Being a full-time mom is hard, sometimes it can be even harder than working a full-time job. However, as fulfilling as it is being a parent, you might still be considering going back to the workforce for extra income and security for the whole family.
It might be a daunting task at first, going back after such a long hiatus, but fret not, it is nowhere near as difficult as parenthood. You might just be feeling nervous because it’s been such a long time, but that is why we are here to help you out!
Here are 4 resume tips for moms returning to the workforce.
1. Highlight your talents and soft skills that can be carried over.
One of the best ways to boost your resume is to really show your chops. You might not be aware of it, but you have many talents that can be carried over into the workforce. As a mom, even with the gap in your resume, you have skills such as incredible time management from taking care of your kids, great multitasking skills from being a full time mom, and indomitable patience.
There are a lot of ways you can highlight your talents as a mom that can be carried over into how it can benefit the company. More than likely, your interviewer would ask you questions about how it is being a mom, and returning to the workforce. Make sure you answer them as honestly as you can, and angle it in such a way that you’ve acquired a lot of skills that would be great for the company in many ways.
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2. Talk about your profession prior to becoming a mom.
Of course, you aren’t a complete beginner in the scene. You just took some time off for the family. You might be a little bit rusty after some time, but you definitely still have the skills and the knowledge embedded within you.
So remember to put your previous work experiences in your resume, and if your potential employee asks you about it, you can reflect upon it. It is even better if you mention that being a mom actually helped you grow as a person a lot. Talk about how you were like prior to leaving the workforce, your successes and failures, and how you would approach it again, as a more responsible and better person now.
If you aren’t sure how it would play out, practice with yourself in front of a mirror or ask your partner for inputs. You will notice how much you’ve changed as a person for the better, and find ways to explain how this transformation into parenthood would make you a much better employee than you were previously.
3. Be passionate about the career that you choose.
The one thing that sets aside potential employees from the rest of the pack is when an individual shows genuine passion for the position. Your resume has to be tailored to be in-line with the career of your choice. That means if you think something in your resume isn’t relevant, take it out! The latter is also true, if you find yourself needing to brush up on some additional skills, taking a course or diploma program may be the best route!
Meanwhile, if you think something about you can really show your talents and passion for the specific position, write it down! It doesn’t necessarily have to be directly related to the current industry, but as long as it is applicable. For example, if you manage your children’s girl scout squad, you can talk about it if you’re applying to a managerial position.
As long as you can find a creative correlation to the career, and passionately talk about how you can contribute to the company, you’ll really stand out from the rest!
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4. Make sure your resume is short and sweet.
An important aspect of a good resume is also the length of it. Your potential employers don’t want to sift through tens of pages. Most resumes that get the green mark are ones that are only 1 page long.
Of course it is filled to the brim with experiences, talents and expertise in the field. As previously mentioned, you should only write down details that are directly correlated to the company or the industry that you are applying to.
Be hopeful, be passionate
A disclaimer to be said that these tips are not guaranteed to help you get the position that you want. Even the best resumes might not make the cut ultimately. You might not be lucky to land that first interview, but keep trying and persist, at the end of the day, you will find the right company just for you.
If it doesn’t work out the first time, just keep trying until it does. Perseverance preserves in the end. If you’re not sure what the best career route is for you, book an appointment with one of our advisors to help set you up with the right tools on the right path.