<p>For those of you who are in the know about current resume styles:</p>
<p>I stayed at home with my children for 8 years - do I need to explain this gap on my resume? By this I mean do I actually put that on my resume? (I’ve seen contradictory advice)</p>
<p>I have worked part-time for the last 7 years, mostly in an administrative role. Now I’d like to find a full time position, but at a higher level in line with my education. Should I mention that these were part-time positions on the resume?</p>
<p>I been looking at a lot of websites for resume advice. Does anyone have any suggestions particularly aimed at moms returning to the workforce?</p>
<p>Former headhunter here, now stay at home mom </p>
<p>Honestly I don’t think it really matters. If you do a cover letter, you could mention it there. Otherwise it would come up as a point during your interviews. </p>
<p>I would think the p/t positions would show you still kept your finger in the workforce.</p>
<p>I have had several part-time jobs over the last 13 years that were a) fairly short-term, b)completely outside of my professional experience, and c) not related to anything I really want to do. I also own a small business that I need to keep going.</p>
<p>I’ve done a lot of volunteer work during this period, much of which is more relevant to anything I would really like to do than my “jobs.”</p>
<p>I am looking for a job, preferably part time, that will enable me to bring in some money but keep my business going, and hopefully growing, probably with some seasonal/occasional part-time employees.</p>
<p>I’ve left all of this off of my resume, which comes to a screeching halt in 1995. I’ve described my volunteer activities in cover letters and supplements.</p>
<p>What do you think I should put on my resume, especially if I approach agencies/headhunters?</p>
<p>And while we’re on this kind of topic…
What’s up with employment applications that ask intrusive questions like “account for all periods of unemployment”? (duh! I was unemployed)</p>
<p>I had one employment agent reject my resume because it wasn’t in “proper format”. When I inquired further to find out what was improper about it since there are enormous variations in resume format and I’ve never heard that any one format was exclusively proper, the response was that he just didn’t like ‘plain’ ones but would make an exception.</p>
<p>In terms of accounting for gaps in employment, I seriously doubt that anyone is going to mention that they were in jail because they embezzelled from their last employer or were out of touch in a drug rehab facility. Of course, that’s exactly what I would want to screen for. So what’s the point?</p>
<p>Thank Highlandmom. I will go ahead and explain the gap in my cover letter.</p>
<p>As far as my part time jobs, I am in a situation similar to Consolation. They are not what I want to do full time. But I do list them on my resume, because I have honed my computer and business skills in these positions and will use at least one employer as a reference. </p>
<p>Would it be best for me to mention in the cover letter that I am now looking for a full time position after staying home to raise my children and working part time for several years?</p>
<p>Thanks again. (I have not interviewed in SO long).</p>
<p>One of the places I applied to had this sort of questionnaire. Turns out, they were trying to weed out anyone who was laid off or terminated in any manner, and they had their reasons which I perfectly understood.</p>
<p>When I returned to work, I did not mention the years I was a stay-at-home mom on my resume. Some interviewers inquired about the gap; others were able to fill in the blank for themselves. I also took a job outside of my profession for several years and I did include it on my resume when I was looking to return to my field. My current boss simply said at my interview, “I see that you veered from your profession for awhile but now you’re back on track. That’s very typical; women today ‘onramp’ and ‘offramp’ at various points in their lives.”</p>
<p>That’s reassuring to hear. One more question to you - did you state “part time” on your resume regarding the job that was outside your profession?</p>
<p>I am not a recruiter, so may not be 100% accurate, but couldn’t you put down how many hours/week you worked at those jobs. When we did our D’s resume that’s how we indicated they were part time jobs.</p>
<p>My SIL just got a full time job as an executive adminstrative assistant after not working for 25 years (never really worked after she married my brother). She raised a lot of money for various charity and her kids’ school. She put all of that on her resume. She also helped my brother with various administrative work at his company, she also listed that. Even though she didn’t have actual paid work experience, she was able to demonstrate she had skills and drive to do the work. I was surprised how much they were willing to pay considering she didn’t have any work experience.</p>
<p>I’d put anything that’s likely to be remotely helpful on your resume. So I might put for example - 1998-2000 - Chaired Reading is Fundamental Committee. Organized the distribution of over 2000 books per year to the children at xxx elementary school and organized activities promoting reading. Oversaw a budget of xxx dollars and wrote the yearly grant to obtain the funds.</p>
<p>For part-time work just indicated that it’s part time and for your own business you can do the same. Describe your skills as much as your job titles.</p>
<p>One of our former PTA presidents is executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. I knew she’d be terrific at the job even though she’d been a stay at home Mom for years. She was an incredible organizer and doubled the membership in two years.</p>
<p>I would really think about listing part time jobs that are of no benefit to the type of job you’re looking for and that did not utilize your education. If you worked in sales at a retail store for example and are now looking for a job in advertising, I’d leave that job off.</p>
<p>For those like consolation who did extensive volunteer work, I would emphasize that and try to quantify it to the extent possible. So raising money for your schools reads raised X dollars from local and national corporation to fund Y.</p>
<p>Just yesterday I became aware of a website called MyWorkButterfly dot com “for moms who want to spread their wings.” I haven’t really perused it yet so I don’t know if it’s geared toward mothers of younger children but you might want to check it out. The tagline sounds like it’s targeting women who are returning to their careers.</p>
<p>What do people think of “functional” resumes?</p>
<p>When I was hiring people, I always disliked them. On the other hand, I think that a “functional” section covering my volunteer work might work well, followed by a chronological “professional experience” section detailing my more normal work history.</p>
<p>For one thing, it enables me to pitch my volunteer work towards the skills required by various jobs. (On the down side, it means revising the damned thing every time! )</p>
<p>The goal of a resume is to land a job interview. You do not need to put every bit of information on a resume. You do need to be truthful, but you do not need to have all information about you. Once you are face-to-face, then you can address any of these issues, if they arise or you choose to share them.</p>
<p>I worked part-time for 7 years when my children were young and when I was seeking full-time work, I did not call that out on my resume. I just listed the job. It was a job however, that did relate to my career field.</p>
<p>I disagree about not listing jobs that are not directly related to your field. Every job provides some experience that is of value (although you may not realize it) and is worth listing. I think it is better having them listed, then leaving a blank period. If you do leave a gap period, the interviewer will ask you about it if they care. You don’t need to list what you were doing (or not doing) on the resume.</p>
<p>When I interviewed when I was 4 months pregnant, I didn’t put that on my resume or cover letter. At the interview, I did let the employer know that I was pregnant and looking for part time work after I had my child. The full time position didn’t work out at the time (by the time the company made up their mind I didn’t want to change jobs). Ultimately, I ended up working part-time at the company for 7 years. </p>
<p>I do not think it is necessary to put on your resume that you were a stay at home mom. I would include part time positions which can show that you were reliable, liked by the employer etc., since these are important things to any employer. </p>
<p>I always try to find out why someone left, and if you were let go, it can be a negative. I have had interviewees spin things a number of ways (downsizing is usually the stated reason). I’ve hired people with great recommendations who were “downsized”, and I later figured out that they were picked for downsizing for a reason. Of course when divisions are closed, companies sold, etc., it is a likelihood for good people to be let go, I just never seem to find them. It probably has more to do with my business than anything else. (I mean even though I think I pay well, give very good benefits, etc., a small business is not as attractive as a large company to many.)</p>
<p>My H stayed home with the kids for several years after we moved from NY. He put something like “sabbatical: stay-at-home dad” along with a couple of bullets about his activities during that time, which included coaching and substitute teaching. I think long periods of voluntary unemployment should be mentioned on the resume. </p>
<p>I find a functional resume to be most helpful if you are trying to change careers and therefore need to focus on your skill sets. If you had a series of part-time jobs that appear to be unrelated to each other, a functional resume might also be the way to go. Volunteer work can be every bit as important as employment, in my view. Unusual jobs are often good conversation starters, even if unrelated to the position for which you are currently applying.</p>
<p>I just completed several job applications on-line and all I can say is “owwwww”.
It is painful to try to complete these things when you have been out of the workforce for 20 years. I could not even put a professional recommendation down because I have no idea where most of my former employers are today, and the ones I did keep in touch with have passed away.
The on-line format is not exactly friendly to putting additional information or even an explanation of why something is blank. </p>
<p>I just hope someone will take a chance and at least give me an interview…this is not going to be easy!</p>
<p>I would love to hear updates on how other stay at home parents are faring in their search.</p>
<p>SO far I’ve only found one job to apply for, and I was informed that it had been filled within minutes of submitting my letter, resume, and references. :(</p>
<p>The last time I applied for a real job, about two years ago, I got an interview, but it was obvious to me and I think to them that I was significantly over-qualified. The manager had his employees in the interview with him, and I was far more high-powered in all ways–education, experience, articulateness, et al–than his other employees. There was little chance that they were going to want him to hire me. I would have taken the job if it had been offered to me.</p>
<p>This is a problem for those of us who are older and trying to re-enter the workforce. We can’t get the kind of job we left, because we haven’t been “working” for a while, but we are over-qualified for most other things, and in some cases probably threaten either the other employees or the manager. For most jobs, I have the choice between appearing as a non-threatening “housewife,” or as an over-qualified professional.</p>
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