Anyone in HR?

[dizzydixies]

Can I ask a quick question please? I have a friend who is applying for lots of jobs and not even getting shortlisted. He is having his application/CV looked at professionally to check it out but is wondering if being in the T.A might have some influence on decisions?

He was deployed to Afghanistan last year and shouldn't be asked to go again for another 4yrs unless he volunteers but wondered if that may sway some employers?

Grateful for any insights, thanks!

It will do. I was in the TA for 6 years and employers just don't want the hassle.

Rightly or wrongly most employers don't understand the TA.

I'd remove it from his CV and only mention it once he has the job, its what I had to do.

most of his experience was gained through working with the TA though so should he say that he has since left but used it as retained skills?

If he hasn't left then he mustn't lie. It may put some employers off in terms of the time off required for training and the (albeit small in this case) risk of being asked to go abroad.

Normally I'd say leave it off, as it's normally a weekend thing with fairly minimal impact on the employer and no bearing on whether the person is suitable for the job.

But if he's relying on the TA to demonstrate that he meets various criteria, then he can't leave it off, and as I say, he really mustn't lie about having left.

Perhaps the professional cv looker-atter might be able to check that he is portraying it in the best possible light?

thanks flowery, he seems to tick all the boxes of the jobs he is going for but isn't even getting to short list/interview stage.

He was asked about it by one HR dept and he told them that it was a hobby and if they asked him to he would have to choose his career over and above it.

I'll pass that on and see what the professional comes back with - thank you