I’m off to the UK on monday and am trying to do my resume up as I will be on the job hunt right away. I’ve been reading UK job sites and they are helping a bit but I would love some actual criticism/feedback from some Uk doper(s).
I’m pretty well open to any job though I would rather not work in a pub/restaurant. I do have office experience but just a yr so not sure if that would help. If anyone is interested I’ll email it to them, if not any tips are welcome. (:
Errr…should I take from your location that you’re Canadian? I’m just guessing as otheriwse (if your American) you’d need an employer who’s willing to sponsor your visa. And they’d have to prove the job couldn’t be done by a Brit. So as far as entry level type work this is almost impossible. Of course if you’re part of the Comonwealth, this may be irrelevant.
Beyond that…well one little thing I was told when I converted me resume to a CV is the UK CV’s include date of birth and marital status. Something I’ve never seen in the US. Don’t know about Canada.
Canadians have various ways to work here, including the Working Holiday Visa (for under-30s, or somesuch). So I’m presuming Mr Jim has sorted all that out…
Getting temporary office work is straightforward, provided you’ve got the experience. There’s endless agencies providing the work - just wander around the business district of wherever you are, with a stack of CVs and covering letters, and walk in and introduce yourself.
Yes, CVs include your date of birth. I’ve never considered marital status - I suspect that’s a very outdated thing to include. (The only reason I can imagine it could be suggested that it be included is to pre-empt ignorant interviewers asking it, which can lead to discrimination allegations.)
Make the CV two single-sided sheets of A4 (don’t use any other size paper - it’ll be annoying for them because it won’t stack with the others!) Other than that, it’s hard to know what to advise without seeing it, because we don’t know what you’d normally do 
- maybe you could post the text of it for us to see? (minus the important details, obviously!)
Yeah I’m doing the working holiday visa thing so I can stay for 2 yrs. I have to put my birthdate? I would never have thought that…whereabouts do I put it?
I am too embarrassed to post my measly resume here amongst all the brilliant dopers. :o If you are willing I’ll email it to you GorillaMan.
Birthdate, I always have done, but quite possibly that is outdated too.
The “marital status” thing is pretty outdated, reasons being to do with possible discrimination, as in childcare needs and so on and so on, so skip that bit.
Hmm, if you have any experience in a nursing or care field, that should help - we have rather a shortage of those.
It’s a bit of a sleepy time here in Britain just now, but I’ll check back on this thread.
In the meantime, best of luck with all the arrangements. 