Stay-at-home moms might not have as much business experience to put on a resume as they would like, but they can list plenty of practical experience based on their work raising their children. A mom has to handle raising kids, keeping the house clean, cooking for the family, and all of the other little tasks that keep everyone’s life running smoothly day in and day out. When a mom is ready to get back out into the business world, she can use the work she has done at home to enhance her resume.
Specialized Skills
Being at home with the children gives a mom the opportunity to pursue interests that she might not have looked into if she were working full time away from home. A mom who spends several hours each day communicating through social networking websites can list that on a resume as computer literacy. She is probably also a fast and accurate typist, which can help with some potential jobs outside her home. Any special hobbies that a mom enjoys could translate into marketable skills depending on the kind of job she is looking for.
Expert at Multi-Tasking
A mother’s work is rarely linear. Most moms have to deal with several jobs at the same time. A mom who is looking for work could comfortably list multi-tasking as one of the many skills she has picked up by working in her house. If a mom can handle cooking dinner, helping with homework, talking on the phone, and keeping the dog out of the trash can all at the same time there is a good chance she can handle several phone lines at once when she is sitting at a busy desk.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
THOMAS EDISON
Communication and Negotiation Practice
An important part of being a parent is knowing how to say what needs to be said in such a way that it gets through to the kids. In a household with more than one child, negotiation skills are vital to keeping the peace. A mom develops good communication skills as soon as her child begins to talk. She continues to hone those skills as the child grows, with the greatest challenges coming as the kids reach their teenage years. It is perfectly fine to list those hard-won communication skills in a resume. Sometimes real-life experience is more complex than the negotiations that might come up in a business setting.
Home Organization Translates to the Workplace
A big part of being a mother is keeping track of everyone’s schedule. A mom has to make sure all the kids get to their appointments on time, the pantry is stocked appropriately, and so on. The organization skills that are necessary at home are the same organization skills needed in the workplace. A good resume should include the practical organization and attention to detail that a mother develops them as part of her everyday life. Employers are always looking for someone who can manage time efficiently and be productive. Being a mom is excellent training for the workplace.