CV help. Career dilemma.

[mrsnec]

Hi everyone.

I've been looking for work for 18 months with no luck.

I'm thinking about a different approach and changing my cv.

For 12 years I worked with my now ex husband and I have no proof I ever worked there let alone owned the business. Therefore I can't provide a reference. Because the split wasn't amicable I can't even get one from a client.

For the first time recently this has been picked up by a potential employer and I was totally honest with them. They haven't rejected me so far but they've said they need to 'seek guidance ' in order to progress my application.

However I've also been told Its not always seen as advantageous running your own business and I'm considering re-doing my cv to show a career break. But I'm apprensive because it was so long. During the 12 years that I have currently listed as working I did take a lot of breaks to have my children and I had several big life traumas during that time I'd be happy to talk about if I had to.

So what should I do? This is actually the first time it's been picked up but nobody else has looked at references before interview stage.

My past two rejections have been because they went with someone better qualified and the last one they said my interview was perfect, I was on the same level as everyone in every aspect but they decided to go with someone they already know.

What you're doing now is getting you to interview so I wouldn't change it. You were rejected on other perfectly legitimate grounds. If you feel the lack of reference might be a hindrance then I'd suggest some volunteering or freelance work. Does that seem reasonable?

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale You do have a point. At the moment I've applied for 60 positions and had 6 interviews. These are across a huge range of positions. Everything from NMW retail positions to Positions in Marketing, customer service and administration. My recent near miss was a business admin role for a social enterprise.

I'm considering becoming a TA and have another thread along those lines. The general consensus on there was to volunteer but I seem to have some kind of mental block towards it. When I mentioned it to my work coach she wasn't particularly keen on it or supportive of the idea.

Freelancing is something I've considered. I'm on some homeworking forums but have been rejected for everything I've applied for so far.

The general consensus on there was to volunteer but I seem to have some kind of mental block towards it. When I mentioned it to my work coach she wasn't particularly keen on it or supportive of the idea.

Why?

I used volunteering to get 2 recent references after a career break. I work in a job that includes giving people career advice. I can’t understand from what you’ve written so far why it wouldn’t be a good option for you? Even voluntary roles often require some reference but people can use contacts they know in a non work way for these more easily for a voluntary role in my experience.

@swanling I'm guessing she's pushing to get me into work and out of the system. On the other thread I also talked about how she's also pushing me to sign up with an agency who want me to pay for my own DBS checks. I asked if I volunteered would it count towards the hours I'm expected to spend looking for work and she said only if the voluntary work was going to lead to a job or us relevant to the work I'm looking for. And there are no rules really but shed advise investing my time in training would be a better idea.So people on the other thread were suggesting I volunteer at a school if I want to be a TA but my children's school wanted me to pay for my own DBS too.

I'm guessing if I want to work in retail or work for charities I could volunteer in a charity shop but I have worked in retail before, I don't understand why I'm not getting retail jobs either.

Also re volunteering what else is there apart from schools or charity shops?

And when your self esteem is on the floor how do you get past the 'why do I have to give my skills away for free to get a basic job' mentality.

@ParkrunPlodder Do you mind if I ask you what your voluntary work was, how long you did it for and more about your current role?

I volunteered at my children’s school - they paid for my DBS.
Also on as a Non-Exec on charity boards. That’s the work that involves me giving career advice.

Volunteer with local sports clubs, park run etc?

I think maybe your job coach doesn't understand your motivation - to get a reference, rather than gain experience. Why is she suggesting training? Are you lacking in sought after skills?

Disclaimer: I am a job coach in a different country and volunteering has to be okayed by the powers that be - the reason is that the state shouldn't pay for you to volunteer. So if you volunteer for 3 hours a week that's on top of 37 hours of jobseeking.

Also re volunteering what else is there apart from schools or charity shops?
Do-it.org
Political parties
Scouts/Guides
Nature and conservation
Activism
Hospitals and patient organisations

And when your self esteem is on the floor how do you get past the 'why do I have to give my skills away for free to get a basic job' mentality. It's a means to an end - getting a reference.

Please don't take rejection personally.

No help to you OP - but I really don't get why employers won't take you on - (or my DS!) when there is supposed to be such a labour shortage. Something is very wrong somewhere. (I suspect it's low wages, and the tough labour laws that make it a risk to take on staff - but I really have no idea)

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale that's helpful re volunteering but it is quite difficult for me if it's required on top of my job seeking commitment. I'm a single mum. 2 primary aged DC. Hardly anything in terms of a support network absent father who gives no support. Finding life a bit impossible.

So re training at first jobs coach offered a TA course. I did the online assessment but then I couldn't find any TA jobs and the agency hadn't even heard of it. Then I said I'd been rejected from an accounts admin job because I didn't have a Sage qualification so she told me to look into that because also the last basic admin job I got rejected from was also asking for a Sage qualification (for info, both the jobs that wanted Sage qualifications were paying £10.50 PH)

I've been referred to a 're-start' programme after the Easter holidays whatever that is.

@pinkySilver tell me about it! And they say there's not supposed to be discrimination these days but (almost) every interview I've been grilled or questioned about my childcare arrangements and I've had several remarks about my age.

One interview recently she wrote SINGLE MUM!! on her notes right at the start of the interview.

I'm a bit worried as well because I feel like the situation is only going to get worse.

I've stopped applying for retail jobs now since I failed a 3 hour Hobbycraft interview, got rejected by The works and completely ignored by Holland and Barratt!

But I really don't know what I want to do. And I'm applying for all sorts of things. My outstanding applications lately include :

*Leisure resort receptionist,
*Academy SEN Learning Coach,
*Business admin for a charity events organiser,
*Inbound customer services call handler home working for Nationwide.

My DS applied for hundreds of jobs. Volunteered for two years in a charity shop but each time a paid position has come up there they've rejected him. He's just resigned as the last rejection in a sister shop really hurt.

With him it's because he doesn't have great qualifications and is not good at interviews - but he works hard and can stock-fill. And they are happy for him to work for free.
With you I don't doubt it's the childcare worries - and sex discrimination. Soul destroying though. Good luck

Ok in light of your last update what she's saying makes a bit more sense. A limited network is a real killer. I'd go to this re-start program with an open mind and see what happens. Keep plugging away with TA jobs, and if that doesn't work before school summer holidays then sign up for the next sage course.

I agree with PP that your applications are getting you interviews so there's no need to change that.

In most posts references aren't that important these days, most say very little anyway. Unfortunately though they are a crucial part of safer recruitment for working in schools - they need to check you were doing what you say you were during that time and not in prison under a different name etc. Volunteering would be a good solution.

No school should be asking you to pay for a DBS - there's no charge if the post is voluntary anyway.

@WalkLong I get all that about schools. As I said on the other thread I've struggled to get my application to the right person. On the other thread I was encouraged to go directly to the local secondary. Found an advert that appealed spent all of Saturday afternoon filling in the application. I had an email first thing Monday morning questioning my references. First time that's happened in 60 applications!

I have provided 2 character references as well as another ex employer. The 2 character references both work in education and one in academia who has known me for 40 years, I'm really hoping they contact her and that counts for something!

Don't really know what re-start is but yes I do have a completely open mind about it. I briefly looked into Sage courses. They seem really expensive and so I'm surprised they expect it round here for entry level admin jobs.