Writing a CV for the 1st time in over 15 years! Help!

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Have been a SAHM for 13 years, and am about to start applying for jobs.

I can't find my old CVs, and I can't remember exactly who I worked for and when, and in some cases I can't even remember my job titles.

How much detail do I need to go into?

Should I go into detail about all my previous jobs, or only the last one?

How do I account for gaps in my CV - I was temping or travelling, but where do I account for these gaps? Chronologically or thematically?

How much personal information should I put in? Obviously I need to say that I have been a SAHM, but do I put how many children or their ages?

Has CV layout changed? Will I look olde worlde if I lay it out in 1990s style?

What have you been doing for the last thirteen years? Have you done voluntary work? Courses? Your CV is more advert than autobiography so work out what you've done that makes you super employable and focus on those bits, the rest can come out at interview.

What kind of jobs are you going for?

I've done voluntary work in the last 2-3y. That's another thing I'm unsure about - do I mention my involvement with my synagogue? I teach about Judaism to schools (voluntary, again). Some people can be about funny about religion, and I don't want to come across as a missionary - I'm not.

None of the courses I have done since becoming a SAHM have been qualifications, all were for pleasure. Are they relevant?

I'm looking at part-time office/admin/reception jobs.

A skills based cv would suit. Have a look of job descriptions for the jobs you want and group your skills around that with examples under each heading. Example here

John Lees - Why You? has examples of different ways to write CVs for different situations, which includes going back to employment after having a parental break from paid work.

Courses may well be relevant - I've taken more than one language at evening classes, and they're certainly on my CV. It depends on the courses and also the job. Even if it's something like Indian cookery, there will be transferable skills - the importance of preparation, time management and so on.

I think your synagogue work is also relevant - I assume it involves talking in public, managing a class. Do you plan what to teach? Time management, too. There will be a load of skills from that, I should think, and you should focus on that, rather than the religious side of it per se. Do you have any involvement with money or paperwork and admin from the synagogue? That's also useful for office work if you have. Just focus on the role and tasks, rather than the religion.

Think about what the jobs you'll be applying for will want as a skill set, and then look at all the things you've done and how it can be applied. There will be a lot of time management and planning involved in parenting, budgeting and so on. You just need to demonstrate you're able to do the job you're applying to, and it doesn't all have to be formal experience. Do a skills-based CV rather than a time-based one, and date gaps won't be so obvious - in any case, the main reason employers want to know about gaps is if you've been in prison or something. Being a parent is usually fine, as long as you can show you've got the skills.

Good luck!