SAHMs re-entering the workforce

[binny]

What do you say on your resume for all those "missed years" not in the workforce?

My girlfriends and I were having this discussion the other day as many of us will be returning to work this year or next as our kids go FT to school.

Is there a standard answer for your actual resume? Do you actually put 95-06 Stay at Home mom? or whatever the case may be?

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Not sure, but how about I give you a *bump* to make sure you get an answer.

 

[Princess89]

I have said in the past that I stayed home to raise my family, now I'm done, and I'm re-entering the workforce. One of my old bosses gave me that line. She does the hiring for a large company, and she said that companies either want someone who is not planning on having a family for a long time so they can dedicate all that time to them, or want someone who is done and can dedicate all their time to them. Basically either way you look at it, they don't want family to be a burden. Of course they prefer the young spring chickens that won't be taking off to deal with children or family obligations, but either way, your children are in school and you don't have to deal with "the sitter can't make it, or made it late kind of thing" Good Luck either way!

 

[CEDmom]

Personally I'd leave the dates blank unless during that time you also did something like Sunday school teacher, PTO board member etc.

Being a SAHM is an important job but it's not something to put on your resume. Honestly, most HR people will say that WOHM and SAHM do much of the same jobs just in greater or lesser amounts. I wouldn't add that on top of my paid job I'm also a mom so I don't think it's something a SAHM should put down either.

Honestly, most HR people are going to see the gap and likely conclude you took time from the work force to start a family. You may or may not even be asked about it.

 

[MrsPete]

On the resume, say nothing. List your professional jobs and don't call attention to the gap in employment. If you absolutley feel the need to do so, you could briefly mention it in your cover letter: Looking forward to re-entering the sales field . . . "

The interviewer won't have much trouble figuring out where you've been: your age will probably be "guessable" within a couple years based upon your graduation dates, and a person with much investigative sense will figure out where you've been. A gap in employment is quite acceptable for a woman -- less so for a man, right or wrong.

I suspect CED is right: you may not even be asked about it; however, you should have some answers ready.

Over-emphasizing having stayed at home is suicide. If your interviewer has always been a working mom, you may insult her if you wax fantastical about the joys of seeing the first steps, the dangers of leaving children at danger, etc. On the other hand, if she was a SAHM herself, or if she wishes she were a SAHM, you risk her wondering whether you're serious about returning to the work world, or whether you'll run back home when you hit a rough patch at work. If you explain it in terms of finances (if I'd worked, I would've only made ___ after day care), well, you look a little pathetic, even if the math is clearly in your favor. It's best to focus on your future as an employee and say as little as possible about having been at home for years.

The interviewer can legally ask you about a gap in your employment, but he or she cannot ask you whether you intend to have more children, whether you have reliable daycare, or whether you're a single mom. On the other hand, he or she CAN ask whether you're available to work late without much notice, whether you're available to travel, etc -- assuming this is part of the job, of course.

If an employer asks you something "questionable", you're in a tough spot. If you refuse to answer, you risk looking uncooperative, and who wants to work with someone like that? On the other hand, if you feel the answer may make you look like a less-than-desirable candidate, you should deflect the question and turn it to something that puts you in a better light. For example, if the interviewer asks if you're ready emotionally to leave your children in daycare, you could reply, "My children have visited the day care and they're excited about starting there, and I'm looking forward to ____ about returning to work with this company . . . " Make the conversation about your future work, not your having stayed at home.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

I returned to the workforce last year after a nearly 8 year SAHM/workforce absence (but like staying at home raising kids isn't work, right?).

Anyway, like other posters have written, I didn't draw attention to the hole, just didn't mention it. My resume's in chronological order, so it wasn't hard to see that I hadn't worked since the '90s (yikes!), but I did mention that in my coverletter.

By the way, I did get the job -- During the interview, they were interested in my current commitment to the postion, and understood my decision to stay home. Guess the times are changing, which is good!

Good luck whenever you begin looking.

 

[noodleknitter]

I just list the years that I've worked. Oftentimes I have taught a semester, or done some consulting that fills in the gaps. Otherwise I don't worry about it. It isn't as though employers don't have a clue about parenthood.

 

[castleview]

I'm curious how many of you are returning to the same field or trying something new. I don't plan on the same field and am curious how everyone's experiences with new fields are.

BTW, thanks for starting this thread. I really wanted to post this another thread, but this is a much better place to ask.

 

[AKLRULZ]

On the resume, say nothing. List your professional jobs and don't call attention to the gap in employment. If you absolutley feel the need to do so, you could briefly mention it in your cover letter: Looking forward to re-entering the sales field . . . "

The interviewer won't have much trouble figuring out where you've been: your age will probably be "guessable" within a couple years based upon your graduation dates, and a person with much investigative sense will figure out where you've been. A gap in employment is quite acceptable for a woman -- less so for a man, right or wrong.

I suspect CED is right: you may not even be asked about it; however, you should have some answers ready.

Over-emphasizing having stayed at home is suicide. If your interviewer has always been a working mom, you may insult her if you wax fantastical about the joys of seeing the first steps, the dangers of leaving children at danger, etc. On the other hand, if she was a SAHM herself, or if she wishes she were a SAHM, you risk her wondering whether you're serious about returning to the work world, or whether you'll run back home when you hit a rough patch at work. If you explain it in terms of finances (if I'd worked, I would've only made ___ after day care), well, you look a little pathetic, even if the math is clearly in your favor. It's best to focus on your future as an employee and say as little as possible about having been at home for years.

The interviewer can legally ask you about a gap in your employment, but he or she cannot ask you whether you intend to have more children, whether you have reliable daycare, or whether you're a single mom. On the other hand, he or she CAN ask whether you're available to work late without much notice, whether you're available to travel, etc -- assuming this is part of the job, of course.

If an employer asks you something "questionable", you're in a tough spot. If you refuse to answer, you risk looking uncooperative, and who wants to work with someone like that? On the other hand, if you feel the answer may make you look like a less-than-desirable candidate, you should deflect the question and turn it to something that puts you in a better light. For example, if the interviewer asks if you're ready emotionally to leave your children in daycare, you could reply, "My children have visited the day care and they're excited about starting there, and I'm looking forward to ____ about returning to work with this company . . . " Make the conversation about your future work, not your having stayed at home.

Coming from someone now in the hiring business, this is rock solid advice.

 

[Hedy]

I've also heard of SAHM's using functional resumes (google it) to prevent this dilemma.

 

[CindyCan]

I've also heard of SAHM's using functional resumes (google it) to prevent this dilemma.

I'm having alot of trouble finding a job after 11 yrs as a SAHM. I've got alot of experience in my field, I've kept up my skills, I've volunteered & run my own direct sales business. But, today, I got a call from the temp agency to see if I was available. They put me forward, but the client didn't want me. I was overqualified, but he said no specifically because of the gap. It's so frustrating. (I've only been with the agency a week...looking on my own since Jan.)

I looked up the functional resume...I thought maybe that would help! However:

Recruiters/headhunters particularly disdain functional formats, so this approach should never be used if you are primarily targeting recruiters with your job search. Employers in conservative fields, such as banking, finance, and law are not big fans of functional formats, nor are international employers.

All of this applies to me, so I guess I won't change my chronological resume.

To the original question: I have had questions about the "missing" years, so under my last employer section I put "left to raise my family" so employers would know I wasn't fired or something. Hasn't made a difference in getting calls!

 

[LuvTigger]

Part of my job entails conducting interviews when we have job openings, and while I agree that you probably shouldn't over-emphasize your time as a SAHM, I do appreciate it either being briefly mentioned in the cover letter, or on the resume (I would prefer cover letter).

While some people think cover letters are useless, I think they can be quite useful in providing a glimpse of your personality.

When I read a resume and I see a large gap in the work history, I automatically wonder, "what was he/she doing while not working?" That's why I appreciate a one-line explanation in the cover letter saying something like, "I stayed home from 2000-2004 to take care of my young children..." and maybe a short blurb on how you're re-entering the workforce.

Personally, I am more likely to call someone who provided an explanation of gaps in work history, than one who has large gaps with no explanation or hint of why they weren't working. But, I don't consider myself a typical interviewer and definitely not a typical workplace, so I might be in the minority. But I really don't see how a one line explanation in a cover letter would hurt more than no explanation at all.

In any case, good luck in your pursuits!!