Supplimentary CV

6th

Ok so I've been working in one particular area for the last 10 years (print/design/advertising) and there are no jobs doing what I do.

Anyway I've done lots of other jobs in the past like factory worker, working in service stations (on the till and forecourt) and worked in Woodies for 4 years on the shop floor all through college and full time in the Summer.

The problem is I'm 32 and those jobs were 10-15 years ago. My CV has great stuff for the last 10 years but nothing that sells me for the jobs I now find myself applying for. I've no issue doing any sort of work but would it look weird to do supplimentary CV that contains previous jobs?

wench

If you are trying to get out of your current area of work, you could try building a Skills based CV. Focus on the marketable skills you have from your various jobs, rather than just listing off the places you've worked.

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

woolymammoth

6th wrote: »

Ok so I've been working in one particular area for the last 10 years (print/design/advertising) and there are no jobs doing what I do.

Anyway I've done lots of other jobs in the past like factory worker, working in service stations (on the till and forecourt) and worked in Woodies for 4 years on the shop floor all through college and full time in the Summer.

The problem is I'm 32 and those jobs were 10-15 years ago. My CV has great stuff for the last 10 years but nothing that sells me for the jobs I now find myself applying for. I've no issue doing any sort of work but would it look weird to do supplimentary CV that contains previous jobs?

Personally I wouldn't submit a supplementary CV for a job. But that's not to say writing one wouldn't be useful to you. What I mean is, CVs are meant to be tailored to the job you're applying for in order to give you the best possible chance of getting that job. Submitting your professional CV + an "additional CV".. I dunno, I don't do hiring, but i'd think "what the hell is this?".

Try making a CV to use just for these types of jobs, so you have two CVs, one for professional work, and one for the other non-professional jobs. On your non-pro cv, you can still list your pro jobs just so there aren't any gaps, but you can cut 90% from their descriptions and give more CV space to your non-pro jobs. Any one hiring with half a brain will know there are highly skilled people out of work and looking to do anything, and won't care that you might be overqualified for the job. The point is to de-emphasise the high skills, and emphasise the experience you have for the job your applying for.

Your work history doesn't have to be chronological. It's debatable, but you can list them in order of relevance to the job your applying for. As long as the dates are there for them to see what you did and when, they can add it up themselves. Also, a tip I got once from an interviewer about all of the "short" (<6months) jobs on my CV at the time, he said just to write something like "contract" beside the job title, so it wouldn't immediately appear I was job-hopping or getting fired or whatever it is some people do.

Anyway, won't rant on much more,
Hope this Helps,

Anto

6th

Cheers lads, thats pretty helpful ideas/suggestions. I guess I need to get away from the idea that I have 1 CV for all jobs.

woolymammoth

6th wrote: »

Cheers lads, thats pretty helpful ideas/suggestions. I guess I need to get away from the idea that I have 1 CV for all jobs.

the trick then is version control.

damn you document management :mad:

chris85

When i was looking i had a CV for different job industries (I have experience in a few different areas, master of none yet ) and would tweak for each individual company where required.