Resume Solutions
Tips for stay-at-home moms returning to work
Tuesday September 6, 2011 9:08 AM
Dear Sam: I am thinking of relocating within the state.
I've been using a functional resume due to numerous employment gaps. In the past three years, I had
two children, and because my pregnancies were considered high risk, I had to stay home on bed rest.
Because of this, as well as my children's health issues, I lost jobs during this time.
I have a bachelor's degree in business administration with a specialization in accounting, and I'm finding it difficult to get my foot in the door for an entry-level accounting position. Since I've never been in the accounting field, I've forgotten some of the knowledge and training I received in college, where I graduated in 2003. I was thinking about going to a career-training organization to regain the lost accounting knowledge, but am still undecided.
Right now, I am a stay-at-home mom ready to get back into the workforce. What do you suggest? - S.
Dear S.: Thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear of your situation over the past few years, and I hope your little ones are now healthy and thriving.
I suggest you not use a functional resume in your situation. Functional resumes generally are disliked by the hiring community as they present a disjointed image of a candidate's experience. I understand why you feel this format would hide the appearance of job-hopping, but I doubt it will do that in your situation.
Also, as a recent graduate, you don't have enough experience to use the functional resume effectively. With this type of resume, the Work History section and dates of employment are pushed to the bottom of page two; but in your situation, I doubt there is enough experience to warrant a two-page resume. When this happens and your Work History is presented on page one, you hide nothing and the strategy becomes ineffective.
Review the past few years of your experience and decide what needs to be presented on your resume. You do not have to present every position you have held since graduation. Present only those that were held for more than a few months that support or enhance your candidacy.
Additionally, never use months of employment on your resume. By presenting only years of employment, you minimize the appearance of frequent job changes. In your situation, present your education directly below the Qualifications Summary, as this is a key qualifier in your candidacy.
You also might want to develop a Career Highlights section to serve as an overview of your hands-on experience. When the hiring manager reviews your Qualifications Summary, Education section with related coursework highlights and a solid Career Highlights section, he or she will gain a greater understanding of your qualifications before reaching the Professional Experience section.
As far as returning to school to receive additional training, it certainly could strengthen your candidacy, but working through an accounting temporary agency also could be beneficial. A temporary agency will have the entry-level positions you seek to provide the hands-on experience and focus you feel you need.
You also might want to call some agencies to review your qualifications and ask for guidance on what they feel area employers are looking for in a candidate at your level. You might find that you have the required background and don't need additional training. You might only need to present your experience in a different light on your resume in order to get your foot in the door.
I wish you all the best in your job search, relocation and with your family.
Dear Sam: I am writing to ask how to develop a resume with a limited professional background and a large unemployment gap due to raising a family. I worked in administration from 1987-1992 and then started a family. During this time I ran the financial and marketing aspects of my husband's small gardening business. I also held several temporary holiday positions in retail stores. However, for nearly 15 years I was raising my children. Three years ago I started my own small business alongside a part-time marketing position. Then two years ago, I began a full-time degree program that I recently completed. I have no idea how to put all of this together on a resume. Help! - Alice
Dear Alice: Congratulations on your recent graduation. I am sure this is an exciting time but also one filled with some trepidation.
The key to presenting one's candidacy on paper is to paint a competitive picture. Given you have only five years of work experience prior to staying at home, you likely will be seen as a junior-level candidate. Because of this, you can focus your resume on the past few years of your experience managing the administrative functions of your husband's and your own business in addition to your part-time marketing position.
You also can byline your early administrative experience. To do this, make a note (without dates) regarding your early experience at the end of your Professional Experience section. I suggest something like: "Foundational experience in the administrative and office management arena as an Executive Assistant with ABC Company." Of course write this statement with the facts of your background. After this note you can list select aspects of that role which support your current career targets. The point of taking this approach is to allow you to include what might be relevant experience without the context of when it occurred in order to avoid unnecessarily aging your candidacy. When you do this and focus on your most recent experience and education, you will emerge as a competitive junior-level candidate on paper and should have no problem securing the interviews you want.
Samantha Nolan is a certified professional resume writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service resume-writing firm. Do you have a resume or job-search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@ladybug-design. com. For more about Sam's resume writing services, visit www.ladybug-design.com or call (614) 570-3442 or 1-888-9-LADYBUG (1-888-952-3928).
I have a bachelor's degree in business administration with a specialization in accounting, and I'm finding it difficult to get my foot in the door for an entry-level accounting position. Since I've never been in the accounting field, I've forgotten some of the knowledge and training I received in college, where I graduated in 2003. I was thinking about going to a career-training organization to regain the lost accounting knowledge, but am still undecided.
Right now, I am a stay-at-home mom ready to get back into the workforce. What do you suggest? - S.
Dear S.: Thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear of your situation over the past few years, and I hope your little ones are now healthy and thriving.
I suggest you not use a functional resume in your situation. Functional resumes generally are disliked by the hiring community as they present a disjointed image of a candidate's experience. I understand why you feel this format would hide the appearance of job-hopping, but I doubt it will do that in your situation.
Also, as a recent graduate, you don't have enough experience to use the functional resume effectively. With this type of resume, the Work History section and dates of employment are pushed to the bottom of page two; but in your situation, I doubt there is enough experience to warrant a two-page resume. When this happens and your Work History is presented on page one, you hide nothing and the strategy becomes ineffective.
Review the past few years of your experience and decide what needs to be presented on your resume. You do not have to present every position you have held since graduation. Present only those that were held for more than a few months that support or enhance your candidacy.
Additionally, never use months of employment on your resume. By presenting only years of employment, you minimize the appearance of frequent job changes. In your situation, present your education directly below the Qualifications Summary, as this is a key qualifier in your candidacy.
You also might want to develop a Career Highlights section to serve as an overview of your hands-on experience. When the hiring manager reviews your Qualifications Summary, Education section with related coursework highlights and a solid Career Highlights section, he or she will gain a greater understanding of your qualifications before reaching the Professional Experience section.
As far as returning to school to receive additional training, it certainly could strengthen your candidacy, but working through an accounting temporary agency also could be beneficial. A temporary agency will have the entry-level positions you seek to provide the hands-on experience and focus you feel you need.
You also might want to call some agencies to review your qualifications and ask for guidance on what they feel area employers are looking for in a candidate at your level. You might find that you have the required background and don't need additional training. You might only need to present your experience in a different light on your resume in order to get your foot in the door.
I wish you all the best in your job search, relocation and with your family.
Dear Sam: I am writing to ask how to develop a resume with a limited professional background and a large unemployment gap due to raising a family. I worked in administration from 1987-1992 and then started a family. During this time I ran the financial and marketing aspects of my husband's small gardening business. I also held several temporary holiday positions in retail stores. However, for nearly 15 years I was raising my children. Three years ago I started my own small business alongside a part-time marketing position. Then two years ago, I began a full-time degree program that I recently completed. I have no idea how to put all of this together on a resume. Help! - Alice
Dear Alice: Congratulations on your recent graduation. I am sure this is an exciting time but also one filled with some trepidation.
The key to presenting one's candidacy on paper is to paint a competitive picture. Given you have only five years of work experience prior to staying at home, you likely will be seen as a junior-level candidate. Because of this, you can focus your resume on the past few years of your experience managing the administrative functions of your husband's and your own business in addition to your part-time marketing position.
You also can byline your early administrative experience. To do this, make a note (without dates) regarding your early experience at the end of your Professional Experience section. I suggest something like: "Foundational experience in the administrative and office management arena as an Executive Assistant with ABC Company." Of course write this statement with the facts of your background. After this note you can list select aspects of that role which support your current career targets. The point of taking this approach is to allow you to include what might be relevant experience without the context of when it occurred in order to avoid unnecessarily aging your candidacy. When you do this and focus on your most recent experience and education, you will emerge as a competitive junior-level candidate on paper and should have no problem securing the interviews you want.
Samantha Nolan is a certified professional resume writer and owner of Ladybug Design, a full-service resume-writing firm. Do you have a resume or job-search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@ladybug-design. com. For more about Sam's resume writing services, visit www.ladybug-design.com or call (614) 570-3442 or 1-888-9-LADYBUG (1-888-952-3928).
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