Absolutely, You Should Include Stay-At-Home Parent on Your Resume

Stay-at-home parents contribute significantly, and it’s high time this effort is acknowledged. Whether you’ve chosen to be a stay-at-home parent or had to become one due to high childcare costs, re-entering the job market can feel overwhelming. Regardless of whether you’ve been away for a few months, years, or even decades, that employment gap will be noticeable on your resume. So how do you address it? According to a post from Novoresume’s Career Blog, embracing your stay-at-home parent experience is essential, transforming that invisible labor into visible skills.

Highlight Your Skills

Focus on the skills you’ve developed during your time at home, especially those that align with the job you’re applying for. Were you the treasurer for the PTA? That’s basic accounting experience! Did you organize the venue for a community event? Congratulations, you’re an event planner! Have you chronicled your parenting journey through blogging? You’ve honed your written communication skills.

You might feel like you’re stretching the truth, but these experiences can be highly relevant to your job search, and it’s best to highlight them. As the blog points out, “it’s always better to explain your employment gaps, rather than attempt to conceal them.”

Soft Skills to Showcase

The article also highlights key “soft skills” that hiring managers value, which you can showcase on your resume:

Approachable and friendly
Resilience (long hours)
Conflict resolution
Time management
Team collaboration

Isn’t that a perfect description of daily life as a stay-at-home parent? If your kids rise with the sun, you’ve definitely got resilience. And if you’ve managed to keep your cool while watching the same cartoon episode repeatedly, you are certainly approachable and friendly.

What to Avoid

However, you can skip detailing specific childcare tasks on your resume, unless you’re applying for a role directly related to children. “You can’t exactly write ‘able to put three kids to bed every night’ on your resume,” the article reminds parents—yet, isn’t that skill more challenging than many paid jobs?

Recognizing Your Achievements

Transitioning back into the workforce after dedicating time to parenting can be intimidating, but the first step is recognizing your achievements at home. This acknowledgment could be what propels you forward in your next job opportunity. For more insight on this subject, check out one of our other blog posts here.

Additional Resources

If you’re looking for more information on enhancing your chances of conception, visiting this resource is a great option, as is this comprehensive information on pregnancy and home insemination.

Probable Search Queries

Summary

Including your stay-at-home parent experience on your resume is not only valid; it’s vital. Focus on the skills you’ve developed, and don’t shy away from explaining any employment gaps. By embracing your unique experiences, you can significantly enhance your chances of landing your next job.