous life!)

I have just found a job after looking since January. Applied for 5 jobs, got 3 interviews. But, there is very little out there and I know it is very depressing. The job I got there were 70 applicants, the other two had 50+.

References: Is there anyone from your last employer who can help you? A line manager that you could find maybe, even if they are no longer in the same company?

Good luck.

If this is any help to you - I'm a LP - out of work for 9 years with DS. I'm now signing on and frantically looking for work. I've now been signing on for a year so I've just started on the Work Programme - mine's with Ingeus. My advisor is FANTASTIC!! really knows his stuff. Not pushing me into anything I don't want to do. Seems so much more on the ball and efficient than any help Jobcentre plus did re updating my cv etc. He's very full on motivating but in a really good way - I had an interview so he had me in the day before to prepare and I felt way more prepared than I had before when got to interview. and he rang me to see how it went afterwards.

Didn't get job however

Good luck with your hunting xx

Good luck. Am also looking after 7 years away. Try freelancing website - you may get little bits and pieces of work to put on your cv - or volunteer if you have time. That would get you a current reference too.

Thanks people for the replies! vj32, I rang my last employer to be told there is no one who could vouch for me in a reference, as 5 years ago they had their computers updated and do not have my records anymore. Feel stuffed on that one! Rang a school I am applying to explaining this, and she said to still put them down, I have two character referees. I have done volunteering in my youngest's school and now working in another school and my local hospital. Will email my cv to you to have a look at.
Mspontipine, going to see my employment advisor at Triage on thursday, so will see what they have to say.
SweetGrapes, never thought of freelancing-wouldn't even know how to go about it!
Thanks!xx

Then you don't need your last employer - so long as you have been volunteering with either place a while, just put the manager there! Even though it is voluntary work, they can still comment on your reliability etc.