Do you have to mention all of your qualifcations for jobs?

[exasperatedmummy]

I know you shoulnt make them up , but i am looking for a job right now that doesn't involve my qualifications. I am probably going to do a PGCE next year but i need a job NOW. I have a PhD in biology but to get a job in my field is not feasable for lots of reasons. Of course if something comes up, thats great. So, in the meantime i am looking for admin type positions, or lab tech jobs.

I just wondered how i go on about CV etc. There are a couple of jobs i fancy but they are aimed at GCSE level education. Should i mention my degrees, or conveniently forget them but then have to account for the past 7 years of my life somehow?

My concern is that people wont want to take me on as they think i wont stay on. Maybe a temp agency, but the money is shite - what to do what to do - im quite desperate.

Most CVs need you to account for all dates, although you can group your skills and activities non-chronologically if it benefits you.

Think about why you can't do a job in your field (I'm thinking that perhaps hours and location are not feasible for you), and somehow turn these problems into a positive for the job you are looking for.

Mention your criteria in a covering letter if the employer accepts one, and sell yourself there.

I am thinking that a swish CV is not that important for a school-leaver level job, and it will be mostly by application form.

You can always apply for some jobs that you are not that bothered about, so that you can use the experience to tweak your CV.

I'd say put all your qualifications on the application form, they should be impressed that someone so qualified and intellegent is applying for their job.

Don't leave gaps unaccounted for. If you tailor your cv for each job, and make sure you put skills and relevant experience first, you can very briefly right at the end include your qualifications. If the most important stuff hits them first and for the job qualifications aren't important, they may not be scrutinising that section as much, particularly if you put it small and brief at the end.

There's nothing that has to go on a CV but as mentioned above it is best not to leave gaps.

On way round is to do a skills CV rather than a traditional qualifications / employers type list. Target your skills at the job you're applying for with examples of how / where you demonstrated them and either include a short list of jobs at the end (showing years) or put a short paragraph with summary of roles. You could always desribe your PhD period as researcher or suchlike, which IME is pretty accurate.

It might come out in the inteview, but the only real purpose of the CV is to get you to the interview and at that point recruiters are more invested in you.