Applying for jobs after Redundancy

MissMotivation

Some of you may remember that I was posting here before Xmas about my redundancy situation. Well I'm officially redundant now and after taking a couple of weeks off to recharge, pick myself up and decide what i want to do I have started to apply for jobs this week.

I've seen a job that I would really like and that I can do, however, my experience is in a totally different field and I'm struggling with the wording of the covering letter and also wondering whether I should tailor/change my CV to make less of my previous employment.

The job advertised is for a Receptionist/Audio Typist for a firm of Solicitors. My previous jobs have alway been in Estate Agency, however, I have got an RSA II Audio Typing qualification and have Audio typed regularly when Secretaries have been off etc. The Receptionist part of the job I could do standing on my head as I'm very confident with dealing with the public.

I'm just worried that they will take one look at my CV and rule me out because all my previous jobs have been in estate agency.

How can I word the letter to point out that I HAVE got the experience they need even if I have not done that particular role previously?

Any ideas would be very welcome.

Thanks

poker_face

MissMotivation wrote: »

Some of you may remember that I was posting here before Xmas about my redundancy situation. Well I'm officially redundant now and after taking a couple of weeks off to recharge, pick myself up and decide what i want to do I have started to apply for jobs this week.

I've seen a job that I would really like and that I can do, however, my experience is in a totally different field and I'm struggling with the wording of the covering letter and also wondering whether I should tailor/change my CV to make less of my previous employment.

The job advertised is for a Receptionist/Audio Typist for a firm of Solicitors. My previous jobs have alway been in Estate Agency, however, I have got an RSA II Audio Typing qualification and have Audio typed regularly when Secretaries have been off etc. The Receptionist part of the job I could do standing on my head as I'm very confident with dealing with the public.

I'm just worried that they will take one look at my CV and rule me out because all my previous jobs have been in estate agency.

How can I word the letter to point out that I HAVE got the experience they need even if I have not done that particular role previously?

Any ideas would be very welcome.

Thanks

I personally re-write my CV every time I apply for a different company to Highlight my qualities that they would be looking for, but still don't lie. As for the covering letter, dont point out that you are not experienced, I'd just say that you are looking for a new challenge and suggest reasons why you think the role suits you.

cazziebo

Good audio typists are hard to find so go for it. Has the Solicitors got a property department? If so, your experience will be very relevant.

Pokerface has a good strategy in targetting every application to the job. Focus particularly on what you think the key requirements are in the job, and how you match them

Best of luck!

LittleVoice

Develop your CV so that it does show your experience. Don't rely simply on a job title but show what you actually did. For instance some receptionists deal solely with people who walk into the building and there are separate telephonists. In other places the receptionist types, answers the phone, makes tea, prepares and opens mail, orders the office stationery, nurtures the plants, keeps the newspapers/ magazines tidy and anything else the managers can think of.

msflowerfairy

Make sure you place all of your relevant skills into bullet points near the top of your C.V, that is one of the first things that employers look for, especially if they have to sift through loads of applications.
Good Luck.