Here is, in my humble opinion, an accurate resume for stay at home mom. If you’re worried about what to put on your resume later on, hopefully this will give you some ideas. :) And before you get that interview, you can learn to take a compliment.
Resume (n): a brief account of a person’s education, qualifications, and previous experience
When I was in college, traveling around Europe, and then planning my career I often thought about my resume. How it needed to look full and well-rounded. Or maybe it was hyper-specific. Anyway, it seemed like what I looked like on paper really was important.
And then I got pregnant with my first – surprise! – and then I become a stay-at-home mom. When I began having a stay-at-home-mom identity crisis, I suddenly cared how having a big fat hole in my resume was going to look to future employers.
Now, six years later, I’m not worried one iota about my resume. I’m not worried about what it says I did or didn’t do. Or that it doesn’t show awards or promotions or accomplishments. I’m not worried because after four years of being a stay at home mom I am very confident of two things…
Do you forget to sleep, bathe, eat, relax, etc.? NO MORE. This tracker will help you consistently live within your limits so you have more love to give to your family.
Being at home with small kids is dang hard work.
And I’m way more capable than I previously thought.
So, stay at home mom, if and when you decide to go into the work force don’t feel insecure you took a few years out. I’ve created a resume for you that you may feel free to copy, paste, and personalize.
Go forth into the marketplace and see how this season of life at home has actually helped you become a better version of you. Because, after all, children are not in the way.
A Stay at Home Mom Resume
What's in this post...
Rachel Norman, B.A., M.S.
Director of Child Development
Accomplished, seasoned professional with years of experience and track record of proven success in meeting daily, monthly, and yearly goals (goals may include diaper changes, bedtimes, and aiding memorization of ABCs).
An ambitious self-starter who can be counted on to meet deadlines (30 seconds to make it to the potty) and perform well under stress (running a home by day and multiple night feedings postpartum by night).
Do you forget to sleep, bathe, eat, relax, etc.? NO MORE. This tracker will help you consistently live within your limits so you have more love to give to your family.
Skills in the following areas:
- Communication (interpretation, sign language, lecturing, etc.)
- Mediation (negotiating, bargaining, and bribing)
- Analytical/Research skills (a worried mother does better research than the FBI, no?)
- Managing Multiple Priorities (feed, shop, cook, make lists, cuddle, and surf FB simultaneously)
- Planning/Organizing (meal planning, setting routines, corralling toys, sorting Lego)
- Problem Solving (why are they waking, what will they eat, how to get them to stop whining, how to eat candy without being seen)
- Teamwork (dividing tasks, delegating chores, gaining cooperation from the uninspired)
The Norman Household, 2011 – 2019
Director of Child Development
- Coordinated education curriculum of children (books, flashcards, Sesame Street)
- Oversaw emotional development (cuddled, praised, and kissed boo boos)
- Supported gross and fine motor skills (helped roll over, crawl, walk, and hold crayons)
Household CEO
- Oversaw operations of all systems and procedures (laundry, shopping, cleaning, transportation)
- Budgeted for and allocated appropriate expenditures (groceries, mortgage, insurance, bills, Reese’s Cups)
- Delegated operational tasks to promote equal division of labor (chore charts, daily cleaning routines)
Neglecting your own physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional needs for so long―in an effort to be a selfless mother―leaves you depleted. Being well blesses your family! Learn WIN WIN strategies in my upcoming book!
Learn MoreOfficer in Charge of Waste Management
- Conducted performance tests on various vehicles for waste removal (expensive disposable, cheap disposable, pocket cloth diapers, prefold)
- Developed systems for waste disposal to minimize odor
Etiquette Expert
- Hosted daily events showcasing table manners and utensil usage (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Taught and required subordinates to perform acts of gratitude (thank you notes and verbal thank you’s)
- Helped introduce young men to the lost art of chivalry (opening doors, carrying groceries, looking after sisters)
Event Planner
- Organized socials and parties (birthday parties, play dates, babysitting swaps)
- Coordinated with brands to back events (Frozen plates, clowns for hire, M&M’s)
- Created milestone celebration events (first time using potty!, first time sleeping through the night!, first time riding bike!)
Obviously this isn’t something you will copy and paste… but use the bones of this to fill out a resume.
Do you forget to sleep, bathe, eat, relax, etc.? NO MORE. This tracker will help you consistently live within your limits so you have more love to give to your family.
While you may not have worked in a while, you have likely been using certain skills you built on during your years of work. Think about more than a “job” and add that stuff into the mix.
So there you go… be blessed mama.Â
FAQs
Honesty is key. Be straightforward about the reason for your career break. Stating that you took time off to care for your children is a valid and understandable explanation. Highlight the skills and experiences gained during your time as a stay-at-home mom that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Overcoming self-doubt and boosting confidence, especially when reentering the workforce after a career break, is a process that takes time and effort. Reflect on your past accomplishments, both personally and professionally. Make a list of your achievements, and your soft skills (attributes, behaviors, and attitudes that enable you to interact effectively with others in a work environment). You have more skills to contribute to a job now because of your experience as a mom!
Start by evaluating your current network, even if it’s been dormant for a while. Identify contacts who are still active in your industry or field. Reconnect with former colleagues, update your LinkedIn profile, and use the connections you’ve made through church, mom groups, or kid’s activities or school to your advantage.
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Rachel, even with 8 more years of homeschooling to complete before I even think about going back to work, I worry almost daily what I’m doing to my resume! Thanks for reminding me that I have skills I never even thought about back when I was on the career track. :)
Ha :) Yes, it may be different skills but I truly believe all this really makes us stronger capable women!
This is just what I needed to read. I left a job several years ago to stay at home with and raise my children and I didn’t know how to handle it as I re-enter the work world. This just made my day! Thank you!!
Ha, glad it did :)
Thank you for all the great advice! I have been working on updating, or rather recreating my resume and I had hit a writers block until I read your blog! I feel foolish for not thinking to include my time at home! A friend suggested that I do that, but I wasn’t sure so I did a little research in between naps and while on Pinterest I stumbled upon this wonderful page! Thank you Rachel!
BTW, that is my daughter’s name. :-)
Carmen, oh best of luck to you while creating your resume. All joking aside from the post, when I was in Australia there were MANY jobs advertised specifically to mothers because – though at home – they are actually capable of doing so much. I heard quite a few employers say they seek out those moms entering the workforce becaue they wanted to come to work and do the job right. Basically, they were seasoned workers :)
This website gives you a complete list of skills for the stay at home mom.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/stay-home-mom-resume-transferable-knowledge-skills-abilities-maza
I got married before my 17th birthday and I’ve never worked a day in my life. Now I have 3 kids in school and I’m only 26 years old. How can I build a resume with zero job experience so I can get my first ever job?
Catherine, i think the key first is to figure out what you want to do, get some type of training for it, and then even volunteering will help for a bit .Unless you HAVE to work right now then I think you can gain some skills and experience through volunteering, interning, etc as long as you’re qualified or getting qualified for what you want to do.
Oh man, I can’t even finish reading, I have to laugh so hard!!! If this post won’t go viral, I don’t know which will!! Gonna share it on FB! Been actually thinking about the mom resume lately but never could have pulled that wording of it off! Compliments!!
:)
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!! It made updating my resume a lot less stressful!! Wondering how you tackled the references part? I’ve been out of the work force for awhile and my superiors and coworkers are no longer in the same positions or at the same contact info! I feel bad for leaving it blank but I know most employers only want professional references and not a bunch of character references. Any suggestions?
Mohs2@aol.com
Courtney, you know what I don’t have a suggestion about the references, but I wonder if you can still put those people even though their positions have changed?
You are so wonderful for creating this website and if you were in front of me I’d give you an enormous hug! I’ve been home for nineteen years and homeschooling since my oldest was four. I have decided to return to the work force full time and your website is the first I’ve found that is the most helpful in creating a resume that fits my situation. God bless and thank you!
Bless you mama
I’ve been out of the working group since dirt was young and after my husbands passing I was put further back then before. Being a Senior Citizen is a wonderful thing but my children think I should slow down. They took my wheels away so now I’m stuck I’ll have time to do nothing after I die and I’m not ready to go just yet. I’m an Artist and started learning and doing this when I was three. I’m a stay at home Mom
Rachel Norman,
I have been a first time mom living the stay at home mom life for 4 years now and I am concerned because even before being a mother I did have anything but a serving job. I have a daughter I have been with 24/7 since the day she was born. I want to jump back into the work force to help provide for family, but I am also torn with not wanting to loose the time I have with my daughter since the time flies quickly and we’re only given one shot. I am terrible at job resume’s and interviews. I am weary of anything i do and feel unconfident about my efforts in getting a job or presenting a resume.
I am lost and stuck, any guidance or advice would be helpful.
excellent blog! hands up to your great advice, I really like your post. it is very interesting and helpful message to create a wonderful resume. thanks a lot for such a valuable blog.
Today I am writing my 1st real resume since 1996. I left my job as an adolescent rehabilitation therapist in May of 2001 and have had several small jobs, but nothing that required a resume. My children are now 20 and 17 and I spent last 2 years battling cancer, and am ready to do more. This cracked me up!!!! A reminder that raising kind, thoughful, grateful human beings is a very important job!! I can pat myself on the back and say I have achieved the greatest accomplishment there is , raising children into adults who are self sufficient, hard working and kind. Everything else will just be icing on the cake!
Thank you thank you thank you… I worked as a hair stylist for many years then I became a single mom when I met my husband it allowed me to be a s a h mom for 6+ years and now with 2 kids I work at a small grocery store with I dislike.. I need a job that fits my kids schedule better.. i can take this and make a resume and apply at the school to find a job to fit their schedule better there’s lots of jobs there and I’ll be on the same schedule as them
Rachel, you rock! Thank you so much for sharing your insightful, witty, and practical talents with us. Before having babies I had a very ambitious and fulfilling career. I left it all for my kids and they’ve been totally worth it, but now (more than a decade later) I’m back in school and required to create a resume geared toward a completely different line of work. I was totally at a loss at how to fill the huge time gap and minimize my past accomplishments to focus on future endeavors until I found your site. You not only helped me complete my assignment and write my resume, but you also helped me put a worthwhile label on the unending (and often unappreciated) tasks we do as dedicated moms. Please continue inspiring mothers and know your work inside the home has created a positive ripple effect into your community and beyond. xo
I’m so chuckling at this… I normally don’t comment on a blog or do anything other than read it BUT THIS ONE is amazing…. it hits the spot. Thanks so much for this article
Thank you for the blog. I feel much better after I have read your humorous blog. I am a stay home mom for 2 years. Actually, I am an immigrant who is non native speaker. I got my bachelor degree in my country and then traveled around with my husband for work for a few years after I graduated so basically I had no job experience or skill. Then when I moved to the state, I got pregnant right away and stayed at home watching my boy for 3 years. The language and cultural barriers are a huge challenge. I feel lost, fear, empty, unsecured and self doubted. I want to get back to college to get a degree, also gain my language ability. However, I am worry either I wont have enough time with my boy and family or I cant catch up with the study’s pressure. Please tell me what should I do and how to be happier! thank you.
Huyen, I went through something similar and all I can tell: babysteps. Just get started and keep going, does not matter if you go slower, doing not many credits in a semester- as long as you keep doing, you`ll get there. I also remind myself why I started in the first place once I went back to college and that helps to keep my going. Best luck to you!
Hi Rachel, I am actually trying to up date my resume to get back to work force. I have been stay at home mom for 11 years and I am finding it difficult to fill the gap since my last work experience. so found your website and read your resume sample, it is absolutely right and on the dot as to what mothers do on the daily basis. my question is however, if I up date my resume like so, would the employers find sarcastic and not take me seriously.
Thanks
Evelyn
Hi Evelyn! I think probably they would think it was tongue in cheek, even if not sarcastic. Moms sure can be at a disadvantage being out of the work force, but I pray God puts a job in your lap that no one else even has a chance for!
This is so helpful. I am so nervous about putting the last 8 years of my life on a resume!
It is so so nerve wracking!
I just wanted to say thank you!
Thanks for stopping by :)
Thank you for some suggestions. I left my career as a HR Manager and stayed home to raise my kids. 27 years later and with my age I am having a terrible time even getting a phone call. Being in the HR industry, I know most recruiters are very young and it is their first position in HR. They tend to look at individuals at their level for positions.
One questions is should I really put a picture on LinkedIn since it will show my age. Any other advise or articles would be greatly appreciated. Thank you again
Hi Penny, I don’t know about LinkedIn and hope you can find someone who will help you with this!
So, a word of caution here. I’m a longtime SAHM who went back to school for an engineering degree (senior now), and the recruiter types I’ve talked to have said, yes, put these skills, but do NOT put the “cutesy” stuff (running to the potty, etc) or you won’t be taken seriously.
YES, I know the post is meant to be funny, but still. Might save somebody?
Alex, thanks for adding :) Yes, it was meant for funny but glad you mentioned it!