Help - my CV has gone off-piste!

[dorsetemma]

Hi. I'm hoping there might be some HR professionals here that can give me some advice with my CV.

I'm mid-fifties and have spent the majority of my career in just the one industry, reaching quite a senior level. I then went back to uni, whilst working full time, to get a masters degree in a different but vaguely related industry. Unfortunately, as soon as I graduated, covid hit, and then I moved back to the UK from overseas.

Since being back in the UK, I have had one senior job in my original career but there was so much going on after the move I decided to walk away after 6 months to give myself some head space. I then went off and did a completely bonkers but bucket list temporary job for 2 months, which I loved and I'm happy to talk about, but don't really want on my CV. As that was coming to an end, I was offered a school admin role which is a little boring but pays well and fits in perfectly with my family's needs at the moment. I've now been in this job just over a year but my youngest is now finishing up at school in June and I'm starting to look at getting my career back on track, either in my original industry or starting in the new industry that I am now qualified for (although my degree is now over 2 years old and unused).

My problem is that my CV now looks like a trainwreck, especially if I include the bonkers job. My first question is...do I have to include this job or can I just gloss over this period? My second question is, how can I get potential employers to see me as the industry professional I was, and not the school administrator that I am now? I'm not getting anywhere with my job applications and I just don't think anyone is looking beyond my past 3 jobs.

I hope that all makes sense! Any suggestions gratefully received. Many thanks.

2020-2024 - fixed term contracts within original, education and bucket list industry.

Would that work?

Yep! With a single line of description - relocated back to the UK and took advantage of the opportunity to focus on family priorities. Now looking to return to old industry / make an impact with new qualifications.

Just to point out

although my degree is now over 2 years old and unused

Degrees don't have a sell-by date, they don't go off you know

you've achieved a degree, which is a fantastic achievement with all the additional skills that it gives you. Even if you don't get a job using the actual "information" you learned in the degree, think about how you can put all the skills to good use and show case them in your CV. A degree is never wasted!

Thank you all! That is really helpful. I'm updating my CV now...😊

I'd be happy to take a quick look once you've updated it OP? Having been through plenty of interviews since 2020 my style of CV seems to do the trick so might be able to give you some pointers.

That is so kind, thank you. I'm going to keep fiddling for a while but may well take you up on this.

I think the bucket list job and the fact that it is a few years since you got the Masters are not important and could make you sound more interesting. The real question for me, which we would not be allowed to explore at interview, is what is the story that has taken someone from a full time senior role, plus Masters study, plus full on family life to an international relocation and leaving a senior role quite quickly. Was the relocation as a result of your parter’s career, elderly care, wanting to be in the UK for home student status for the children or something else? Clearly you don’t need to give details here, but I think people may be curious.

LadyLapsang, that's really interesting that you would not be able to explore the reasons behind my move or career choices in an interview. I always think that my cv and covering letter should be strong enough to get me an interview and then any questions the employer may have can be discussed face to face. If they are not allowed to ask these questions, should I be addressing my choices in my covering letter?

I think I might be out of the loop as to what is expected in my potential new industry. I always feel that my application will attract more interest if it is strong but succinct. However, I'm looking at an application now, for a VERY junior role, and they are expecting my covering letter to address all 17 essential criteria in detail..up to 20,000 words! Is this normal? How does HR have time to read applications this long? And with the essential criteria being the absolute standard (organizational skills, team player, ability to prioritize workload, etc), there is nothing of interest or useful to say which cannot be clearly seen by my work history. I would understand if they were asking me to build a new software system or project manage something major but this feels extreme and a real waste of time. I feel like I'm missing something here...

They might be using AI to read it?

Twenty thousand words? That's forty pages! For a cover letter?! Are you sure it's not a typo? You could write less than that for a master's dissertation.

Unless that was standard for the industry, I'd swerve that. If that's the kind of imposition they place on prospective employees, they'll be a nightmare to work for.

If you apply for a role in public sector / Civil Service, you'd never have to worry that interviewers would ask inappropriate irrelevant nosey questions about decisions you've made in your life affecting your career choices and trajectory.

interviews are normally 45 mins as standard, and during that time, the focus would be on the content of your CV insofar as it supports your application for a specific role vacancy. The interview questions relate to your skills, experience and to an extent to your qualifications as stated on your CV, along the lines of "tell me about you, your background and career" and then moving onto specific areas of focus called Success Profile Behaviours (eg Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Leadership ). They don't start probing why you left your job, why you have a gap of x years, although they might want you to expand on it voluntarily if it adds value.

The fact you're in the interview room, means you've been sifted and your CV has sufficient strength to show them you meet the essential criteria for the role. What you do in the interview is focus on why you're right for the role, what your skillset is and how it will add value in the organisation.

I can't account for Industry/ Private sector as interview approaches vary so wildly. But at @LadyLapsang says they need to tread carefully to ensure they don't breach Equality laws, given that women so often give up work or go on short hours to care for children, parents, relatives.