Getting my first Job

Hi, basically I’m 18, just finished college and I’ve been looking for my first actual job for the past month. I think I’ve applied to around 10 retail jobs and haven’t been even invited to a single interview. In GCSEs I got all 8/9 and just finished doing 4 a-levels so I don’t think eduction is the issue. About a year ago I worked for two months (during summer holidays) in my mum’s friend’s bakery doing warehouse stuff such as packing/cleaning/deliveries. Since I’m struggling to find a job now I was thinking of putting that on my cv, I didn’t have that originally on my cv as it wasn’t exactly a job with a contract, I just showed up everyday and got paid cash. Also since then my mum’s friend has sold the business and moved back to their country, I don’t have any way of contacting them and their English wasn’t very good either so I can’t get a reference.

So my question is: Should I have a experience section on my cv where I talk about that job? And will it benefit my application?

yes. it will boost your cv a lot. Good luck and hope you find somwthing soon.

It definitely will benefit your applications, and write about any other experiences you have too- ie tutoring/ volunteering.

Hi, basically I’m 18, just finished college and I’ve been looking for my first actual job for the past month. I think I’ve applied to around 10 retail jobs and haven’t been even invited to a single interview. In GCSEs I got all 8/9 and just finished doing 4 a-levels so I don’t think eduction is the issue. About a year ago I worked for two months (during summer holidays) in my mum’s friend’s bakery doing warehouse stuff such as packing/cleaning/deliveries. Since I’m struggling to find a job now I was thinking of putting that on my cv, I didn’t have that originally on my cv as it wasn’t exactly a job with a contract, I just showed up everyday and got paid cash. Also since then my mum’s friend has sold the business and moved back to their country, I don’t have any way of contacting them and their English wasn’t very good either so I can’t get a reference.

So my question is: Should I have a experience section on my cv where I talk about that job? And will it benefit my application?

Hi, basically I’m 18, just finished college and I’ve been looking for my first actual job for the past month. I think I’ve applied to around 10 retail jobs and haven’t been even invited to a single interview. In GCSEs I got all 8/9 and just finished doing 4 a-levels so I don’t think eduction is the issue. About a year ago I worked for two months (during summer holidays) in my mum’s friend’s bakery doing warehouse stuff such as packing/cleaning/deliveries. Since I’m struggling to find a job now I was thinking of putting that on my cv, I didn’t have that originally on my cv as it wasn’t exactly a job with a contract, I just showed up everyday and got paid cash. Also since then my mum’s friend has sold the business and moved back to their country, I don’t have any way of contacting them and their English wasn’t very good either so I can’t get a reference.

So my question is: Should I have a experience section on my cv where I talk about that job? And will it benefit my application?

That bakery experience is probably the most valuable thing you've got to put on a CV. If you are looking for a retail job, then no employer cares about exams, it's not exam based work. They care about whether you are going to turn up to work on time, every day, work hard, follow instructions, be polite to customers, use your initiative, handle money well etc and so those are the things you need to evidence on your CV.

You don't put details of contractual terms and pay on a CV, if it is relevant experience, it goes in a CV.

Thanks, should I put the year I worked there as it was a little over a year ago or does it not matter so much?

The format should be something like this

Experience

Jan14-Mar 15 Sales Assistant, Shop Name, Town