Should I dumb down my CV?

HeidiHi123

I have been applying for jobs, mostly through agencies, and I'm not being put forward. The reason in most cases is that i'm overqualified.

I am a trained chartered accountant - but to be honest, no longer have any great love of number crunching.

I have been running my own businesses for the past few years whilst bringing up children, including running my own shop. And doing the admin stuff for my husband's business.

I now want to go back to work, full time. But not particularly in the role that I was in before I stopped working full time. I don't think that I could do the Management Accountant type role that I was in before, simply because I am no longer very good at simply following doing stuff for no real reason (which a lot of the management accounting is all about).

I am good at the analysis, project, systems stuff. And I enjoy this becuase there is an outcome to this which is actually useful to someone. However, the feedback that i'm getting is that I am over qualified for this.

SO, my question - should I dumb down my CV? And if so, how?

Thank you.

Horace

Rather than using agencies to help find you a job - apply yourself and amend your CV accordingly - look at the job description and see what transferrable skills you have and how they can fit into that job - eg. in the shop you had to learn customer care skills etc. One of the reasons why you are possibly being rejected is that they think that you will get bored and move on especially as you have run your own business...they dont want to spend time and money training you up in their business for you to leave.

Have you considered remaining in self employment and doing something entirely different to number crunching?

HeidiHi123

I already do that with the CV. But it seems that the bit that everyone focuses on is the bit at the bottom that says Chartered Accountant, and it seems to override everything above it.

I have tried to get around this by putting a statement at the top that says although i'm a trained accountant THIS ISN'T WHAT I WANT TO DO ANYMORE (but a bit more subtly, if you know what I mean) and then drawing attention to the skills that I have that fit the job in question.

However, it always seems to come back to "but we're not really looking for someone with a finance background".

I feel like completely taking it off my CV - how bizarre is that!!!

Oldernotwiser

Have you thought of teaching Accountancy/Finance at college level?

TEDDYRUKSPIN

I don't think it is about dumbing down your cv. No such thing to be honest as they will ask about your work experience etc. As above, you should tailor your cv to the job description.

Agencies are complete rubbish at the moment. Some are keeping jobs on their system and online to attract potential clients, although the posts have gone! Just be aware of this. It is very unlikely that you are not suitable, it is because that company has no jobs specific to you.

Recruitment agencies will always put forward what they think will get them commission. So if a job wants a management accountant, they will put you forward but not on who is has experience in McDonalds.

So cheer up! Keep on applying.

bmdubya

I had/have the same problem. For many years I was a self emplopyed IT Consultant, but last year wanted a change of career, for too many reasons to list here. Over 2-3 months last year I applied ofr approx 60 jobs in various sectors, all none IT, and got the same as replies as you. Unfortunately I'm still in IT trying to find an alternative career, and I too am considering 'dumbing' down my CV, I did this once and got an interview for a call centre job, which I didn't get as I had to 'expand' on what I'd been doing for the last 10 years:-)

Good luck.

horsechestnut

Is any organisation in your area running any courses for women returning to work after bringing up children? If you can get onto one of these then you can leave out the bit about being self employed (as you were "just" bringing up the children) if you think that is part of the problem.
Also ask at various colleges/job centres/ local press to see if there are any college/university courses that you might like.
Have you ever thought of teaching?
Can you do some voluntary work to gain some more recent employment experience? If you will work for nothing, then you are certainly prepared to work and that makes you an attractive prospect for any employer.

HeidiHi123

Taking a look around, and i've fallen into that old persons trap of having all the experience, but not the newest new fangled qualification to hang on it all.

Thinking about taking the Prince2 courses, which then makes me a project manager with finance background, instead of an accountant with project management experience.

Do you think this sounds sensible?

aaronoxf

I have to dumb down my CV a hell of a lot, thing is im 24 and have done such alot so early on, for example ive worked for Oxford United and Bradford City as a professional football coach, I have also worked abroad in Marbella for a famous ex pro footballer as a football coach, I have also worked in the television industry as an extra, chaperone and a production assistant for 6 years, I go snowboarding at least twice a week, I used to play semi professional football, Ive owned my own hose since ive been 22, I was also a life guard and part time swim teacher, also bar supervisor for 2 years at a busy town centre bar and now I currently work for BMW Mini, my job before this was at Manchester airport as an airport hand. Writing all that in a CV isnt a good idea, people just read it and think I live on cloud cockoo. I now only tend to pick manchester airport and BMW as my previous jobs, everything else just needs too many questions

HeidiHi123

horsechestnut wrote: »

Can you do some voluntary work to gain some more recent employment experience? If you will work for nothing, then you are certainly prepared to work and that makes you an attractive prospect for any employer.

It seems bizarre to be looking for voluntary work to boost my CV when i've spent the last 8 years working 50+ hour weeks.

But I appreciate the helpful sentiment!

cazziebo

HeidiHi123 wrote: »

Taking a look around, and i've fallen into that old persons trap of having all the experience, but not the newest new fangled qualification to hang on it all.

Thinking about taking the Prince2 courses, which then makes me a project manager with finance background, instead of an accountant with project management experience.

Do you think this sounds sensible?

Personally - I wouldn't recommend it. I did Prince 2 and it's quite interesting but only used by the largest organisations and the public sector. Prince 2 is a bit like marmite - some companies think it's great, others think it's a waste of time.

I found it quite difficult changing direction a few years ago. You do tend to get put in a box. I was lucky in that I got a completely different role with one of my clients and everything just developed from there. I also studied for an MBA (via the OU) which was a great experience and it helped break down some of the barriers.

Don't dumb down your CV. If it's of any interest, three of my MDs have been CAs - and they rank as one, two and three of the best bosses I've ever had. None of them would describe themselves as accountants now (and one is always insulted when he is referred to as such!) but that CA training does give them a real business edge. That, and the fact you've run your own business, would make you a very good prospect for an employer. You just have to find the right one.

Best of luck.