Overqualified. How to get attention of employers?

Annisele

ammiLy wrote: »

Also would appreciate it if anyone could comment on the legal responsibility (or whatever it is) to disclose information upon application for a job?

It's absolutely impossible to disclose all of your skills and experience in a two-page document. (If your CV is more than two pages for an entry level job, that's a problem in itself).

For example, when I was at primary school I got some swimming certificates. They were from a nationally recognised awarding body, I worked hard for them, and I was really proud of them. But they don't go near my CV. I haven't lied, I've just omitted irrelevant information.

I appreciate A Levels and degrees aren't swimming certificates - but if they're not relevant, leave them out.

Paully232000

ammiLy wrote: »

Dunroamin and/or ringo_24601, could you point me in a direction where I could find a decent example of skills based CV? You are right, mine is a traditional chronological CV which is what I was shown how to write and it works (or at least did work) in my field. And do you think it will benefit me in situations where an online form has to be filled in on top of submitting CV, ie what do employers look at first - the form of CV?
Also would appreciate it if anyone could comment on the legal responsibility (or whatever it is) to disclose information upon application for a job? I heard of people being dismissed for lying on their CV, but don't know the details of this requirement. Obviously there's no place for blatant lies, but if I do not list my uni degrees is that not a kind of lie?
BTW thanks all for taking time to read and comment! :T

http://www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/cv-templates/2

have a look through this page and website as some good information i have used in the past. Also shos you an example of a skills based DV which you might find useful.

ammiLy

GwylimT wrote: »

If there is an area you are interested in you could contact some potential employers expressing an interest in doing some work experience/shadowing to get a true feel for the role.

Yes, and I have applied for internships at several places - no result. Even contacted CAB to be a volunteer as it would give me much needed experience and skills. Not heard from them in a week! :mad: I want to go into policies and thought higher education would be an advantage in this area. Apparently not

Sorry for silly questions, just taking the opportunity to pick brains
So... If I have 3 uni degrees but they are not relevant for the position I'm applying for I don't list them on CV? Or do I only omit the highest degree? Am I not committing a set of transferable skills and qualities gained during studies? Also my problem is that my last degree is also my last work experience so I can't remove one without opening a huge gap in my working history... Is it something that I can address in the cover letter? As in not list my higher education on CV, hoping that employer looks at it first and then say I have these degrees etc?

My CV is two pages and the professional one does not have my part time jobs listed as they are not relevant, on the "change career" CV I have them listed although they are old (more than 5 years).

Dunroamin

ammiLy wrote: »

Yes, and I have applied for internships at several places - no result. Even contacted CAB to be a volunteer as it would give me much needed experience and skills. Not heard from them in a week! :mad: I want to go into policies and thought higher education would be an advantage in this area. Apparently not

Sorry for silly questions, just taking the opportunity to pick brains
So... If I have 3 uni degrees but they are not relevant for the position I'm applying for I don't list them on CV? Or do I only omit the highest degree? Am I not committing a set of transferable skills and qualities gained during studies? Also my problem is that my last degree is also my last work experience so I can't remove one without opening a huge gap in my working history... Is it something that I can address in the cover letter? As in not list my higher education on CV, hoping that employer looks at it first and then say I have these degrees etc?

My CV is two pages and the professional one does not have my part time jobs listed as they are not relevant, on the "change career" CV I have them listed although they are old (more than 5 years).

If you use a skills based CV format then most of the first page will be taken up by these and can be tailored to the job you're applying for. By the time the reader gets to the second page, with your job history and any qualifications you choose to list, it will be obvious that you have the sills required for the post.

A chronological CV hits the reader in the face with your high flying jobs and academic qualifications, which is great when you're working your way up the career ladder in a specific field, but not what you want if you're changing career or moving sideways.

There are some good examples on here.

http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/careers/skills-based-or-functional-cv.php

[Deleted User]

ammiLy wrote: »

Yes, and I have applied for internships at several places - no result. Even contacted CAB to be a volunteer as it would give me much needed experience and skills. Not heard from them in a week! :mad: I want to go into policies and thought higher education would be an advantage in this area. Apparently not

Sorry for silly questions, just taking the opportunity to pick brains
So... If I have 3 uni degrees but they are not relevant for the position I'm applying for I don't list them on CV? Or do I only omit the highest degree? Am I not committing a set of transferable skills and qualities gained during studies? Also my problem is that my last degree is also my last work experience so I can't remove one without opening a huge gap in my working history... Is it something that I can address in the cover letter? As in not list my higher education on CV, hoping that employer looks at it first and then say I have these degrees etc?

My CV is two pages and the professional one does not have my part time jobs listed as they are not relevant, on the "change career" CV I have them listed although they are old (more than 5 years).

Sorry.. i've never written a skills based CV so i can't point you to a template.

My CV has always been very tailored to the job I apply for, and it's why I generally maintain a '3 pager' and then cut it down to two pages when needed. I've stripped down the details of my education (i went up to Masters) as I've been in employment. Relevant experience is generally far more important than education

The format I've used is chronological, with a large skills section (cross referenced to the work experience). I'm sorry, without posting an anonymised version of your CV, i'm not sure we can greatly help. You also need advice from someone in the sector you're aiming for

ammiLy

Thanks again for all the tips, they're much appreciated!
I will have to re-write my CV and keep an expanded version for easy tailoring. I do this with my cover letters yet never considered adapting my CV! Hope that helps with the job hunt And I'm sure to be back with some silly questions!