Prospective NHS recruiters would this put you off??

[mammasmadhouse]

Hi all
I am just after some advice and reassurance really. I have been in my current job for 6 mths, I took a step back as I really thought that this job would be perfect, especially as I had done a simular role for 5 years prev, however I am disappointed with the lack of support and the role and have been looking around for a new job. I have had my eye on a role that I am aware will hopefully be advertised soon but who nows if I will be lukcy. My main concern is something an old boss said'A prospective employer is going to worry about the number of jobs you have had in a short space of time when he sees your CV, especially the last two jobs. It might pay to head this off by explaining the situation which has prompted you to leave, especially what could be regarded as a backwards step from Med Phys to your current job'. I have been looking at by job history and since starting in the nhs it looks like this 1997 - 2001 - Trust 1
2001 - 2002 - seconded in Trust 1
2002 - 2003 - Trust 2
2003 - 2007 - Trust 3
2007 - 2008 - 6mth secondment Trust 3
2008 - 2008 - returned 2preseconded job
2008 - 2009 - Trust 3 -11mths in higher banded role
2009 - current-Trust 4 - I took this job because it resembles my job in Trust 3, which I loved but having been in post for 5 years needed a change, but in moving to a higher banded post felt diappointed that I did less, plus my line manager felt threatened by me.
The role I have been chasing since being with Trust 4 is data management so not a generic secretarial role which I have been in for the past xx years but how do I convince future employers that I am genuine??
Do you thinking my work history looks bad.How do I explain it without putting people off me??

Any comments appreciated

People do move around quite a bit. You've had four employers in 12 years - sound spretty good to me. My dh has had 9 jobs in the same length of time (but it is quite a fast moving industry)

It wouldn't put me off you as long as when I asked you why you were interested in the post I had, you said something convincing that didn't sound like you just wanted any way out of your current job!

wouldn't bother me either. you anywhere near oxfordshire - a couple of posts went out this week that you might be interested in.

I'm NHS and it wouldn't put me off. Be prepared to explain in your supporting statement what skills and experience you have gained from the moves.

I've been in my job a year and had only been in my previous job 10-11 months when I interviewed for this job. They asked me at interview and I was quite upfront about how the job had not been what I expected, how disappointed I'd been and how I'd have the same concerns if I was interviewing someone like me.

Hi Everyone

Many thanks for taking the time to reply, it is very much appreiciated and has given me a bit more confidence.

I have been thinking about why I am in this position and how to explain it genuinely if asked and so far have come up with:
Having taken what was considered to be a promotion I found that I was doing less both in terms of responsibility and workwise than my lower banded post and felt very under utilised, as a result my confidence was dwindling. So when I saw my current role advertised albeit at a lower band it mirrored my former post. Having been involved in a number of projects which required my input, my confidence has improved greatly. I have learnt a great deal
and been involved in a numbers of projects
which required my input and have had
also been able to reflect on the areas that I really enjoy working with such as working with IT packages and systems and collation of data/info etc , areas which need more involvement and thought and that will develop with me.

What do you think - is this too much waffle, any suggestions welcome.

Thanks in advance again!!

Not a current NHS recruiter but have been in the not too distant past.

I'll be brutally honest - your job history will put SOME people off but definitely not everyone. I have had one boss who refused to interview the best candidate we had for the job because of a work history a bit like yours. I would definitely have interviewed her and I would have been right too because the person he chose couldn't cope with the role! [chews carpet. Remembers thread is not about this].

You do I think need to do a little bit of tweaking on how you present it, but the fact is that your job history IS like this, but you really DO want this job in particular. I would think you have an excellent chance of an interview.

Looking at your job history -

First of all, you have been an NHS employee for all that time. I don't normally like 'Personal Profile' sentences etc at the top of CVs as I think they are usually a pile of w*nk. However, in this case, under your address and email, I think I would put something like
. A career NHS administrator with excellent skills in XX, YY and ZZ. [x, y and z being whatever skills you have that best match the person description for the job you want].

Then I would put Employment History 1997 to Present and the first heading 2009 - present Trust 4, and would put your para, which is a good idea, but maybe try to reduce/focus it a bit, e.g:

Having taken what was considered to be a promotion I found that I had less responsibility than in my lower-banded post. When my previous post was advertised, I therefore reapplied and was happy to return to this team. I was then involved in the following projects:
Project A - 5 word description with IT focus
Project B - 5 word description with IT focus
Project C - 5 word description with IT focus
This role has confirmed to me that data management and use of [system name] and [system name] are elements I wish to be involved with in my next role.

Then I would put employment headings of your actual employing Trusts only, with the main jobs and secondments as bullet points below each of these, so that it streamlines your employment history a bit.

TBH it will be crucial if you can to get the employment history on to 1 page. Were you employed before 1997? I would leave it out at this stage, they can ask you about it if they want to.

Best of luck, it sounds like you know what you want to do which is the key to most of it IMO!

choosyfloosy, good suggestions but NHS applications are standard application forms and you have to follow the format. I still think your best bet is the supporting statement section.

Not too waffly what you have written, but I would be specific about the projects, what the improvements were and what difference you made. Use words like led, responsiblity, improved, increased etc. Also, try phrases like consolidated my experience, rather than improving my confidence. Don't let them think you could be a delicate flower and therefore hard work.

Hi QoW
As an ex-NHS recruiter, I paid more heed to the skills and abilities than the no of jobs people had. Especially in IT where employee churn is greater, mainly due to project work.

Are you applying via NHSjobs online? You can do the same there as suggested by choosy above. i.e. put in each Trust as a single employer with one entry for joining/leaving dates. Where you did more than one job within this Trust, break this down within the job responsibilities box.

Try not to sound too defensive about the number of posts you have had and steer clear of suggesting you were under-utilised; that may have been so (and more likely due to poor management) but it could be construed that you didn't look to develop opportunities yourself. However, in three instances you say you were seconded - which sounds like you were a valued employee. If presented well, your job history should demonstrate that you have had a diverse experience within NHS IT projects - so I suggest you place the emphasis on the achievements within those roles.

Good luck!
Wizzie