It can be difficult to resume your career after taking time off to raise children. How do you show potential employers that you're qualified and have value after being a stay-at-home parent for years? In this blog post, we will cover how to write a resume for a stay at home mom returning to work. We'll discuss topics including how to lead with your accomplishments, focus on transferrable skills and achievements, and tailor your resume specifically for returners. We'll also talk about volunteer experience and give tips on how to highlight soft skills gained from being a stay-at-home parent.

If you're looking to rejoin the workforce, you can still get a job at a top company so don't miss this helpful advice!

How to create a perfect resume

Tailor your resume specifically for returners.

Many professional resume writers will use a Functional Resume format for moms returning to work after a career break. I don't recommend the functional format, because it can often be confusing or (worse) seem intentionally misleading.

I like to keep the resume chronological, and to address the gap head-on to show that you have nothing to hide. This means including the career break in the experience section of your resume that outlines the dates you were out of the workforce and briefly explains the reason for your absence.

If you have any concerns that your resume gap will be viewed negatively, use your cover letter to explain the situation.

Pick the right template.

You want to use a resume template that puts your best foot forward in your intended field in order to land your dream job. There are a lot of creative templates in the world these days which can help capture the interest of hiring managers, and we now offer several for sale on our site which are specifically designed to pass at ATS scan!

If you want to make the right impression with a hiring manager, and also get through the applicant tracking system more easily, keep it clean and simple. Put the most relevant information first, leading with your profile or career highlights and then listing your skills.

Lead with your accomplishments, not just a job description.

When you start building your resume, it's important to focus on your accomplishments and not just your job duties to help you stand out from the rest of applicants.

For example, if you were a part time book keeper, you might have managed a budget, organized accounts receivable, and prepared financial documents.

If you want to frame these as professional accomplishments, it might look something like this:

Optimized an advertising budget of $50k per month for a local small business
Reduced outstanding invoice collection times by 25%
Liaised with vendors to deliver critical year-end closing activities

These are all important accomplishments that show you have valuable skills and can deliver results, making you much more likely to land an interview.

Consider obtaining updated education or credentials.

If it's been a while since your last worked, you can get up to speed with the latest in your industry by pursuing some additional training or renewing a certification. And, if you're looking to resume your career in a new industry altogether, additional education can help you make the transition!

This doesn't necessarily mean that you need to get a degree or go back to school. There are many online courses and programs that you can pursue on your own schedule.

Listing some courses or certificates that a hiring manager would expect to see can be a sign that you've worked hard and are committed to creating a successful re-entry. It's also a great way to show employers that you're still knowledgeable and up-to-date on industry trends, even if you've been away from the workforce for a few years.

Focus on transferrable skills and achievements.

It's also important to highlight any transferrable skills and achievements. This means highlighting skills that can be applied in any setting or industry.

For example, if you were a stay-at-home mom you likely have excellent time management skills, multitasking abilities, and communication skills. All of these are valuable skills that can be applied in any number of workplaces!

You can also use volunteer experience to highlight your transferrable skills for a return to full time work. This also demonstrates your ability to work standard hours outside of the house and to be part of a team.

Volunteer experience is valuable.

If you've been out of the workforce for years, chances are you haven't had much (if any) paid work experience during that time.

Volunteer work is a great way to get some "experience" under your belt, even if it's not paid. If you're resume writing and looking for ways to showcase your skills and abilities, consider adding some volunteer work.

Just be sure to create different sections for volunteer and paid work. You never want to seem like you're being dishonest in your resume.

And remember, just because it's not paid doesn't mean that it doesn't have value!

Create your new resume with these sections

Use a summary, not an objective statement.

You may be tempted to include an objective statement at the top of your resume. However, I would advise against this for two reasons:

First, an objective statement is usually pretty generic and won't help you to stand out.
Second, objective statements are no longer commonly used so this could make you appear out of touch with the modern job market.

Instead, use a Summary or Career Highlights section at the top.

Next up on your resume is skills.

Consider creating a "Skills" section to quickly show employers what you're good at, and what you can bring to the table.

Putting this near the top will also keep the focus on what you can do, and less on when or where you worked most recently.

In this section, you can include hard skills (like computer programming or foreign language fluency) as well as soft skills (like customer service or teamwork).

Tackle employment history.

Next, you'll want to dive into your employment history.

When listing your employment history, start with your most recent position and work backwards. If you have a lot of experience (more than 15 years), then you can feel free to leave off or consolidate older positions.

However, if you only have a few years of experience (or less), then you'll want to include as much information as possible.

Where do I put Education on my resume?

Usually, education will go at the bottom of your resume. However, if you have recently completed a degree or certification (especially if it's relevant to the job you're applying for) then you can feel free to list it near the top.

If you're including your education on your resume, be sure to list the name and location of the school, as well as the type of degree you earned.

If you didn't complete a degree, just list the dates that you attended the school.

You can also include relevant coursework, honors, and awards.

Include volunteer experience and affiliations.

If you have any relevant volunteer experience or affiliations, now is the time to list them!

This is a great way to show that you're invested in your community, and that you care about causes that are important to you.

Be sure to include the name of the organization, as well as your role within it. If you held any positions of responsibility (like being on the board of directors), be sure to mention that too.

Should I list hobbies and interests?

Regarding listing hobbies and interests, the answer is usually no.

However, if you have any hobbies or interests that are directly related to the job you're applying for (like being an avid birdwatcher if you're applying for a job at a nature center) then you can feel free to list them.

Other than that, it's generally best to leave your hobbies and interests off of your resume.

Hire This Mom can help with your job search.
If you want a custom tailored resume from us, you can now book directly from our store! Check out some of our 6-figure resume examples, including some resumes with a career gap or no degree that landed offers at top companies.
We can also help with cover letters, and provide interview preparation and career coaching as well.

Takeaway

If you've been out of the workforce for a while, don't worry! You can still put together a strong resume that will help you get back into full-time work. Just focus on your accomplishments, list transferrable skills, and be sure to include volunteer experience. And, if you need additional education or training, there are many flexible options available to fit your schedule. With a little effort, you can land your next job and resume your career!

Thank you for reading! I hope these tips were helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to me at @hirethismom. I wish you the best of luck in your job search!

How to Write a Resume After Being a Stay-At-Home Mom for Years