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CV Advice

Matthew

Hi All

 

I’m looking for some advice on my CV, specifically;

(i) Addressing a gap in employment

(ii) Highlighting transferable skills when transitioning to a different career

 

(i). I moved overseas (Singapore) with my wife for her job on a 14 month contract last year and will be returning to the UK in March / April. I gave up my job in the UK to move here as we both wanted the exciting experience of living overseas within a different culture. Whilst here I’ve been unable to find work as there are some strict restrictions on employing foreigners as well as a weakened economy. In this time, I’ve studied and qualified as an Associate CIPD, which is listed on my CV, along with a few bits of volunteering with a friend but it still feels like I have a huge hole in my CV.

 

(ii). I’ve updated my CV to reflect my transferable skills from my previous role as a financial analyst (and manager) as I am yet to have any direct experience within a HR role. I’m a little concerned that my previous experience of management might put off any recruiters / companies as I’ll be looking to move in to a more junior role. It would seem strange to leave this information out.

 

I appreciate this may be hard to answer without seeing my CV but any thoughts or advice would be greatly received,

 

Many Thanks

Matt

  • Morning Matt

    (i) certainly if everything else was in order then I don't think 14 months for the reasons you state will be the biggest hurdle. Best to be upfront about it and state pretty much the reasons you give. You have taken some proactive action and I would maximise this to the full in terms of qualifications and volunteering so it doesn't look like a long holiday. But its in reality little more than the length of maternity lave.

    (ii) Think this is your bigger issue to be honest. Its not so much the management experience that will stop you progressing but the general difficulty of getting into HR without relevant experience. If you do a search there are lots o threads with advice around networking etc.

    Good luck
  • in reply to Keith
    Hi Matt

    So long as your cv makes it clear against the Singapore bit that you were an expat there accompanying your wife and studying for CIPD and volunteering too then I as well wouldn't think it will be any kind of drawback at all - so long as the period is accounted-for like this, sure vast majority of recruiters wouldn't regard it as dodgy or unusual in any way
  • in reply to Keith
    Thanks Keith - I'll certainly make an effort to get out and network when I return
  • in reply to David
    Thanks David - I've adjusted my CV to reflect this so it's crystal clear to any recruiter who picks up
  • in reply to Keith
    Hi Keith / David

    On a slightly different note, do you think it's wise for me state my ambitions to complete a Masters in any cover letters / job applications? I'm weary that I might come across as too ambitious and inpatient.

    Thanks
  • If you want to be concise about your overseas time, you could just say "travelling". It's really quite common, these days, for people to take a career break or gap year to tick some boxes off the bucket list.
  • in reply to Matthew
    Personally, I've never been keen on stating such in a cv, rather to focus on the here and now. And given your understandable misgivings about over qualification in management I'd leave that for an interview, if asked.

    Otherwise, I second what Keith and David have said.
  • in reply to Matthew
    I wouldn't put down at this stage you are keen to do a Masters. Don't think it will help you in your situation. It will confuse more than educate
  • Hi Matt,

    Have you considered trying to find a new role that is a 'half-way' house to the HR role that you aspire to? I often see adverts for Office Manager type roles that look for people with a broad range of skills that include finance/budgetary, HR and management.

    It may be that this is your best option; find a stepping stone to your 'ideal' role whilst utilising the finance / management skills you have and building on your HR knowledge (usually to gain experience carrying out things like recruitment, performance appraisals and sick management)

    Hope this helps and good luck

  • Hi Matthew - thanks for posting :) On reading your situation I was struck by how authentic and relatable (not that I've ever been, but many people could picture the scenario) the way you described your 14 month stint in Singapore was. If I was recruiting and read that on your CV in a paragraph entitled something like 14 months in Singapore, it wouldn't put me off at all.