Nice people thread part 6 - thrice by twice as nice :)

Doozergirl

I was just thinking Sue, it's probably worth mentioning your old role at the company first! So yes, you can remind them directly of that, rather than why you left. I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that you left to be a mum if you push on the fact that you have kept your feet wet with the website and all manner of other things, I'm sure.

Good luck, by the way!

Doozergirl

It's cold outside, if you were wondering. I'm sure you weren't, but it definitely is.

misskool

SingleSue wrote: »

How does this sound as a personal statement?

"After spending the last 6 years dealing with the needs of my three children, two of whom have autism, I believe it is now time for me to return to work as their demands on me have lessened.
In the intervening years, I have built up a website forum which requires the ability to be able to work to a very tight deadline, manage a team of people (approx. 60 team members), work as part of that team, deliver a high quality, accurate service whilst also providing good customer service to our service users, all skills which I believe are highly transferable to a working environment.
I do have a disability which requires the use of a crutch but I believe that this will not have an adverse impact on my ability to do the vacancy for which I am applying for, as I need no modifications to my work station, work methods or hours."


Honest feedback please.....

you don't have to mention the children and your disability (esp in your personal statement!)

your personal statement is about your strengths, your organisational, time management, people skills. Target key words in the job description/job spec, this is the only time you have ten seconds to convince someone you're better than everyone else.

Each CV should be tailored to every job description, so follow their essential and desirable person specifications.

Say you have previous experience in the industry (so you understand the needs of the job). HTH

misskool

Doozergirl wrote: »

It's cold outside, if you were wondering. I'm sure you weren't, but it definitely is.

I'll go and investigate it now thanks

vivatifosi

Morning Sue, I agree with everything the NPs say about not mentioning the boys or disabilities. I'd focus strongly on your ability to do the role as you've done it before. More than anything else though, I'd speak to someone you know who still works there and who can put in a word for you. It's six years. The company has moved on. The HR department may not have heard of you, so you've got to get to interview to prove yourself. However if you can get someone onside who knows you and who can say "oh by the way SS, who used to work here, is going to apply for that job, can you keep an eye out for her application?" then that's worth a lot by itself. You're not an unknown quantity here, so don't put yourself on a level playing field with unknowns, use your networking skills to build up a level of anticipation first.

PasturesNew

misskool wrote: »

Each CV should be tailored to every job description, so follow their essential and desirable person specifications.

If I did that it'd take 3 hours/application, minimum. My experience is vast and the range of roles I apply for is vast ..... I'd be almost rewriting it from scratch for every one.....

It's all a faff these days.... if the employer is unable to read CVs then I don't know what the world's coming to

michaels

My general suggestion:

'I am an exceptional job title, highly motivated to return to a sector where I have huge breadth of relavent experince. I particuarly look forward to the opportunity to incorporate skills in website managment that I aquired setting up and running a 50k user specialist website during my career break to my underlying key core skill set.

Next bullet point list of key skills/qualifications

Next employment summary with key relevant experience picked out in aech role.

Next education summary

As the others said your home situation is of no buisness of the employer.

vivatifosi

PasturesNew wrote: »

If I did that it'd take 3 hours/application, minimum. My experience is vast and the range of roles I apply for is vast ..... I'd be almost rewriting it from scratch for every one.....

It's all a faff these days.... if the employer is unable to read CVs then I don't know what the world's coming to

missk is right Pastures. While I can see where you are coming from re the employer being unable to read CVs, it is an employers market. If it is not immediately apparent why they should meet you an application will go in the circular filing system.

Having said that, what you could do is build yourself a modular CV. So if you are going for a job that involves sales, you'd have a bunch of paragraphs that could be added stressing sales experience; if you are going for one that involves IT, you'd focus on that. I have three versions of my CV which focus on the three different strengths that I can offer a future employer (which don't necessarily sit alongside each other in a role). They mention the other areas, but very much focus on the one that I'm applying for. In all instances it is worth focusing the opening paragraph on how brilliant you'd be at meeting their spec.

For example:

'An experienced webmaster with proven ability in search engine optimisation and...' making sure that those selling points are quantified in the main text of the CV.

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

...

One trouble I am seeing at the moment is jobs through agencies - they don't even tell you what the company does/is/makes.

vivatifosi

Or alternatively "what michaels said" (he kinda beat me to it).