Support Each Other In Looking For Work?

aintshesweet

twinkle1981 wrote: »

I always thought my CV was quite good, but now i'm starting to wonder. I have only heard back from one job I applied for in the last 4 weeks and it was a rejection. No one else has even bothered to give me a thanks or no thanks e mail.

Does anyone know any good links to examples of CVs ?

I got free a CV crit (only last five minutes but she gave some really good advice) at http://www.reed.co.uk/cms/CareerTools/Free-CV-Review
Definitely worth doing. I rewrote my brother's CV for him and he got the job he went for.

I have a format which is working pretty well at getting me interviews...
Name + contact details
Driving license YES/ NO
Own vehicle YES/NO

Personal statement - 3/4 lines max. with emphasis on soft skills

Technical skills

Reverse chronological employment history with emphasis on responsibilies and achievements in each position

Reverse chronological education with emphasis on the qualifications most relevant to the position I'm applying for. Eg. I will say I have grade A in GCSE English Maths and Science where relevant. It just sounds good, so why not?

Personal interests with emphasis on hobbies that have transferable skills to the workplace (eg. for me it would be rock climbing, I can say that it's important to work well within a team and to be able to trust the people you're climbing with because my life is literally in their hands), and emphasis on personal achievements to show dedication and commitment (eg. for me that would be exhibiting in group art exhibitions).

Putting the skills up high breaks up large chunks of paragraphs that they'll just skim over. Anything I want emphasised I make bold.

babywillow

Hi all

Drea - aren't ex's a pain in bum! Hope you get it all sorted x

Good news today I have just got an email asking if I would like a interview Monday at 3.40, feel bad as had to email back this is not good for me as I need to get son from school and my mum who would look after my baby is going away mon/tues! Bloody typical as Ive sat here all this week with no kids, waiting for the phone to ring. Hope this doesnt look bad for me!

livermum

My advisor has looked over my CV and has changed a few things and I am really pleased with it. I think that I needed a fresh pair of eyes to see what was wrong. The main problem was I was not selling myself enough! I think that like most people on here my confidence has taken a bit of a knock and I needed to be reminded of my skills. I feel really happy now and hope that I will start making some progress with this one!

Drea my ex was awful as well (that's why he's my ex), but you will sort it out and at least you have found out about it now!

aintshesweet

I've had a job offer!!!!!

stephyt23

Wow, must be the weather, so many of you seem to have good news today so well done!!! :j:j:j:j

I had an offer through an agency for some office work but i've had to turn it down it's full time hours and now I'm starting my voluntary school work next week I ideally need part time or just 4 days a week work. It's long term voluntary and I'm not prepared to give something related to my career choice just to work in an office. Let's hope it was the right decision. She did say she'd call if anything part time comes up

icelandic_queen

I got offered a job too!! I got my notice of redundancy exactly a year ago today so that made it all the better! It's a cleaning job and minimum wage but since all I've done since getting made redundant is clean up after my kids and look after my parents I've plenty of experience! I'll still be a carer for my parents but it'll be nice to have some other adults to talk to. To all still looking I wish you all the best.

twinkle1981_2

Congrats to everyone who got job offers !! :T
I got another rejection yesterday, again never made interview. It was for a date entry/copy typist position. 'Having assessed your skills and experience, you have been unsuccessful'. I have worked in offices in admin and clerical roles since I was 18, how can I not have the relevant skills or experience for that !! And I think I have taken it too personally, and its just made me feel really depressed and useless. Just dont get what they are looking for at all.

twinkle1981_2

aintshesweet wrote: »

I got free a CV crit (only last five minutes but she gave some really good advice) at http://www.reed.co.uk/cms/CareerTools/Free-CV-Review
Definitely worth doing. I rewrote my brother's CV for him and he got the job he went for.

I have a format which is working pretty well at getting me interviews...
Name + contact details
Driving license YES/ NO
Own vehicle YES/NO

Personal statement - 3/4 lines max. with emphasis on soft skills

Technical skills

Reverse chronological employment history with emphasis on responsibilies and achievements in each position

Reverse chronological education with emphasis on the qualifications most relevant to the position I'm applying for. Eg. I will say I have grade A in GCSE English Maths and Science where relevant. It just sounds good, so why not?

Personal interests with emphasis on hobbies that have transferable skills to the workplace (eg. for me it would be rock climbing, I can say that it's important to work well within a team and to be able to trust the people you're climbing with because my life is literally in their hands), and emphasis on personal achievements to show dedication and commitment (eg. for me that would be exhibiting in group art exhibitions).

Putting the skills up high breaks up large chunks of paragraphs that they'll just skim over. Anything I want emphasised I make bold.

I registered for the free CV review the other day but I never heard anything back about it. Did they phone you or e mail you?

icelandic_queen

Twinkle1981 that is completely ridiculous!! I have a friend who barely made it onto the redundancy list at her old job as she was number 30 out of 31 people. A few months later the company were looking some people to go back and obviously she thought she was in with a chance but she was rejected!! She didn't have all the formal qualifications they were looking for despite doing the job from she was 18! Don't let it get to you, a better job is round the corner. It's their loss, not yours!!

twinkle1981_2

icelandic_queen wrote: »

Twinkle1981 that is completely ridiculous!! I have a friend who barely made it onto the redundancy list at her old job as she was number 30 out of 31 people. A few months later the company were looking some people to go back and obviously she thought she was in with a chance but she was rejected!! She didn't have all the formal qualifications they were looking for despite doing the job from she was 18! Don't let it get to you, a better job is round the corner. It's their loss, not yours!!

I have no formal admin qualifications I wonder if thats becoming a problem. Problem is I am studying for a history degree with OU and ultimately I want to work as a curator/tour guide. I dont have the necessary qualifications or experience for that at the moment so I am applying for admin jobs as that is where my experience lies. I did have a statement under 'interests and activities' on my CV that I was studying for a history degree with the OU for my own personal development but im wondering if I should take that off. Although I do want to mention I am doing an OU degree as I can say that distance learning requires excellent time management skills. Arrgggghhh im driving myself nuts here haha.

I am currently working on changing my CV using examples on the University of Kent's website.