Why? While you may not plan to re-enter the workforce anytime soon, if ever, at some point in the future you may want to pursue another opportunity and will need to showcase your skills. It could be a volunteer job, a home based business or a job outside of the home.
Writing Your SAHM Resume
A resume provides the story of what you’ve done with your time. Think about it: do you remember details of what you accomplished seven years ago? Is it likely that you’ll remember today’s activities seven years from now? A resume helps keep those memories and accomplishments fresh, and ready to use when you need them.
For a stay at home mom's resume, you may need to use some creativity and imagination as you determine how to describe your daily life.
Job Titles for Stay At Home Moms
When you write a resume for a SAHM, some stay at home mothers suggest that you leave the time that you are at home out of the resume, and explain any gaps in your cover letter.
Others list their work as a SAHM as a separate job. Domestic engineer, Mom On Call, or Stay at Home Mom are commonly used titles. Still others list their work as a SAHM under volunteer.
Select the title you think best reflects your role.
Writing About Your At Home Job Responsibilities
You may wonder how you can describe your mom job in terms that corporate America will appreciate. You may change your infant’s poopy diaper without missing a beat on reading a story to your toddler. Great! You’re an efficient multi-tasker. You get your preschool playgroup to go to the library and zoo. Terrific! You are an organizer and planner.
You may think that some of these accomplishments will seem trivial to the working world, but as you continue to keep track of your responsibilities and challenges, you can weed out the weaker ones.
For all resumes, the most important aspect is to quantify results whenever you can. Did you plan the neighborhood holiday party? How many people came? What was your budget? Did you negotiate with the caterer for a percentage discount?
Do you do the grocery shopping for your household? Did you comparison shop and use coupons to cut the grocery budget? By how much?
If you have multiple children, you are likely an expert at conflict resolution. What skills do you use to help your children reach a satisfactory conclusion? How is this different from helping two employees to reach a compromise?
Are you involved in activities with your family, church, synogogue, school or neighborhood? Use these to describe what you've done.
Once you’ve given some thought to your accomplishments, jot them down and keep them in a folder. Add to them periodically, and annually, at least, put them in a rough draft of a resume. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it will give you a great foundation to work from, and insurance that your time will be remembered.
Your mom resume is a history of your work and progress. Keep track of that by recording your skills and the results you've achieved to use whenever you need it. Seven years from now, you’ll be glad you did.
Pamela DeLoatch - Four kids, three schools, a bazillion sports, a growing writing career, a messy house and 90,000 miles on my four-year-old van. Need I say ...
