Hi, I am 44 and have kids range from teenager to 5 year old. I spent most of my life raising them and keep the house running. Partner has a good job and we have been surviving with single income in house hold. I did have some casual cleaning jobs here and there but nothing formal. Recently I start feeling a bit worthless and insecure and would love to seek some proper job. Problem is I don't have much to write on my resume, and I can get anxious when talking to people. My question is, is there any resources out there that can help with resume/presentation? I just need a bit of support to put my feet at the door. Thank you.
9 Replies
Our local Tafe helps people out with resumes and applying for jobs, free! You don't even have to be a student or past student. See if yours does something like this too. If not I'm sure there would be local charities that do the same thing.
Yes that’s what job networks are for. Use them for everything. Also if you do training you will gain the confidence, have a goal (that can be developed over time and experience) and you can gain work experience so that when you go for a job you really know and have the confidence that you do know roughly what’s expected and that you can do it.
Otherwise choose a job like a call centre (inbound) where they do 4weeks full time training before you start, same idea that you’ll feel ready by the time you actually start.
Job networks will only help you if you're on a relevant Centrelink payment because that's how they get their money. One of the many reasons why privatising it sucks, it should be government run.
When I was unemployed, job networks were full of the most incompetent, idiotic people I’ve ever come across. I got my job through a private recruitment company.
I didn't have a good experience with them but I don't think it's the people who work there's problem. It's the system that is put in place that they need to follow. I found it really slowed things down, the appointments were useless, they did not help me get a job at all it was basically just a bunch of appointments and ticking off boxes so I didn't lose my payment. I can see how people get stuck on the dole for years if they only use the job network places to find work. If I told them I had an interview somewhere and needed help with fuel or something specific they would ring the interview place to make sure, so embarrassing and many places don't like hiring if you're connected to one of them because they think you're only doing it to stay on the dole.
Wow I knew they were bad but didn’t realise that bad!
Another tip is there is a resume template on word documents, so you open it and then fill in your details in each section. It will help you create a professional looking resume.
I got my resume reworked by a professional for 30 dollars.
Having said that, I am an accomplished writer and she just made adjustments, based on her years of HR experience.
I had applied for many jobs, but the next job I applied for with her resume, I got.
Coincidence? Probably not.
Honestly, ask around!
I have a family friend who's really good at jazzing up resumes, she made my very basic skill set and limited experience sound excellent on paper.
I agree with what the above commenters mentioned about employment consultants. You are just a number to them.
Can you do some courses online so you have some stuff to add and of course gain some additional qualifications to help you gain employment?
You can sit your RSA online, takes a few hours and doesn't cost a whole lot.
Current police check and first aid is also a good thing to have.
I am not much help as I am in NZ, but I just want to say that I have hired many stay at home mums. Being a stay at home mum is a credit to your resume! Everyone knows stay at home mums are hard working, they think outside the box, they are resourceful and they just bloody get on with it!
All the best, who ever hires you will be very lucky!!