Returning to Work After Being a SAHM. Resume Question

You worked as a hiring manager - in corporate america and worked for a staffing company. You've seen more resumes than us - what were some of the ones you saw?

I am in the same boat. I just handed in my first resume in more than 10 years.

I put down a bit about being a SAHM in a paragraph about my special qualifications. I'm currently applying for aide positions in the county schools. I briefly wrote about how being a sahm has developed my patience and understanding tenfold. In the same place, I listed volunteer work.

I'll let you know if it helped. =)

Good luck!!

I didn't put anything about being a SAHM on my resume. However, I was asked to provide a paragraph explaining the gap in job history by a contracting agency. I wrote that I spent the time strengthening ties within my community and pursuing volunteer opportunities. I also indicated that I had kept in contact with my professional colleagues and was apprised of things going on in the industry. I highlighted skills that I thought would be relevant to my new job.

My advice would be to leave it off the resume, and only put it on the cover letter if you have a creative way of tying in what you did with the position you are applying for.

Good luck!

Micky:

What would I do? I would leave it blank if it doesn't apply to what you have done in the past.

Most SAHM's are accountants! taxi drivers, nurses, chef, etc. Domestic Engineer. You could list that as your title for the last 7 years. I see a LOT of resumes every day...and there are a few women and several men who have listed this. Many people understand what that entails.

Hope this helps!!

I would leave it blank or fill the gap with any relevant volunteer experience I had during that time. As a manager, I don't really care for SAHM to be listed under jobs. Is it hard work? YES! Should it be listed under work experience? I don't think so. I don't mean to sound insulting at all, but it actually annoys me when I see it under work history. "Work history" to me implies employment. I definitely think skills you used during that time should be listed on your resume, perhaps in a "special skills" section.

Did you spend any of that time volunteering? On boards or committees? Were you active in PTA? Continue your education? There are ways to show that, even if you weren't being paid, you were an active responsible member of society.

It all depends on your new work opportunity, new responsibility and flexibility. I personally would hire a sahm in the heartbeat, they are the hardest working people on the planet not to mention the greatest multitaskers. Ther are HR directors who walk the applicants out to their car and check if you drive a famiy car for a carseat.....stay away from supervisors without any kids.

The less said about it, the better, I think, unless you're applying for work as a preschool teacher, teacher's aide, etc, where having worked with a small child would be relevant. Put your last job(s) on your resume, mention any continuing education you may have had (seminars, degrees, certificates). You could also mention any volunteer work you have done, if the skills are relevant to your new career. When the hiring manager asks about the gap in your work history, simply say that you took time off for your family, and leave it at that. If you're not on LinkedIn already, go ahead and sign up for that, and really work your network. In this hiring environment, and with a 7-year gap in employment, it will be a lot easier for you to get your foot in the door at a business where you already know someone who can vouch for you. Good luck!

Did you go to school? any kind of conitinuing ed?

Did you do any volunteering at your kids' schools? Put that down. Put down anything that showed you weren't just sitting on the couch eating bon-bons and watching soap operas. I mean, after all, isn't that what everyone thinks we SAHM's do anyways?? lol!!

I took off 15 years to raise my children and I did A LOT of volunteering and put down everything so I didn't have big gaps on my resume. And even though I didn't go back into the field in which I had 20 years of experience (nor did I want to), I got a job immediately!!

Good luck!!!

You don't need to address this in the resume, other than making sure you list activities you've done during your absence from the paid workforce that translate. For instance, did you volunteer at the school or with a church group or charity? Put those experiences on your resume the same way you would paid work. Highlight your contributions (e.g., "Coordinated volunteers for the school's annual fundraiser." "Directed teams and ensured everyone had the necessary resources for their assignments.") Did you stay connected with any professional associations? Think about anything that makes you current and marketable.

Address the absence in your cover letter. Briefly mention the reason but then focus on what you have to offer. "After focusing on raising my children, I am rejoining the workforce and I'm eager to use my human resources expertise, strong communication skills and problem-solving abilities in ways that benefit your company."

If you're not in any professional groups, this is the time to get involved again. Attending meetings and talking with others in your field can help to get you up-to-speed and provide super networking opportunities.

You can put in any volunteer activities you did, community leadership roles, courses you took and meetings you attended, stressing how those skills would apply to the position you are looking at.

I've been a SAHM for over 11years. I did some part-time jobs and volunteer work (Cub Scouts and school library) which I did put on my resume. Also I did address the gap on my cover letter...that I had left to care for my newly adopted child and now that he was in middle school, it was time to return to the work force on a full-time basis...some thing like that...you can tweek it to your specifics, but address somewhere in your cover letter so they'll know you've really been doing something....Good luck
(BTW: I'm going back myself and start my new FT job next week at my old employer)

I don't think they need you to fill in the blank. They'll understand. If you are looking to a professional type job you need to make sure they have documentation of how you've kept up to date with the advances and technology for the position you're applying for.

I addressed the gap in my cover letter. I also listed all my volunteer work during that period and basically listed the volunteer work like paid employment.