Eager Jobseeker!

djdido2

Hi there

Can anyone offer any help/support?!

I am a lone parent and have worked self-employed as a DJ and Singer for the last ten years. After the festive period work is really quiet and I am worried about how I will keep myself afloat over the next few weeks/months so I am looking for a day job to subsidise my income!

I have several application forms and am jobseeking enthusiastically but I have a problem how to apply the skills I have acquired running my own business. I worry about references too because I have never worked for the same person so its difficult to pin somebody who knows me well enough to warrant a good reference.

I am confident in my capabilities but I become all negative when it comes to "Employment History". There are so many people applying for the same job and I want to apply my skills positively. I find myself in the mode that they will choose people who have stayed within a similar role and not somebody who has worked evenings for the last decade.

I know I could take any job to make money but I really want to apply for those jobs that I will be happy doing, typically working with/alongside the general public.

Any input would be really appreciated!

Thanks

Dido

Savvy_Sue

djdido2 wrote:

I am confident in my capabilities but I become all negative when it comes to "Employment History". There are so many people applying for the same job and I want to apply my skills positively. I find myself in the mode that they will choose people who have stayed within a similar role and not somebody who has worked evenings for the last decade.

Well, not every job wants someone who has stayed in a rut for the last decade ...

Try to turn your thinking around: you CAN make your application stand out if you don't talk yourself down. Your employment history is that you have been self-employed, running your own business, and bringing up a child (which you may or may not want to mention). You're reliable and able to use your initiative.

I wonder if you've considered using agencies? They often specialise in different fields, eg office, catering, driving etc. And sometimes one will have a 'special relationship' with any large employers, eg local university, council, or not for profit organisations. They'll help you present yourself well, and maybe you could do some temping with them which would make the reference problem easier.

Although it's quite understandable that if you've been self-employed you wouldn't have your last employer. Try to think of someone professional who knows you or has used your services: doctor, police, teacher etc.

Astaroth

What sort of jobs are you applying for?

Running a successful business for 10 years should look good on your CV/ application form... the difficulty will be explaining at interview why you are now looking for employment in addition to/ to replace this. Secondary to this, with my potential employer hat on, my concern would be if you are continuing doing the DJ/ singer thing are you going to have a gig that goes on til 2am and then you have to pack up, get home etc and be in at 8am sharp the next day bright eyed and bushy tailed to work for me or are you going to call in sick/ be falling asleep at your desk.