New graduate - CV questions

lj876 · 18 June 2017 at 8:18PM

I'm a new graduate in a fairly niche Allied Health field. Although I have applied for interviews, jobs are subject to a waiting list. I have a prior degree in Psychology as well as previous employment from this time period, but I've been unemployed while studying due to family commitments.

I want to start work (any work) while waiting for a post and I have identified agencies I want to go to. However, due to my background a chronological CV looks extremely patchy...but a functional CV seems to be looked down upon. I can emphasise skills I learned while on placement, as well as soft skills from caring responsibilities and volunteering at parkrun. I do have experience in admin and data entry, customer-facing roles, handling long-term projects (research skills, time management), and I'm used to being on my feet all day and working hard on placement. I'm not bad at interviews and I can practise. It's just getting through the initial sift may be my issue...

Does anyone have any advice (or encouraging anecdotes...) for how I can best approach this?

xapprenticex · 18 June 2017 at 9:00PM

Many years ago i bought this book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1845283651/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I advise you get it, its of use throughout your career, you can get a used copy for a penny (excluding postage)

GothicStirling · 20 June 2017 at 5:04PM

Do you still have access to your university's careers department?

Fireflyaway · 20 June 2017 at 5:25PM

I'd write a CV in the conventional way and explain the gaps. I don't see the gaps being a huge issue if you were studying at the time. Its not like you were just chilling! Ensure your opening statement is strong and mention the volunteering and placements too.

New graduate - CV questions

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free