CV Help

[Buddhastic]

I want to go back to work but am really struggling with the introduction on my cv. I keep looking at it, writing a few words then deleting it as it seems so naff. I want to say I took some time off (3 years) to be with my family and now the kids are older it seems the right time to start again but that's not really true. I was working in Retail as a trainer and jobs just dried up as the recession hit. The job I'm hoping to apply for wouldn't be relevant to the retail thing anyway so I don't want to put that in my introduction and I don't want the intro to sound like I've just woken up and decided I fancy a job. It's gotten to the point where I need to work for my sanity and I need the money. Why I am finding this so hard to do is beyond me but it's getting ridiculous. Please can anyone help with a few sentences that will get me started? I think I'm scared it's been so long.

Don't put that in your opening. It's not relevant. You need to put your strengths and how they relate to what the job wants.
A good place to start would be the job description. Turn it around to see how it describes you and what you want in your career.
The person reading it should get this from your introduction:

• This the role you are looking for
• This is why you are suitable (your strengths)
• This is when you can start

You had kids, you were away blah blah is really not required. You could just put a one liner under an 'Others' heading to explain the gap in your cv and maybe talk about transferable skills you have learnt while on your gap (Time management, organisation skills etc)

Try to make a new cv for each application and change the profile, skillset based on what they want so that on each you are highlighting the skill that they need .
I keep a folder for each application I make and have a separate cv and cover letter for each. I send of maybe 2 or 3 a week (I am in a field/place where there could be at least 10 new relevant ads each day). So I really keep it targeted and that gets me the most interest/calls. (Still looking though )
Have been away for 7 years so not easy.