36 with no CV as such, where do i start?

AlTeREgO

anyone got any advice

Im 36, been a stay at home mum most of my adult life, so don't have a employment CV.

We dont claim benefits, so i can do just a few( 4,5,6 ) hours prehaps cleaning, but from what i have seen even those jobs want experiance and application with CV.

Anyone got any tips for me please?

I've been using Jobcentre Plus, where else would be a good place to look?

Thanks in advance

sniggings

Do a skills based CV, there are loads of examples on the web.

Indeed is a jobs site

Monster too

also worth thinking where you would like to work and giving them a ring or checking out their online site, most places now will have a jobs section on their web page.

denla

You've been a secretary to your husband and children. You've been a cleaner, a personal assistant, and exercised transferable customer service skills each day. Write something along those lines in your CV and make sure to give examples.

AlTeREgO

Thank you for you replies and suggestions.

Nothing suitable again for me on JCP website, so i'll look forward to being able to look elsewhere.

Any other suggestions on what sort of things i could put a my CV?

Also with regards to references, could this be personal character refrences or who you suggest i just leave this are blank?

denla

AlTeREgO wrote: »

Thank you for you replies and suggestions.

Nothing suitable again for me on JCP website, so i'll look forward to being able to look elsewhere.

Any other suggestions on what sort of things i could put a my CV?

Also with regards to references, could this be personal character refrences or who you suggest i just leave this are blank?

Do you have a neighbour who's a professional who can give you a character reference? It's always better to have a character reference from someone with some reputation than no one at all if you haven't been in work for so long.

MissSarah1972

AlTeREgO wrote: »

anyone got any advice

Im 36, been a stay at home mum most of my adult life, so don't have a employment CV.

We dont claim benefits, so i can do just a few( 4,5,6 ) hours prehaps cleaning, but from what i have seen even those jobs want experiance and application with CV.

Anyone got any tips for me please?

I've been using Jobcentre Plus, where else would be a good place to look?

Thanks in advance

From when you left school you have been a stay at home mum?

AlTeREgO

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

From when you left school you have been a stay at home mum?

Hi
No, i did get pregnant at 15, but lost the child while 6months gone.
I didn't do very well in my exams, but got a place at college after leaving school studying beauty therapy. I was on the course for 18 months but it wasn't for me, i'd been pressured into taking on the course because "i'd been lucky to be offered any course"

I also did early morning cleaning for 8 months while at college.

i fell in with a wrong crowd after/ around the time of leaving college and was unemployed for a short while...but basically doing nothing but hanging out with my friends in truth.

I then decide to ditch the "wrong" crowd and helped my brother run his 2nd hand junk shop, i cant remember exactly how long this was for, maybe 18 months, i met my Ex partner while i worked there and became pregant again and worked upto 8 months pregnant, left to have the kids.
split with ex shortly after 2nd child was born and i had post natal depression,i was on income support for a while until i met current partner who "took us on so to speak" and supported us.

I did run my own business for 5 years, a franchise, but had to give this up after another bout of depression, this is one of my biggest regrets because i was very good at what i did when i was well, its not something i could consider now, and i couldn't afford the franchise fee now even if it was an option.

So i do have skills and some very patch work history i suppose!
its just a case of trying to transfer it to a CV, And other than working for BRO and cleaning 16 years ago ive never been employed, franchise was classed as self employed

AfraidLady

I don't see why you can't say in a CV you've been looking after family. You could mention self employment as well. Hobbies/interests. they will probably need a reference so maybe you could volunteer for a few hours each week. There are loads of stuff on do-it website.
I know lots of places are desperate for cleaners/carers if you've been looking after a household for years that's experience you can talk about, and you've never been sacked from a job either, so you've got a clean work record.

best luck

AlTeREgO

Thanks for the volunteers website info

Could well be an option to gain experiance & confidence, Thank you

barnaby-bear

No, i did get pregnant at 15, but lost the child while 6months gone.
I didn't do very well in my exams, but got a place at college after leaving school studying beauty therapy. I was on the course for 18 months but it wasn't for me, i'd been pressured into taking on the course because "i'd been lucky to be offered any course"

>> Don't explain any of this, just say you were immature and didn't focus - put the course down and say that simply didn't like beauty therapy and made the wrong decision

I also did early morning cleaning for 8 months while at college.

>> Yes put this down

i fell in with a wrong crowd after/ around the time of leaving college and was unemployed for a short while...but basically doing nothing but hanging out with my friends in truth.

>> helped in family business, just explain it didn't bring in enough to pay you then so was casual

I then decide to ditch the "wrong" crowd and helped my brother run his 2nd hand junk shop, i cant remember exactly how long this was for, maybe 18 months, i met my Ex partner while i worked there and became pregant again and worked upto 8 months pregnant,

>> When the business "curiosity, antiques shop" (retail experience) , became more established "I took on a formal role" involving "retail sales", VAT if you did, dealing with suppliers, deliveries

left to have the kids.
split with ex shortly after 2nd child was born and i had post natal depression,i was on income support for a while until i met current partner who "took us on so to speak" and supported us.
>> skip the depression; you wanted to stay at home with children, career break - perfectly normal

I did run my own business for 5 years, a franchise, but had to give this up after another bout of depression, this is one of my biggest regrets because i was very good at what i did when i was well, its not something i could consider now, and i couldn't afford the franchise fee now even if it was an option.
>> Yes add this, you must have done accounts, tax, direct selling? Simply explain the business model changed, or your childcare fell through which is no longer a problem now they are at school/older; or the economic climate/other reps. made it difficult to make the franchaise pay

So i do have skills and some very patch work history i suppose!
its just a case of trying to transfer it to a CV, And other than working for BRO and cleaning 16 years ago ive never been employed, franchise was classed as self employed
>> still counts... it sounds like a fairly normal CV for a lot of people, I wouldn't restrict yourself to cleaning jobs only
>> perhaps some voluntary work in a chrity shop to go back to retail?

>> don't lie, just explain and mention "Having completed my family and with my children now old enough to allow me to focus and commit to an employer, I am very keen to take on a new role/challenge " (sub-text employ me over the 21 year old who will be starting a family - I won't" (even if you might rethink that once you have the job)....

AlTeREgO

Thanks BarnabyBear

I just have applied for a few jobs online @ Asda, they didnt need a CV as such, 3 different questionaires and basic details.

I will keep in mind what you have suggested should i get called in for an interview, Fingers crossed!