That’s one solution. You may want to try Brook Street, they managed to find me some temp job.

I would probably either not mention the managerial experience or mention it to the interviewers so that they may think you’re over qualified but you want a break/change from all the managerial hassle. So explain the situation that you are only looking for these cashier type positions and that you don’t want to try and take one of the managers jobs.

I would recommend that you pick out the relevant experience you have in relation to whichever position you are going for. Focus on what skills you have that match the job description and leave the high flying stuff out.
If you get to interview stage and have to elaborate and bring in some of the higher level career background, you have a better shot of convincing them that you are not overqualified. Suggest you explain away your situation by wanting to achieve a better work life balance at present, and this would not be achievable if you contained to work at a higher level.

I’m in a similar position, if any one does have any advice I’d like to hear it !!!!!

I think she should redo her CV, should mention her views why she wants the new type of job and should mention the managerial position to get desired job.
But here I think of other risks when Brenda wishes to go for other type of job! Here, Brenda has not mentioned the ’cause’ why
she wants a change in career and she wants just a similar type of job that a person does who has ‘no qualifiction’ at all. According to my opinion …..she must go for ‘Introspection’ and should find /confirm that would she find herself comfortable to do the job with ‘that mass’. Because she already has done the managerial position!
From Gita

You should change your CV with each new vacancy you apply for as CV’s do not work well with certain vacancies. Also if you earn so much why do you need a job at all? (You did not actually say you are out of work at the moment) you say you dont want to earn much, I am sure there are jobs at warehouses or supermarkets that will take you on. But we all need the right kind of funds to survive.
Maybe your CV boasts too much about your qualifications rather then promote your ability to do the job, and there is absolutly no proof that they take on other people because they have no qualifications and you should not think on these lines, get yourself onto day courses immediatly, an assertive course would be good as well as a time plan course they are are your local college now and only cost a few pounds once you have done those it should give you a better understanding of what you want to do. You can always use Learn direct who have short courses via the internet.

Item one of any CV writing lesson or whatever is to tailor your CV to match the position you are applying for, potential employers are only interested in the things that make you right for the position they are trying to fill. You need to list your employment history, so there are no gaps, but instead of Management, you could put, ‘front of house’ or a similar, something that will indicate you have had a responsible customer facing position but not something that will scare the employer away… Best of luck!

You are very unlikely to get a cashier position or something of that nature with your experience. Main reason is that any employer will think you will leave at any time, thus creating another amount of effort to fill your shoes. If you want a job to just ‘bring in some money’, find something that could benefit your next main career move. Granted it may well be in a lowly role, but with your quoted experience, you can get a grounds up view and see if you really like it.

Brenda, not much comfort, but I know exactly how you feel as I am in precisely the same situation. I do not know whether to change my CV either, but it occured to me that I can leave out the word ‘manager’ and replace with ‘assistant’ or ‘support’ or ‘supervisor’ rather than redo the whole CV. That way we aren’t lying about the job and resposibilities.

Looking at it from the ‘employers’ perspective they will almost certainly dismiss you based on the fact that they will believe that they’ll invest time and money in training you up only to find you will probably leave in 6 months time. Therefore I would suggest that you do amend your CV.

I agree with the first comment – you’d be best off doing the rounds of all the temp agencies – they’re bound to have something for you. I don’t think you need to change your CV radically right now as the agencies will advise you on how to present yourself anyway. If an urgent vacancy turns up, they’ll do their best to fit you into that position. Failing that, why not set up your own little business?

The opening lines of your CV should summarise your background and career aims. So if you are seeking junior work without long-term commitment, to tie you over preparing for a new career, why not say so here? Your CV should show no unexplained gaps, but you can decide how far back it needs to go. Most employers are not interested in every job you did since leaving school. Within those guidelines, you need to show your more recent positions, senior as they are.,
Don’t undersell your academic qualifications – however these can be contained in a section towards the end of your CV. Don’t emblazon a long trail of letters after your name at the top; this COULD put people off.
Others have mentioned temping agencies and I too found these helpful during a period between careers. They wanted to know all my career history and qualifications but this did not count against me in getting temporary junior roles. Indeed I met other highly qualified people also temping. It can be done and it worked for me!

I have just been informed I have an interview for 24th and need to do a 10 minute presentation and would like to do this with PowerPoint, has anyone got any ideas that would give it a bit of Wow factor as I really would love to get this job, any ideas would be gratefully received. Dee

If you’ve had a few unsuccessful interviews or even some rejected applications already, phone the employer up and ask why exactly you were turned down. Feedback is an essential part of the jobsearching process.

Has the world gone mad.
Almost everyone seems to think it is all right to lie. Modifying your CV is exactly that. You can couch it in any deceitful way you like but that is what you are all suggesting.
Just because the interviewers are too self absorbed to see the reality most of you are living in, it seems that you will do anything to get a job and all the misplaced advice from itinerant Career advisors is being shown for what it really is.
Let me solve your dilema for you. Stop looking for those jobs if you have already used up your remaining self respect and start working for yourself.
Good luck and make the change today.
It worked for me.

yes – i wouldn’t mention experience or qualifications not relevant to the position. If at present you are just look for any job then fine tune your cv to that position. If your cv is overqualified for the postiion then employers are going to worry about your ability to do the job without wanting to be above your station. You will have to remember that if you do use this approach (fine tuning your cv) then you are going to have to play yourself down once in a position or you risk the truth getting to management and causing resentment and jealousy from your co workers

Don’t give up hope. A friend of mine, a science graduate, wanted a change of career from musician (unreliable income) to something related to his degree. He had no problem getting various temp jobs for data entry via an agency, and at one it was realised his computer skills were much, much better than that. Five years on, he now manages their computer department! (He is also in his late 40′s).
To summarise what others have said above:
- Do look for temporary jobs – permanent employers will realise you are not planning to stay and will not want to invest time/money
- Do try agencies – they specialise in temporary work and will be able to give you good advice on how to dress, what to put in your cv
- Do consider setting up on your own – for example with your managerial skills what about an employment agency for hotel staff?
- Don’t lie on your cv – it will come out in interview either explicitly or through your body language
- Do give a one pager showing why you are right for a temporary role and why they will benefit from getting an experienced hire for the price of an unqualified one. Most interviewers don’t read past the first page
- Do include your qualifications – explain that this is a temporary post you are applying for, and who knows, they may also be looking for good, qualified staff!
I realise that as the original post was in January, you either did or didn’t get the work you wanted by now. Good luck anyway!