I'm Lizzy Tomlin and have over 10 years experience in the recruitment industry. I've written some guidlelines below to help you revise your CV and see ways of making it into something that sells you, and does you justice. Read on....

Returning back to work after a break is a daunting experience. I know my worries were: will I still look trendy? Will I understand the office talk, what will the workplace look like? will I understand all the new technology and will my colleagues take me seriously? I, like many, suffered from a total lack in confidence.

At this stage I think it is important to say that working is a doddle compared to bringing up a young family. If I was to write a 'person specification' for a stay at home parent I would find no candidate who could conceivably be all those things that we are: good communicators, problem solvers, jugglers, teachers and trainers, counsellors, negotiators, financial planners and of course possessing fantastic time management skills and never crumbling under pressure (especially if there is a large glass of wine to hand!). So, before we begin our return to work it may be worth writing down what our experiences have taught us and how we can turn these experiences and personal qualities into transferable skills that would make our prospective employer put our cv to the top of the pile.

However good someone’s skill fit is to a prospective employer if they can't work as a team, and lack social and life skills they won't get the job. Most employers are interested in who we are as people and not just what we do. It is easier to teach someone IT skills than all those life skills we have acquired and fine tuned since children. Without being too complacent though I would recommend refreshing IT skills so you feel confident sending and receiving emails, using the internet and Word.

Writing your cv is the most important process to securing your interview. A cv, like a person, is judged within the first 5 seconds. It is worth spending some time making your cv do you justice. The layout should be clear, modern, professional and straightforward. Don’t try and be clever with different fonts and flowery language you will be binned. Here is a list of do’s and don’ts:

1. Keep you cv to two pages
2. Do your cv in reverse chronological order. The recruiter will want to quickly find the most relevant part of your cv which is normally your last full time job.
3. Don’t leave any gaps (or make sure you explain them)
4. Be really careful with spelling or grammar, poor spelling and grammar can loose you the interview.
5. Make sure your cv is relevant to the job you are applying for. If you are applying for a PA position and your last position was a film producer play it down and draw on the similarities of the two roles.
6. Remember transferable skills that you have gained during your break and try and fit them in your cv.
7. Don’t go back too far. You will run out of space and there is little relevance including your time as an office junior or a roll and relish girl on a gap year!! (Emily!)

Layout of CV
Here is a format I think that works and is modern and professional:

Curriculum Vitae
Lizzy Tomlin
Address
Tel, Mobile and Email

Profile - this should be short no more than 3 lines. Treat it as an introduction and summary of your work history and skills you have obtained and what you can offer. EG “15 years experience in the recruitment industry working in various diverse and dynamic environments. Professional, confident with strong client management experience…?

Career History

1997 - 2001 Company Name
Description of what the company does and turnover or an indication of size
Job title
Responsibilities (do these in bullet form)

1992 - 1995 Company Name
Description of what the company does and turnover or an indication of size
Job title
Responsibilities (do these in bullet form) Don’t repeat yourself

1990 - 1992 Company Name
Description of what the company does and turnover or an indication of size
Job title
Responsibilities (do these in bullet form)

Additional information
Explain the gaps and include transferable skills learnt during time at home and any voluntary work or unpaid work.

Education and Qualifications
Chronological order. Don’t name all O’levels just make sure they know you have English and maths.

Relevant courses and computer skills
Any languages

Hobbies and interests
Don’t list them all but it is an opportunity to show the other side of you. If you have completed any challenges you could include it in this section.

Personal details - date of birth (you don’t have to put it on but they will only try and work it out if you don’t!) Driver. You can mention your children here and your personal situation if you want. It might be worth mentioning the children's ages if they're post-toddler age as it's often a relief to a potential employer as childhood sickness etc is less likely as they grow up.

References - you can either say on application or name two.

So the new you returns to work.... You are more experienced than you were 5,10 years ago and your tools that you have used to be a full time mum will be invaluable in the workplace (write them down to remind yourself). You have refreshed your ITskills, sorted your wardrobe out (not nearly as scary as when you first started work). Sorted out your childcare, checked and double checked your cv and now you are ready to embark on that first interview which your fantastic cv will have secured..

However if, having read this, you still feel unsure or nervous about the whole thing, you can contact me by email on lizzytomlin@aol.com. As I can advise you, plan your cv, and prepare you for interview. This will be for a fee which will vary depending on the time taken, but on average a couple of hours is enough and would cost £50.