What to put on resume?

hi girls

im getting a bit ahead of myself here but thinking i will go back to work part time once bubs is maybe 6 months-1 yr old, except my resume is not exactly glowing.
i was a skimpy for almost 4 yrs (2004-2007) and then decided i wanted to get out of that lifestyle and got a job in retail. My XP was a plasterer and i put on my resume that id been his PA/secretary type thing for that time period, and put his number as a reference so when any jobs called he could confirm it (naughty i know but nobodys gonna employ an ex skimpy).
me and XP broke up not long after i got my last retail job, but i was there just under a year so couldnt get unpaid maternity leave, they said theyd be happy to have me back but the way things are looking ecomony wise they probably wont be able to take me back when i want to return to work....

so my question is, what should i put on my resume for that 04-07 time period? cant put XP cause he wont hold up the story anymore, a few friends have said put travelling but 3 yrs of travelling seems a bit extreme...any ideas? :)

Put nothing.

I've always been dead honest with employers even when my record is less than shining. It is so much easier than lying.

Put nothing and if they ask about it say you were young out of high school and on a journey of self discovery, they need to know no more than that. I have no credible references except for my very first job which I held for five years that has now closed down.

By skimpy do you mean dancer or barmaid? So Id say maybe customer service? Dont lie just be selective... Or Waitress/ hostess. ;) Then from there you could choose description. Provided table service. Excellent customer service skills etc.

I agree with Peaches. That way you're not lying (thus no lie to remember), and you're still skimming over that time frame plus adding a bit of extra bulk to your resume. The only problem I would see is if the place you worked at was quite popular and well known people might pick up and take a guess

What is a skimpy??

If you are happy to discuss it in limited detail, like the two PPs have suggested, then put down customer service or something. But if you really don't want to mention it, do what Cookie suggested.

OP: skimpy is topless barmaid.
Thanks for feedback guys, was thinking of putting that I travelled round WA and worked in bars, like lots of backpackers do. Then that way they won't ask for refs cause they would be a week or so at each place.

Cookie: lol self discovery I like that one :)

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Thanks for feedback guys, was thinking of putting that I travelled round WA and worked in bars, like lots of backpackers do.

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If you put that, I would assume you were a skimpy :)

I have an ex strip club hostess on my books (was a stripper for a while too) She put nothing. I found out later.

Go either way, but I would say nothing.

I'd just put casual bar work.

As long as you're not going for a job as a priest - who cares?

Really, the resume is just to get your foot through the door, then it comes down to the interview. If they like you, it's 99% in the bag as long as your ref doesn't bag you. People give jobs to people they like.

I've interviewed people and you choose someone who you think is a good fit and who you'll get along with and who you think can do the job. Given a choice between someone less qualified but who you like and someone who has more experience/qualified but you think you won't gel with - you go the under-qualified/experienced person every time.

yes fionas
no one would be a priest I think they have more faults then any of us

bar work would cover it no need to go into details

Yep. Bar work.

I was a brothel receptionist for 2 years during university and my resume says "office assistant".

LOL sorry I actually read it as that you had skipped between jobs, ie basically done nothing on and off. Not sure where my mind was at!
Still journey of self discovery works... ;) Now you can probably make sense of what was a disjointed post!

Oh my Godfather, Cookie - just spit tea out of my nose reading your last post. But I must admit that I assumed a skimpy was someone who bludged on Centrelink and didn't want to work (too much time in recruitment I think).

I would say that you were in hospitality and highlight your customer service skills. I said this in another post when a SAHM was trying to figure out a way to pad her cover letter/resume to re-enter the workforce: you have more valuable skills than you will ever realise or give yourself credit for and it doesn't matter where you attained them. It just matters that they stuck and you know what to do with them in a professional environment.

Be selectively honest and sell the crap out of yourself. Anyone would be a fool not to hire someone who has gone on an amazing journey of self-discovery for 3 yrs and has higher morals than a priest. ;)

Lol...well TBH I think its taught me more skills than any retail job I've had...apart from money handling/customer service it gave me great people skills, a 'thick skin' i.e. dealing with drunk/difficult people and I got to travel around WA and meet amazing people/places and get paid for it...but ya know, is only a good job when young and single!!

Well, depending on what type of job you're going to go for (I don't think you mentioned it or I may have missed it), just the things you listed in the post above can be worded in a way that highlights all of the skills you have.

"able to deal with conflict and achieve resolution amicably"
"negotiating successful resolutions in high-stress situations"
"ability to communicate both verbally and in written form with various demographics (I'm thinking tradies to teachers to stock brokers here)

You'll find something when you want to - just be imaginative, creative and let yourself shine in your best light. If you need any help 'glorifying' your resume/cover letter, let me know via PM as that was my job for a good 2-3yrs. And believe me - if I could sell someone who has been in prison for 13yrs for deciding that post offices 'don't need the money', I could sure as heck help you if you need it.

Shari xo

I would just tell the truth and put bar work, bar attendant or something like that. You don't have to mention the topless bit.

Roses: they robbed a post office?? Hahaha wtf not a clever one there! I've done retail for a couple yrs but didn't really enjoy it, only bit I liked was the paperwork side e.g. End of day books, management stuff, and I love helping DP with the paperwork stuff he brings home so maybe im more suited to office assistant/secretary...only thing is I went for heaps of these type jobs and never even got a 2nd interview, I think its the way I look...but with retail (clothing stores) they don't mind the 'edgy' thing...wierd considering in an office the only ppl who would c me are the other workers.

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I would just tell the truth and put bar work, bar attendant or something like that. You don't have to mention the topless bit.

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yep, thats what i was going to say. its still work/experience, so no reason it shouldnt be on your resume!

all the references on my resume aren't even valid anymore- i have the mobile number of one boss.. but the rest i know for a fact dont work at the job anymore... and one job i didnt put a reference at all, as i has a fall-out with the manager(hence why i left) but i still included the job, as i was there for 6 months!