I've been told to pretend I don't have any qualifications!!!

black-saturn

I went to a lone parent help group at my local job centre today as I would like to get back into full time work (have 3 part time jobs at the moment). A woman offered to devise a CV for me (even though I told her I already have one) and asked me what qualifications I have. I started to go through my A levels, BTEC diplomas and my degree and she said I had to forget I ever did them. She said employers are no longer looking for high qualifications but are looking for practical experience. She said having a lot of qualifications will only hold you back.

Now I wonder why I did all those years of hard work and scraping and saving at uni and why I just didn't go on a YTS scheme like everyone else.

ckerrd

What a great help she was - not.

Some people do look for experience but in my humble opinion, I would not advise you to not include your qualifications.

And advising people about careers is one of the things I do to make money.

Meatballs

You would perhaps not mention your qualifications if you are applying to be a dustman or shelf stacker at a supermarket or any other kind of job where they dont think you would be satisfied with that position if you had a degree.

mikewebs

What a disgusting way to run an 'advice' service! You should complain to the centre manager. I cannot believe what I jst read - never be tempted to lie on a CV - if you get a job you could be committing fraud or theft (something like that) because you know you have lied - ommission is the same as lying.

Let's be honest, if you have those qualifications, you should be applying for jobs that rarely come up in job centres anyway! Practical experience does count for a lot but so long as you are numerate and literate you should find work through one of the big agencies with no problem - try www.reed.co.uk or www.hays.com. They have both temporary and permanent jobs in number of fields.

Hope you find something soon

studentphil

I can see the point on experience is important.
But I do not see the need to hide all you skills you got from a degree.

Honestly how far have people on YTS got, really are they better off than you?

Meatballs

mikewebs wrote: »

What a disgusting way to run an 'advice' service! You should complain to the centre manager. I cannot believe what I jst read - never be tempted to lie on a CV - if you get a job you could be committing fraud or theft (something like that) because you know you have lied - ommission is the same as lying.

You tailor your CV to the job. You omit loads of stuff. That's not lieing, nor is it illegal!

I.e. I apply for a computer programming postgrad post, I omit that I was a paperboy for 3 years, or I omit that I have a HND in Cookery. They're just not relevant - nor is having a degree to many menial jobs...

If I said I had qualifications that I didn't have that'd be fraud - i.e. pretending to be a qualified doctor. Or if when specifically asked if I had a degree and I said no then I guess that'd be fraud.

bella123

studentphil wrote: »

I can see the point on experience is important.
But I do not see the need to hide all you skills you got from a degree.

Honestly how far have people on YTS got, really are they better off than you?

yes for a start the "people on YTS" have a job .

studentphil

bella123 wrote: »

yes for a start the "people on YTS" have a job .

Not a proper job with pay, all the work of a job and just benefits.

brazilianwax

I agree that you tailor the CV to the job.

I recently had a CV from a lady looking for admin work. She had a first class degree, a masters and a PhD, plus some non-relevant work experience.

I'm afraid her application went no further because there is no way someone with all that, but no clear ability to do repetitive, low level work would be committed.

When I spoke to her to discuss her application, she admitted that she hoped to be promoted to a managerial grade within 6 months. When I told her that wouldn't happen, and it wouldn't be fair for me to imply it was a possibility, she agreed that ours was not the organisation for her.

Depending on the type of job you are applying for, qualifications may or may not be relevant.

studentphil

Maybe hiding them is fine if it will get you that one lucky break that might kick start your career is a required evil for long term benefit. As hard as it is give up on your achievements for a bit sometimes you just have to work with the system and go with what works even if it seems unjust.

scheming_gypsy

studentphil wrote: »

Not a proper job with pay, all the work of a job and just benefits.

i started on YTS and now i'm on 30k in the same industry, It's like experience college.