Applying for a job first time in 15 years, advice please

[HousewifeOfOrangeCounty]

I stopped work when dd was born 11 years ago so it's been a long time since I applied for a job. I have seen something in a local secondary school that would fit nicely with my dc's. There is an application form to fill in, but would they expect a cv as well? Do I fill in the application form by hand? I presume I explain my not working on having children etc - is there an interview friendly way of putting it?

Are there any examples of CV's that would be worth looking at, I suspect they've changed since I last worked.

If the application form asks you for all your relevant work experience and qualifications then you don't need to do a CV as well.

I would still write a covering letter though.

I think you explain looking after children as "homemaker" or is that an Americanism? Anyway, I think you can't just leave it at that, include any voluntary work you may have done in that time e.g. helped with school fairs or whatever.

Best of luck!

I always put in a cv as well as an application form, and a cover letter which (hopefully) made them interested in looking a bit further - for example stating why you're ideally suited to the job from their point of view (rather than because it suits you ).

CV must not under any circumstances be any longer than two sides of A4 otherwise it'll go straight in the bin, most likely.

You can find sample cv's if you google, I can't remember where I found the one I based mine on now.

Also, tailor your cv to suit the job description/person spec. You have to cover every single essential skill and most of the desirables too if you're going to get anywhere in this climate. So if they ask for 'competency in microsoft office programmes' you must name those programs somewhere in your application as something you've used previously.

I'm considering setting up in business doing this sort of thing for people, I got interviews for approximately 80% of the jobs I applied for which was amazing considering there were 300+ people applying for them each time and I helped dh apply for a job recently and he has a second interview next week, hurrah!

If you want any advice on your CV CAT me, or I can CAT you. I've done similar for other MNers in the past who've had a career break for children.

Wow, some great advice here. I'm going to get to work tomorrow and may come back to unholymoly or frakkit for more help.

Wow again .

Second what unholeymoley says. When I'm recruiting it always annoys me when people say 'oh your job would be so good for me because..'. What I want to know is why they would be good for my job. Concentrate on showing them how your skills match their wish list instead.

How's the application going?