Dumbing down cv for minimum wage jobs

House of Blaze

I was wondering if this is something I should do in order to increase the likelihood of getting a minimum wage retail type job since I have been unable to find work in the area I have my degree in.

I have worked in office jobs before the recession etc which would have been very 'white collar' wear a suit to work type jobs in administration but have not been able to get even a general admin job since graduating in IT last year.

With my lease due up in September and lack of affordable rental accommodation I have been desperately seeking a job of any description for the last few months but have had no luck applying to retail / minimum wage jobs either.

I have previous retail and fast food / bar experience but it's all from ten years or more ago.

I am wondering if it would be a smart move to leave off qualifications and certain jobs from my cv in the hope of not scaring off min wage employers who it seems feel I would not be worth a hire due to wanting to get work in the area i'm qualified in.

The issue then becomes that the relevant experience I have in these industries is so far in the past which, to my mind, would mean that I wouldn't get a much better result than applying with the full cv.

I'd appreciate any thoughts as I am sort of staring down the barrel of a gun at this stage with the lease.

Mr. Loverman

I'm not sure I like this idea. Your self-esteem will take a hit if you start working in these sort of jobs. I know this is a horrible thing to say, but you probably won't have a lot in common with the people you're working with.

For example, around 10 years ago I needed a job so I took a call centre job in a bank. It was a little bit painful. I had previously been working as a software engineer and was the type of person who devoured books. I found myself working with people who had no ambition, no interest in reading, no interest in anything except Big Brother or Coronation Street. The thing is, I was fine with this, but they couldn't relate to me. I think I unsettled them a bit.

I'm rambling but the point I'm trying to make is this: I don't think these sorts of jobs will be good for you.

Have you considered emigration? You say you have an IT qualification. Would you move to London?

The Ayatolla

Times have changed from 10 years ago.

More people with degrees or wealth of experience in other roles have had to find lower paying jobs to get by.

Call centres are filled with people with degrees and diplomas.

I left my full time job 3 years ago to get a basic retail job. I'm now a manager on more money than I was earning in my previous career. Hard work pays off.

fleet

Wait... you have a degree in IT and can't find a job???

In Ireland??

Pull the other one. I graduated this year and have had a bunch of offers.
I picked one and they've sent me away on 3 months training in the Netherlands...

IT is roaring.

House of Blaze

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I'm not sure I like this idea. Your self-esteem will take a hit if you start working in these sort of jobs. I know this is a horrible thing to say, but you probably won't have a lot in common with the people you're working with.

For example, around 10 years ago I needed a job so I took a call centre job in a bank. It was a little bit painful. I had previously been working as a software engineer and was the type of person who devoured books. I found myself working with people who had no ambition, no interest in reading, no interest in anything except Big Brother or Coronation Street. The thing is, I was fine with this, but they couldn't relate to me. I think I unsettled them a bit.

I'm rambling but the point I'm trying to make is this: I don't think these sorts of jobs will be good for you.

Have you considered emigration? You say you have an IT qualification. Would you move to London?

I appreciate that of course, but they say that necessity makes for strange bedfellows after all!

I would be happy to emigrate if I could afford to do so.

As it is I pay €144 per week out of the €188 in welfare in rent so I live completely hand to mouth.

I would need to get a few grand together to see me through getting a place, flights etc. which just isn't a possibility for me.

House of Blaze

fleet wrote: »

Wait... you have a degree in IT and can't find a job???

In Ireland??

Pull the other one. I graduated this year and have had a bunch of offers.
I picked one and they've sent me away on 3 months training in the Netherlands...

IT is roaring.

Well congratulations, but that i'm afraid that doesn't really help me to be honest.

I graduated last year but I have come to suspect that being a graduate at age 30 is perhaps the root of my troubles.

I can't really think of much else that can be having such a dramatic impact on my success rate.

I have had dozens of interviews but it always comes back to the fact that I am not experienced enough, despite having already done a 6 month odd internship late last year.

House of Blaze

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has done similar to what I am considering and how they worked it regarding gaps in the cv etc.

Saipanne

House of Blaze wrote: »

Well congratulations, but that i'm afraid that doesn't really help me to be honest.

I graduated last year but I have come to suspect that being a graduate at age 30 is perhaps the root of my troubles.

I can't really think of much else that can be having such a dramatic impact on my success rate.

I have had dozens of interviews but it always comes back to the fact that I am not experienced enough, despite having already done a 6 month odd internship late last year.

You're applying for experienced roles? If so, why?

Do you think your CV might be flawed in any way?

Do you ask for interview feedback?

Do you think your interview technique is flawed in any way?

House of Blaze

Saipanne wrote: »

You're applying for experienced roles? If so, why?

Do you think your CV might be flawed in any way?

Do you ask for interview feedback?

Do you think your interview technique is flawed in any way?

No, I am applying for graduate / junior roles or positions that are broadly related such as call centre / tech support positions etc.

I have considered my CV as maybe being a problem and have tried multiple different versions with no luck, I used to work as a recruitment consultant and believe I would have a reasonable idea of attractive qualities in a CV. Also, I do get a few interviews so i figure it must be at least average.

I ask for feedback every time I am rejected and typically receive great feedback. The last bit I got was this:

Thanks for the extra material - it all helps fill in your profile but I'm afraid it has not made a difference.
There was another candidate with a better "fit" between skill/experiance/interests and our job on offer.
Sorry it was not you this time - you interviewed very well so I expect you won't be long getting snapped up!

Saipanne

Ok, you're just having bad luck, I guess. I dunno. It took me 13 months to find work recently. I tried to refine my interview technique and approach each time I failed. I saw where I went wrong. I got better and closer, each time until I got an offer. That's all the advice I have, probably not much use.

House of Blaze

Saipanne wrote: »

Ok, you're just having bad luck, I guess. I dunno. It took me 13 months to find work recently. I tried to refine my interview technique and approach each time I failed. I saw where I went wrong. I got better and closer, each time until I got an offer. That's all the advice I have, probably not much use.

Cheers, I appreciate it.

I've been basically doing the same myself. Just going 13 months now myself so hopefully it's just around the corner!

Mrs OBumble

I've done it.

Don't think of it as dumbing down. Think of it as demonstrating your superior communications skills, by writing for your audience in terms they can understand.

Do not leave jobs off, that would create gaps, which are bad.

But there's no law which says you have to put your job title in there. Just say you worked for the XYZ Ltd, and describe your duties in small words that will be meaningful to the person reading your CV.

I actually did two versions, one really simple for minimum wagers, and one mid-range for more skilled office/admin jobs.

Qualifications ... meh .. maybe leave them off if there's something else you can say you were doing at the time (eg if you had a part time job, you don't have to say on the CV that it was part-time). Or you could just say you were studying at XYZ Institute, and not give the outcome.

Don't lie. Just present the truth appropriately.

And - you might consider registering with agencies for temping. Even a day here and there can be good to get, and may lead to more work. Office experience will stand you in good stead here.

Tarzana

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I'm not sure I like this idea. Your self-esteem will take a hit if you start working in these sort of jobs. I know this is a horrible thing to say, but you probably won't have a lot in common with the people you're working with.

That's nice and all, but high self esteem doesn't pay bills.

DonnieScribbles

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I'm not sure I like this idea. Your self-esteem will take a hit if you start working in these sort of jobs. I know this is a horrible thing to say, but you probably won't have a lot in common with the people you're working with.

For example, around 10 years ago I needed a job so I took a call centre job in a bank. It was a little bit painful. I had previously been working as a software engineer and was the type of person who devoured books. I found myself working with people who had no ambition, no interest in reading, no interest in anything except Big Brother or Coronation Street. The thing is, I was fine with this, but they couldn't relate to me. I think I unsettled them a bit.

I'm rambling but the point I'm trying to make is this: I don't think these sorts of jobs will be good for you.

Have you considered emigration? You say you have an IT qualification. Would you move to London?

This post rankles me a little. You seem to be implying that minimum wage workers are unintelligent or uncultured. This is a gross generalisation, now more than ever. I have a masters degree, am an avid reader like yourself, and I've been knocking around minimum wage jobs for some time now. It's just my reality. Should I have stayed on the dole? It's funny how some people would consider staying on the dole better than 'lowering' themselves to a certain kind of job.

Emigration isn't necessarily an option either, it isn't for me at the moment. Some people have family or relationship commitments that can't easily be discarded.

OP I don't think you should 'dumb down' your CV, but do tailor it to the job as much as possible, like you would applying for any position.

House of Blaze

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I've done it.

Don't think of it as dumbing down. Think of it as demonstrating your superior communications skills, by writing for your audience in terms they can understand.

Do not leave jobs off, that would create gaps, which are bad.

But there's no law which says you have to put your job title in there. Just say you worked for the XYZ Ltd, and describe your duties in small words that will be meaningful to the person reading your CV.

I actually did two versions, one really simple for minimum wagers, and one mid-range for more skilled office/admin jobs.

Qualifications ... meh .. maybe leave them off if there's something else you can say you were doing at the time (eg if you had a part time job, you don't have to say on the CV that it was part-time). Or you could just say you were studying at XYZ Institute, and not give the outcome.

Don't lie. Just present the truth appropriately.

And - you might consider registering with agencies for temping. Even a day here and there can be good to get, and may lead to more work. Office experience will stand you in good stead here.

Thanks for the post!

I appreciate hearing it has worked for you. I managed to get work one summer during college, and another I volunteered at tech / educational ngo and at the euroscience open forum conference in 2012 in other years when I couldn't get paid work, but there would still be large gaps during each year unaccounted for which I foresee as being problematic for me.

I think in a way I've sort of just maneuvered my way into a weird niche in the employment market. My cv is sort of straddling unspecialised office positions in terms of experience but with education only to graduate level!

House of Blaze

DonnieScribbles wrote: »

This post rankles me a little. You seem to be implying that minimum wage workers are unintelligent or uncultured. This is a gross generalisation, now more than ever. I have a masters degree, am an avid reader like yourself, and I've been knocking around minimum wage jobs for some time now. It's just my reality. Should I have stayed on the dole? It's funny how some people would consider staying on the dole better than 'lowering' themselves to a certain kind of job.

Emigration isn't necessarily an option either, it isn't for me at the moment. Some people have family or relationship commitments that can't easily be discarded.

OP I don't think you should 'dumb down' your CV, but do tailor it to the job as much as possible, like you would applying for any position.

Thanks! I would have thought that the poster above was just pointing out his own experience of working in the area in general.

I do of course tailor my cv for each job but as pointed above, there would be some issues either way I think which is the nature of the dilemma really!

I didn't intend for the thread title to be interpreted as a negative judgement on the retail / min wage sector at all.

A poor choice of terminology I guess, but what I meant was, should I be underplaying certain elements of my application to minimum wage type jobs in order to avoid putting off employers in this area? As they might possibly view me as not a great choice due to having a computer science degree, or for whatever reason.

DonnieScribbles

House of Blaze wrote: »

Thanks! I would have thought that the poster above was just pointing out his own experience of working in the area in general.

I do of course tailor my cv for each job but as pointed above, there would be some issues either way I think which is the nature of the dilemma really!

I didn't intend for the thread title to be interpreted as a negative judgement on the retail / min wage sector at all.

A poor choice of terminology I guess, but what I meant was, should I be underplaying certain elements of my application to minimum wage type jobs in order to avoid putting off employers in this area? As they might possibly view me as not a great choice due to having a computer science degree, or for whatever reason.

Yeah perhaps, I've come across similar attitudes before though, but maybe I'm reading too much into it!

I can see where you're coming from. I've had a good few interviews over the past year as I moved from Dublin to another part of the country and had to find something else here. From the interviews I had I can tell you that they cared little about my education and a lot about my experience. Emphasise any customer service or retail experience you have, but leave the other things on so there aren't any gaps. I left my education on my CV as there were periods when I was in college that I wasn't working so omitting it would have left a gap which wouldn't have looked good. In interviews I was generally only ever asked in passing about my degrees. Most employers realise that people are looking anywhere for work now and won't question it. A lot of places have high staff turnover anyway, so it won't matter hugely to them if you leave when you find something better. Some employers would prefer it. The fact that your relevant experience was quite long ago may work against you to be honest, but if you can get an interview you can try swing it in your favour.

Good luck with the job search anyway, hopefully you find something good, better still in the field you're qualified in!

your CVs your profile for your experience and qualifications,
maybe change it and the cover letter to show off certain skills or tailor it as someone said so its suited to the job but I dont see what dumbing it down would do for your chances in getting a minimum wage job or any job?

If I was a prospective employer and saw you had certain qualifications I wouldnt dismiss you,