JOB= IMPOSSIBLE (maybe slight exaggeration)

couponqueen123

I have been looking for a job since my youngest child was around a year old (shes 2 now )

i don't have any GCSES/EXAMS behind me but before i had children i did these job

i worked for next full time as a senior sales advisor when i left school
(i walked in to the shop and there was a sale the next day and they were short staffed i jokingly said i would be available if she need help she just said to me black trousers and white shirt be here at 5 am and i got a full time job by 7.30 am i couldn't believe it )

next job was working for a well known bookies full time i eventually made it to deputy manager (but had to leave when i was pregnant long story)
Next job :ran a pub for 2 years with my ex husband (was husband at the time)

people always coment on how organised i am and ask how i manage to keep up with things
could some one please help me and sugest some ways of making my cv beter as i have no gcses to put in .

i can not got to collage /uni as me and my patner and 2 kids have one income and thats streched already and we dont want to get in debt

many thanks

p.s this is my first post so please be nice

Notmyrealname

Do a skills based CV. Monster.com has some excellent advice on how to create a skills based CV. Think about all the aspects of the jobs you did such as cash handling, advertising, sales, customer service etc.

kingfisherblue

You need to explain how your previous employment has giuven you skills that will help you in the job that you are applying for. For example, as deputy manager of a bookies, I assume that you have cash handling experience, customer service skills, and the ability to deal with awkward situations - these can all be expanded upon for several jobs, including retail, reception work, and restaurant work. You presumably have had to make decisions at times, and running a pub with your ex husband will have given you some management experience, so you can manage staff - rotas, holiday cover, personality clashes, etc.

Yoou say that others think you are organised - can you demonstrate this to potential employers if asked during an interview? Think of examples to show that you can do the job.

I also assume that you can use a computer. can you use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, email? many people put on an application form that they can use a computer, but employers like to know if you have experience of particular programmes.

Are there any courses that you could do? Our local community centre offers several, including English, maths and IT (all free) that lead to recognised qualifications. As well as giving you the accreditation, this can also show that you want to learn, that you want to improve your skills and employability, that you can show commitment.

couponqueen123

kingfisherblue wrote: »

You need to explain how your previous employment has giuven you skills that will help you in the job that you are applying for. For example, as deputy manager of a bookies, I assume that you have cash handling experience, customer service skills, and the ability to deal with awkward situations - these can all be expanded upon for several jobs, including retail, reception work, and restaurant work. You presumably have had to make decisions at times, and running a pub with your ex husband will have given you some management experience, so you can manage staff - rotas, holiday cover, personality clashes, etc.

Yoou say that others think you are organised - can you demonstrate this to potential employers if asked during an interview? Think of examples to show that you can do the job.

I also assume that you can use a computer. can you use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, email? many people put on an application form that they can use a computer, but employers like to know if you have experience of particular programmes.

Are there any courses that you could do? Our local community centre offers several, including English, maths and IT (all free) that lead to recognised qualifications. As well as giving you the accreditation, this can also show that you want to learn, that you want to improve your skills and employability, that you can show commitment.

you make me feel like there's hope out there i cant believe the days have gone where i could walk in to a job (lazy i know but there were lots of jobs back when i was working )im only 24 so im really young

going to do some investigation of my local area to see if they do some free courses and if they do i will do that also im going to look at monster.com

P.S if there's anyone in the Swansea area looking for an organised well rounded individual to join there team or work just for them then please interview me


THANKYOU

DCFC79

I cant actualy help with the cv part except you have the experience and quite surprised you got a job at Next the way you did.

WestonDave

Have a look at the temp agencies - its not good pay and not a permanent job but if they can get you into an admin role or other cover role its something recent to put on your CV to show you can work, can turn up on time, and can have a recent reference. Some of the shopping centres now do their recruitment via a particular agencies rather than each shop recruiting direct - check if that's the case locally.

(Also there are a few typos in your posting - fine on here, but could be fatal on a CV or covering letter - get someone to check and for a while maybe give yourself a zero tolerance of typos and spelling mistakes to get you ready for maybe a written test)

dawyldthing

esp in the next few weeks as this is when all the courses are starting. Your applying for them at the best time tbh

davenport151

Definately go for the skills part or re-training. I did learn direct. Then often it needs just a bit of luck with the right employer.
I re trained after being in catering and a SAHM for 8 years. Now I love what I do (admin work in a care home).
The beauty of learn direct and such is you can commit to a set amount of time and do the courses online.

Bigmoney2

My local Argos had a sign in store the other day for christmas staff.
May be worth a go if there's one near you, you have relevant experience and it would give you some recent work experience and a reference.

flutterbyuk25

There are lots of Xmas jobs about to be advertised in the Swansea/Llanelli area (I work for a training organisation and we get the job centre updates) so keep an eye out there. There is normally a recruitment fair held in Parc Y Scarlets for Xmas jobs during Sept. It may be worthwhile handing your CV in to every shop now just in case.

Keep eye on all the job-seeking sites, especially the job centre one, and https://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/jobs.

Your local job centre (if you sign on) or careers centre can help you write your CV for you, or there are plenty of online tools.

Good luck, and if I hear of any vacancies I'll try to remember to let you know!

yimmie

Bigmoney2 wrote: »

My local Argos had a sign in store the other day for christmas staff.
May be worth a go if there's one near you, you have relevant experience and it would give you some recent work experience and a reference.

That's what I was going to say! It's also worth looking on your local shopping center website at their job section?

My boyfriends little sister had a x-mas temp job they kept her on after x-mas , she went on to work in a different department there. They did only keep 2 of the temps on though.

My mum does cleaning which isn't much money as it's only a couple of hours a day but it's something! A really good job for someone with young kids.