Cv Help Needed...

[Baby_Sham]

Hi, I haven't had a job for some time now, due to medical issues, but would like to get back in to employment and am applying for some vacancies that I think I would be well suited to.

However, I'm currently updating my CV and I'm unsure of a few things.

Firstly, after listing my education and previous employment details, do I put something on the end regarding my 'personality' and qualities?
Secondly, what do I do about the gaps in employment?

Oh, and thirdly, references. Do I put the names down or leave that for interview?

Thanks.

[woofgang]

Gaps in employment, put a brief factual note about the reason for the gap. keep the CV factual, put any comments regarding qualities in a covering letter and I would play down "personality" at this stage. If you are sending out your CV unsolicited then don't include reference details just say that they are available upon request. If you are applying as result of an ad then they will say if they want references at that stage, if nothing is said then say available upon request. Wishing you the very best of luck.

[Zacs-Master]

There are many free templates on line such as this:
http://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/blog/2014/january/basic-cv-template

I would simply let the recipients work out the gaps in your employment and ask you at interview what they were for.

You only need to put your higher education and results, not your whole history.

I would simply put 'references can be supplied upon request'.

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks very much for your answers, it's much appreciated.

The gaps in my employment are mainly medical (mental health) related, so it's a tricky one... even at interview!
Do you think it would be wrong, if when asked, for me to say the gaps in my employment were due to me being a 'stay at home Mum' / 'housewife', or does that sound equally as awful? :-/

[woofgang]

As someone who used to interview and employ for the NHS I would say (and I mean this nicely) that starting your relationship with am employer by lying is not a good idea and might prejudice your future with them if they did offer you a job. I think you would be better to say that they were due to health issues which are now resolved.

[Baby_Sham]

Ok, thanks for your advice, which I have taken on board :-)

[atalanta]

I'm afraid if I see unexplained gaps in someone's job history, I can't help wondering if s/he's been in chokey. Makes much more sense to explain them, briefly but truthfully.

[scorpiojo]

Mmmm...spam

[Retrochic]

Baby_Sham if you have had gaps in your work history because of health issues, but also have stayed a home because you genuinely have children then tell them you put your career on hold for a couple of years to give your children the best start you could -this is not 'awful' as you put it,it shows you have made decisions and now feel you are ready to re enter the workplace. Your medical history is none of their business unless it is pertinent to the job you are applying for.

[DTCwordfan]

Start with a letter or the top part of the CV to show how and what is relevant in your profile to the job that is on offer. The lower/second part should be positioned as "I have these further qualifications, skills, experience etc to offer you, on top of the principal want of the job."

Honesty by the way during the interview process ....any half decent check on you may well unearth 'issues' as you put it.

Personally, I would put my main references at the bottom.

[Retrochic]

I've seen literally hundreds of C..V's and regularly get 4 or 5 'cold call' ones every week by email. The best ones have a very short covering letter giving the bare bones of why they are contacting you. The best C.V's are done in bullet form with relevant information at the top -I don't want to trawl through two large paragraphs of waffle to find out you have no experience. Experience, Education and or Skills to back up experience, Job history (if any) . Whenj applying for a particular advertised job then you can add why you think you would be an advantage to the Firm but Personal Qualities are not that important to me as everyone is going to 'up' themselves.

[DTCwordfan]

In short, personalise each CV and covering letter to the job on offer, Baby Sham.