What am I doing wrong?

Oldernotwiser

pimento wrote: »

What work did your wife do between leaving university at 21 and now. I make that 13 years.

I think she's been a mature student.

At a tangent, OP, if she's going to start a new degree she needs to do it in 2011, as increased fees will start in 2012.

Arcana

pimento: she didn't start uni til 3 years ago. She had a child at 21 - and being a single mom back then uni wasn't really an option then.

AimeesMum: I see what you are saying, but I suppose it's not like she was/is looking for a career in any of the jobs she's done so she's just taken what has been available to her.

oldernotwiser: I wrote the CV because I have a design background and she does suffer from Dyslexia.
I wrote what her experience is a couple of posts before yours.

DCFC79

Has she tried looking xmas temp jobs, you tried the local paper, job centre website

Arcana

DCFC79 wrote: »

Has she tried looking xmas temp jobs, you tried the local paper, job centre website

Actually, this is the sort of advice I was looking for.
She has tried the job centre, but not for a few weeks so thanks for the reminder.
Not sure of websites adverting "xmas temp jobs" as such. Any particular ones to look out for?

Oldernotwiser

Arcana wrote: »

oldernotwiser: I wrote the CV because I have a design background and she does suffer from Dyslexia.
I wrote what her experience is a couple of posts before yours.

I assumed that these were the jobs she's applying for rather than the work she's done.

A design background isn't particularly relevant for writing a CV; could she get help on this from elsewhere?

dawyldthing

I had to defer a few years back from uni, so I know what she is going through as at the time I was 20, just had a-levels like your other half and had to defer a year due to an exam worth 3.33 credits, but due to it being a core module, i had to pass it to get through. Anyway, back to topic, are you writing an introductory paragraph on the top of each CV detailing why she is applying for that particular job (like I have one for office work, one for teaching/ working with children, one for general work) as sending the different ones out helped me as I had 3 recruitment agencies phone me within a week. On my deferred year I did any and every job possible. One of the things I did, and still do, is check jobcentre plus website around 11am to 1pm as it seems to be when the adverts go live and its how I got the temping job I have at the moment. If she can do definately do volunteer work as its helped me get jobs in the past and has also helped friends as then you can use it as a recent reference (as I know from experience that unis are not always very favourable about giving references as I know on my course it can't be sent to the tutor it has to be sent through the department or you won't get a reference.

In addition, although your wife has left uni, do include it on her CV as I did and said to employers that I was deciding what to do next (as at the time I wasn't too sure if I wanted to go back to uni, did in the end but thats a different story) and places were accepting of it. Some people don't seem to bother about uni as i remember going for a caring job and saying I had done 2 years so she thought I already had my degree, but it is worth explaining it to others.

Theres work from home ones like avon, but there not ideal. I'll keep thinking of other things, but changing the cv to the application definately helped for me.

Arcana

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I assumed that these were the jobs she's applying for rather than the work she's done.

A design background isn't particularly relevant for writing a CV; could she get help on this from elsewhere?

Well, I didn't mean Interior design but Graphic design. So I do know how to make a CV look good and stand out visually, but of course, a degree in English literature would have been better.
She also had help from the career advisors in her uni to write the CV, so content wise I think it's ok.

SevenOfNine

Shops usually want temps but she'll have to be quick now as they are going fast. Depends on the area who else is looking, round here it's Argos, Santander, organisations who expect sales/spending to increase tenfold in the run up to Xmas. Even Tesco stuck a sign up advertising temp jobs.

Has she/you investigated what other help she can get with CV/application forms/interview skills. Frankly, it isn't easy and finding/getting a job is a job in itself. Nextstep, A4e - check out their websites for locations. Nextstep might be particularly helpful for her circumstances.

If I were here, I'd see what temp agencies handling Carers are in your area, register and then pester with a phone call every Monday. Also contact local large stores, BHS have definitely been recruiting just for Christmas recently.

sulkisu

Most of the big retailers are currently taking on Cristmas temps - John Lewis, Argos, Selfridges, Boots, Superdrug, HMV, to name but a few. They tend to advertise in store (some online), so it's just a case of your wife getting out there and hitting the high street/shopping centres and looking. As you live just outside of London, there should be plenty of opportunities available to her, but she will need to get moving as posts are being snapped up quickly.

Becles

What about office temping. Can she do receptionist and office duties?

Has she thought about going back to uni with the OU? It's brilliant being able to juggle the coursework around your family. She may get help with the costs too depending on your household income.

I've just finished my degree with them, and my third baby was born in the middle of it. It wasn't easy as I didn't take any time off the OU but I've enjoyed it.