15 Yr Stay-at-home Mom Needs Resume Advice/help

Hi AB,

I am a career consultant for an outplacement company working with displaced employees working to get back into the market every day. The most important thing you need to do first is identify what you want to do in the workforce - admin, management, technical stuff, etc. and identify your skills and strengths that support your focus. Once you start identifying that, writing your resume will be much easier.

I would be happy to help you start figuring out next steps and help you with your resume (probono - I love this stuff!!). If you are interested, feel free to email me.

Good luck! Dallas was just rated by BizJournals (Dallas Business Journal, etc.) as the sixth hottest job market in the US out of almost 100! Its a good time to get out there and see what is available.

A.

In the olden days I was a practicing CPA and helped a number of moms and/or people who had lost jobs find new careers. In your situation, there are a number of things to consider that may help you. First, one of the best things you can do is to update any computer skills that you may have and/or get computer skills. Check with your local community college and meet with the financial advisor as well as with the person who advises on appropriate courses. The community colleges offer a certificate program that allows you to take courses like Word, Excel and other computer courses and get certified. Many of these courses can be taken for college credit. Since you have 4 children and you indicate possible financial issues, you may well qualify to get grants for (a) tuition costs and (b) living expenses. Second, consider working for temporary agencies to get back into the business world and get a track record. You might get positions as receptionist, clerk, etc. Many of the temp agencies will also train you or offer courses to update your computer skills at no charge. While not giving an endorsement to any particular company, I just happen to know that some people have used Imprimis and were happy with the service. Third, consider some of the companies that provide college assistance along with job benefits. Again, not to endorse particular companies, I have heard that Capital One, Fidelity, and places like that were good places to get entry level jobs where they would pay for college. Sounds like right now you need just "any" job to get immediate income and then you can worry about career planning later. But you should meet with people at the colleges first or soon; you may be able to get that degree now. Consider calling upon the Texas Workforce Commission; they may have a grant program or training program that could help you get back into the workforce. Good luck and you didn't get through 15 years of child-rearing without being resourceful; turn those skills into the job of finding a job. You might also consider using those skills to help other working moms - become a child care provider. Talk to an agency and sign up if that interests you.

I would list what you have done to stay busy for the past years under your Objective, something like: Have been a been homemaker for the past so years, very active in the PTA which I served as the President... Have also been involved in the our church...Have previously taught pre school for (name of place)...My objective now is to find a part/full time job. Or you can use that information under Qualifications, start of saying something like: Taught preschool aged children for (name) and (name), have also sold so and so products, being involved in these activities has made me made me a people person and I have gained leardership like skills. Start with Objective, then Skills and Qualifications, then list Emloyment History, then for Education you can put Entry Level College Courses.

Hi April,
I would definitely include the work you did before becoming a mom and the volunteer work with the schools and church. Here is what I did during the time that I stayed home with my children:

May 2006- August 2007 Family Commitment

And as far as the other in-between jobs, I handled it with (mine was Mary Kay):

May 2004- November 2006 Independent Consulting

Do you know what you would like to do? I have some buddies at a consulting firm that staff IT type jobs. It sounds like you have some solid management skills... maybe you could use your volunteer work to beef up your resume. 1 other thought, most staffing places will re-write your resume in their format anyways. I would focus on getting the detail there and take it to a good company or even plug it into Career Builder and Monster.com, they have templates.

Good Luck!
E.

There are 2 main types of resumes Chronological and Functional

If you have gaps sometimes the Functional is great you can list all your skills at the top then at bottom you just list the
company job title and date. You can really show your skills even with the volunteer positions. As President PTA show any leadship skills, Secretary I would list note taking,computer experience which can be home or work. Being a Mom myself its much harder than in the work place. Mom at home you could list Organizer skills, if you know Microsoft programs such as Word,Excel,etc.

Hope this helps ! If you have a year or 2 gap you can tell an employer you were at home with kids or had a baby. i did and they didn't seem to matter to them.

Good luck

I am a SAHM for the last 14 yrs with 1 child. First of all.....you have a LOT to offer. You have managed your household for starters. When serving on any PTA board, officer or participant you must be able to have skills to get along and negotiate with people. You ran the Treasury for the PTA....it takes an honor and skill (accounting) to do that job. You have the politics you have had to deal with between parents, school and PTA boards. Public speaking is also involved with being a major officer of a PTA.

As far as writing the resume, I am not the best at that but I would include the "mom" things you have done. It shows that you are organized, professional and you have a wide variety of skills.

My MSWord has a resume builder on it so that I can plug in my info to the premade settings.

Good luck to you!
Susan

Have you ever considered working from home? I do and we have lots of mom's who have replace and more their full time income. We do not sell anything, no parties, no inventory. My website is http://www.themomteam.com/pamrose, just request more information.

That said if you do not want to work from home I think you can make a good resume. I think I would put my previous jobs. As far as your work with the PTA, I'm sure you used a ton of skills that would be vital in the work world. You probably had to deligate, organize, educate, have people skills, obviously if you are the coordinator for MOPS you are very skilled at making things happen, you have to be motivated. Put all of that into a skills catagory. Oh my gosh being a stay at home mom you have masterd so many skills as well. As a SAHM you have to be a team player, organized, have outstanding listening skills, patience, amazing at multi-tasking, perfect attendance, plus you do have some computer skills if you are on it at all. You just have to put your own spin on it and make it grab the attention of your potential employer, make them interested in learning more about you. We have Word on our computer and in the upper right corner there is a box to "type your question" just type in resume and it will bring up a list, you can choose one and use it as a template. It will help you get a starting point. I hope this helped and didn't sound too silly.

Good for you AB. My oldest child was 15 before I returned to work and I am so glad I got to be with them in their younger years.

Have you tried the State Employment Office. They usually have someone that can help you with the format and language. They may also be able to give you information about other places that help people who are "returning to work". My husband had been sick for 2 years (but was able to stay on leave and disability) before I went back to work, and he received lots of information from many sources between the State Commission and the State Rehab Offices. They had a lot of information on resumes and interviewing skills. They also had "job clubs" available that you could join to talk to other people who were without jobs. Looks around and I am sure you can find some good (and free or inexpensive) help.
PS: My first job was wonderful. I was very excited about what I was going to do, but when I got into the car to drive to work, tears started flowing from my eyes. I was not in the lease unhappy about getting to go back to work, but I couldn't make them stop - til I got to the building I was going to work in. I had a great day and learned a lot that first day, but cried all the way home. I guess I knew things were forever changed, even if it was a good change it was sad that that part of my life was over. But it was good for my boys. My daughter-in-laws are all impressed that the boys know how to cook. Each child took one night to plan and execute dinner. It was really great for me, and in the long run, for them!