Tips on CV writing after a career break

[Scorpyon]

I am about to rewrite my CV for the third time and would very much appreciate some advice.

I haven't worked for about three years now. I left my last job whilst pregnant owing to an international relocation (DPs job). I have applied for around 250 jobs in the last 12 months and have only been successful in securing 4 interviews, three of which were within the same organisation for three different roles (very eager to hire me, but couldn't find a role to fit)

I have changed my CV from chronological to competency based after some internet based advice that this was the thing to do. Although I seem to be generating more internet hits from recruiters, I am still not getting interviews. I had a flurry of calls a couple of weeks ago and was put forward by agents for a number of jobs, but not a single interview came out of it. On occasion, I have asked HR for feedback on my CV which hasn't been particularly helpful. Examples include being told nothing wrong with my CV, they were just looking for a postgrad (I have a masters) or just looking for someone with commercial experience (I have 10 years).

I do appreciate that the recruitment landscape has changed since I was last job seeking but it really hasn't been that long... has it? I can only conclude that the three year gap on my CV is the stumbling block.

How have other people overcome this? Any tips or suggestions? I just have "Maternity break" down on my CV. The advice I read is to sell the SAHM time as new soft skills learned such as "time management" or "organizational skills". In all honesty, these are not skills which are sought after in my chosen profession and I feel a bit silly putting them down; the advice seems to be aimed for gaining a "job" rather than relaunching a "career".

The other advice I frequently see is to "network" my way back into a job. I have been overseas and lost contact with many people - any suggestions on how to reacquaint myself with people who might be able to help me?

I am conscious that this is a long post, but I am feeling so frustrated - I am really looking for inspiration!

To be frank. I woudl just be honest and put down international relocation to xxx whichever country it was. It is a perfectly honest answer and you can talk about what happened and that you are now back in the UK and would liek to pick up your career where you left off.

Its what I did and people are quite happy about it. The only reason unexplained gaps in CVs matter is people suspect you might have been sacked or severe illness or some other issue that makes you a risk to employ.

By the way don't do the whole 'soft skills' thing about parenting. It really doesnt work. Just be straight up about your reason for having a break and if you had an interetsing experience abroad talk about it (eg you learned a language) otherwise talk up your desire to return to work.

Morebeta,

Thank you so much for responding. And thank you also for reinforcing what I thought about parenting skills on CVs :-)

I will try it as an international relocation instead of maternity break. Great suggestion.

Yes DO put international relocation not 'Maternity Break'. The fact you had a child or children while on an international relocation is not something you need to talk about. A man wouldn't feel they had to talk about his DW/DP had a child while abroad so neither should you.

The other thing I find is networking never works. Its another great big myth. People you know don't just have jobs they can give you and probably dont know of any either. It just makes people feel uncomfortable being asked.

What sort of area are you looking in? Are there websites where jobs are typically posted for your industry? Is there any chance you could maybe exploit the fact you have experience of another country. Often firms want someone who can span two countries - even if they are mostly sitting in the UK.

I am in a slightly weird position myslef of being one foot in academia and one in professional career and one in self employed and anther doing SAHD so my CV looks like a battlefield!

Hope you get a job in the area you are looking for very soon.

You make a good point about a man not putting down that his partner has a baby, but he would have to if he had spent time out his career to care for the child.

I don't think that I can really use overseas travel as a selling point.... it was a bit of a blip. DP wanted to take a job overseas, which I went along with because I was pregnant. But this meant that I had to give up a full on career which I regretted instantly and he hated the job. We came back after 10 months which wasn't even long enough to learn any real language skills. There is no other connection to the place.

Just want to add that putting 'parenting skills' on a CV will make you look less professional, but definitely mention the overseas assignment. People may like that you are open to change - and it gives a sense of the person you are, which always makes a CV stand out.

Did you join any groups while you were there / do any fundraising etc? I think it would be fine to mention skills like that.

In terms of networking. It can often be getting back in contact with just one or two people that can make all the difference. Are you on LinkedIn?

Meant to add - I don't agree that networking never works. I think it depends on the field you are in - and the type of work you are after.

I freelance - and wouldn't get any work if it wasn't for networking. It isn't the kind of work that is advertised - it's all word of mouth.

I find LinkedIn great for getting back in touch with people. I'm often approached by ex-colleagues about work - and have never felt awkward about it.

I am in a very similar position but my international relocation was 8 years.

I too must have applied for 000s of jobs - both while abroad and now on return.

I have put it down to a combination of factors.

The lack of recent experience (I have actually seen this on advertisements asking for recent corporate experience), the current job climate in the UK (too few jobs with too many people chasing them) and I think the "mum" factor.

I'm trying the volunteer / contract role route to try and get back in. (No success there yet!)

But I completely understand your frustration as someone who on re had a career and was often very successful at interviews (pre-kids)