Anyone here work for any housing associations?

Savvy_Sue

Used to work for one: any employer would like to be sure that you were doing what you say you were doing and not in prison or unwell for long periods. A continuous employment history might rule that out. I'd say unlikely they'll check very far back, however ...

Have you been in f/t work ever since you left school? If not, then you could put 'home maker' for some chunks. Or if there were strings of temp jobs, or temp jobs in college holidays, cover chunks like that.

TBH, I'd struggle to get months and years accurate, and I've had very few jobs since leaving school more years ago than you did! However, I'd be able to re-create my CV approximately by working around when the boys were born, I did that until DS1 was born, then did p/t work, then we moved, then I got that f/t job, then I changed etc.

Hopefully though, I'd know I was going to have to re-write my CV so I could retrieve the application form I filled in for my current job from my HR file and work from that!!!

AP007

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Used to work for one: any employer would like to be sure that you were doing what you say you were doing and not in prison or unwell for long periods. A continuous employment history might rule that out. I'd say unlikely they'll check very far back, however ...

Have you been in f/t work ever since you left school? If not, then you could put 'home maker' for some chunks. Or if there were strings of temp jobs, or temp jobs in college holidays, cover chunks like that.

TBH, I'd struggle to get months and years accurate, and I've had very few jobs since leaving school more years ago than you did! However, I'd be able to re-create my CV approximately by working around when the boys were born, I did that until DS1 was born, then did p/t work, then we moved, then I got that f/t job, then I changed etc.

Hopefully though, I'd know I was going to have to re-write my CV so I could retrieve the application form I filled in for my current job from my HR file and work from that!!!

No periods of unemployment till now and have no gaps other than now on my CV and when I get a new job as long as I have 10 years on my CV I ditch the last job and only have dates going back to 1996 because this is where I took on more responsibility and its a very good job so show on my CV for the roles I go for.

I am guessing they can do a check to see If I was in prison (not that I was)?

I will see what they say if they get back to me if not I wont apply but I have filled in the application form tonight taking an age to do it.

Savvy_Sue

You see, I can't believe that at my age anyone will actually care that I worked for a charity in my school holidays, or at the local Polytechnic through Uni holidays, or even for a local council for about a year at some point.

So I think I'd probably put

19**-19**+6: various temporary jobs during school and University holidays.

Grad year - GY +3: worked for large charity and local government in London.

GY+4 - year of DS1's birth: worked for University.

Year of DS1's birth to year after we moved: Various p/t jobs and voluntary positions

And THEN I'd get detailed! Because we'd be almost in this century by then ... and I'd knock them dead on my personal statement.

You do realise in your personal statement you need to demonstrate how you meet of each of the essential and desirable points in the person spec? So if they want a good phone manner and experience of working on reception, you say "I have x years experience as a receptionist and switchboard operator, and have received training on handling difficult calls and complaints." Or whatever.

Of course, another thing employers are looking for is whether or not you can (or do) hold a job down. But at one point, while working for the HA and after seeing two potential admin assistants who appeared to be unable to type, I turned to the manager who was interviewing with me and said "We'll have that last one, I know she hasn't worked anywhere for longer than 6 months, and I know she's been off traveling between jobs, but I don't care if she only stays 6 months before going traveling again, because she's GOOD and I despair at these others we've seen ..."

AP007

Oh yes I have a supporting statement detailing all that I can do in regards to the job spec detailing everything they list and gives examples, but I guess If they come back to me and do want all dates - precise dates at that then I cant even send it in.

Dovah_diva

Dunroamin wrote: »

I don't think many people would remember specific dates that far back but I'd certainly expect somone to know the year.

This. I've worked for HA's and Council's all my life and can remember all the months and years, just not the days. Surely it'd be on your CV anyway?

paddedjohn

I can't even remember what year I left school so there's no way I would even remember the years that I started/finished jobs.

AP007

Dovah_diva wrote: »

This. I've worked for HA's and Council's all my life and can remember all the months and years, just not the days. Surely it'd be on your CV anyway?

My CV is not for the last 26 years however

eamon

Consider the fact that it is a poorly designed application form. Possibly aimed at a candidate younger than you and hence a shorter work history (this in itself could be a form of discrimation as Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act). I would be inclined to omit the dates but as you are going to be in contact with the HA's HR people anyway you should ask them for an opinion.

DomRavioli

eamon wrote: »

Consider the fact that it is a poorly designed application form. Possibly aimed at a candidate younger than you and hence a shorter work history (this in itself could be a form of discrimation as Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act). I would be inclined to omit the dates but as you are going to be in contact with the HA's HR people anyway you should ask them for an opinion.

It isn't aimed at anyone, so please don't start on the legal bandwagon. Most RSL/HA/ALMO application forms ask for a full work history so they can see if you have been sacked. Its usually a pre-requisite that you haven't been sacked, or had a fair few disciplinaries against you. The month and year is usually sufficient, unless you are working within finance, as they may need a full background check.

AP007

DomRavioli wrote: »

It isn't aimed at anyone, so please don't start on the legal bandwagon. Most RSL/HA/ALMO application forms ask for a full work history so they can see if you have been sacked. Its usually a pre-requisite that you haven't been sacked, or had a fair few disciplinaries against you. The month and year is usually sufficient, unless you are working within finance, as they may need a full background check.

It really wouldn't matter if I had been sacked from any job and I haven't as 3 of the companies that I worked for between leaving school and 1996 do not even exist anymore so they would have to take my word for it..