how to write mother name in resume

How to Write Stay at Home Mom on Your Resume with Examples

Returning to the work force after being a stay-at-home mom can be exciting and super-challenging. 

Your time spent raising a family has given you a unique set of skills that are highly valuable in any professional setting, but translating these key skills into an impressive resume can feel a little overwhelming.

So I’m going to show you how to write stay at home mom on resume in way that showcases your unique gifts as opposed to trying to hide that particular chunk of your life.

The truth is, being a stay-at-home parent is an extraordinarily difficult job, and we don’t give ourselves the credit we deserve. 

So that’s why the idea of writing a resume from scratch (or rewriting your old resume) in order to reenter the job market may feel bizarre.

And the thought of speaking with a hiring manager makes our stomachs turn. 

But that’s why I’m here!!

As a former teacher who left the classroom to become a stay at home mom and then was hired back after 7 years, I can tell you this process can make you feel like a fish out of water.

I literally felt as though I had been living under a rock for those 7 years.

But I’m going to show you how to simplify this process.

We are going to discuss what you need to add to your “stay-at-home mom resume” including all of your years of experience in order to have potential employers (and your next employer) fighting over you and allow you to land your dream job.

The 6 Different Types of Resumes

Before crafting the perfect resume, there are six different formats from which you need to choose.

So let’s take a moment to consider each one before we determine how to write stay at home mom on resume. 

Functional Resume 

To effectively showcase your stay-at-home mom skills, consider using a skill-based resume format, also known as a functional resume. 

This format places more emphasis on your abilities, achievements, and qualifications rather than a chronological work history. 

Structuring your resume this way allows you to highlight your relevant experience prominently, even if you have employment gaps.

Chronological Resume

The chronological resume is the most traditional and widely used resume format. 

It lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job and working backward. 

This chronological approach is ideal for those with a stable and consistent employment history, as it showcases career progression and continuity.

Combination Resume

As the name suggests, the combination resume combines elements of both the chronological and functional formats. 

It showcases your skills and accomplishments while also providing a chronological work history. 

This format is useful for highlighting applicable skills and achievements, especially if they are not all from recent positions.

Targeted Resume

A targeted resume is tailored to a specific job. 

It focuses on the skills, previous experience, and achievements most relevant to the position to which you are applying. 

This type of resume allows you to customize your job application to match the requirements of a particular role, increasing your chances of getting noticed by employers.

Infographic Resume

This format uses visuals, such as charts, graphs, icons, and images, to present your skills and accomplishments. 

It is a creative and eye-catching way to showcase your qualifications, particularly in graphic design-related fields or industries where creativity is highly valued.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV is a comprehensive document that provides an in-depth overview of your formal education and professional skills. 

It is most commonly used in academic, research, and medical fields, as well as when applying for international positions. 

This format is usually much longer than a traditional resume and also includes publications, conference presentations, and teaching experience. 

Identify and Prioritize Your Skills

Whether you realize it or not, time spent at home managing a family has given you unique skills that need to be brought to the attention of your potential employer. 

Pointing out the relevant skills you have gained during your time at home will highlight your qualifications and fill in the large gap of time since your last paying position.

Now let me clarify what you need to know about discussing your previous roles and recently acquired skills.

There are two different types of skills you can mention including hard skills and soft skills.

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

Hard skills, or technical skills, are those that are unique to a specific job and are required for obtaining a job in a particular field.

This is clearly evident in the trade industry!

But let me give you a more concrete example.

If you are seeking a job as a nurse, you need to know how to start an IV.

That’s a technical skill specific to the medical profession that isn’t required by someone seeking a teaching job or a job as an architect.

Soft skills, on the other hand, are those skills that can be applied and utilized across a multitude of different jobs and industries.

These particular skills are also referred to as  transferable skills  because they can be transferred to different jobs and situations while still remaining relevant. 

While technical skills are necessary, employers are also diligently seeking individuals who have essential soft skills because these skills unlock potential for other roles and can be used in the workplace to better the environment, improve systems, and lead to more success.

Transferable Skills

Time management and organization.

Juggling multiple responsibilities as a mom requires excellent  time management  and organizational skills. And many incorrectly refer to this as multi-tasking.

There is a difference in spreading your focus across multiple tasks simultaneously and focusing on one specific task at a time while managing multiple tasks.

Research has shown that those who try to do multiple things at once are actually doing each task a disservice.

You see, we do not have the ability to attend to more than one task at a time and repeatedly produce positive outcomes.

Think about it.

Let’s say you are making lunches while cooking breakfast.

You have toast in the oven and one of the kids says they can’t find their other sneaker, so you run up the steps to help them locate the missing shoe and you smell the burning toast before you ever reach the kitchen.

This is the outcome when we try to multi-task.

Now, let’s repeat the same incident, but this time while you are making lunches and cooking breakfast, your child yells down about the shoe and you ask your oldest child to help their sibling.

All of a sudden you have managed multiple things at once while not losing focus on the task of cooking breakfast.

Having the ability to manage multiple things at one time, does not equate to phenomenal multitasking skills.

So just be mindful as you write out your resume that you emphasize your ability to design and coordinate schedules, prioritize tasks,  create routines , and meet deadlines.

Your capacity to be able to keep schedules and routines intact (even when all sorts of chaos is thrown into the mix) definitely deserves to be outlined in the main section of your resume.

Don’t forget to include the ability to create and stick to budgets, along with the percentage of money your family saved once these were implemented. 

Time Management + Organization Sample Resume Examples

• Organized and managed transportation, schedules, and logistics.
• Generated solutions for the ever-changing needs of individuals and families.
• Executed streamlined cash and receipt flow for annual budget.

This is how to write stay at home mom on resume the correct way!

You are showing how you have implemented these new skills that you have learned since becoming a stay at home mom.

Conflict Resolution

We all know that parenthood presents unexpected challenges that require quick thinking and problem-solving abilities. 

And if there is ever an area you want to highlight, it would be that of conflict resolution. 

Share stories of how you handled difficult situations, made decisions, and found creative solutions.

Conflict Resolution Sample Resume Examples

• Collaborated with ____ to support social and emotional well-being.
• Cultivated relationships with ____ to ensure efficient conflict resolution.
• De-escalated situations as the first point of contact for ____ effectively.

This is another perfect example of how to write stay at home mom on resume the right way.

You are pointing our how you have mastered the skill on conflict resolution and have effectively implemented it in specific circumstances.

Communication

Effective communication skills are essential in any job, but many job seekers forget that this includes written and oral communication.

As a stay-at-home mom, you’ve mastered the ability to effectively communicate with family members, school leaders, neighbors, and other parents. 

Aptitude in this particular area will take you from a potential good employee to a great employee because you already have mastery over this essential skils.

This is even more true for those jobs you are seeking that are client-facing or customer service-based jobs.

Communication Sample Resume Examples

• Managed communication among ____ and relevant stakeholders.
• Fostered an environment of respect and open communication with ____.
• Advocated for increased communication and needs assessments for ____.

List All Previous Work Experience + Volunteer Work

Obviously, you will want to list your prior work history and any professional experience you had before leaving the workforce.

That’s kind of the whole point of a resume.

But one area that many people forget to add to the work experience section of their resume is volunteer work.

Remember when you were in high school and you had to mention all of the extracurricular activities you were part of in order to shine or stand out on college applications? 

Well, the same holds true on your resume. 

Even though you will obviously have a paid employment gap, you want to mention any recent experience with…

• freelancing, 
• networking,
• PTA meetings,
• fundraising,
• remote work or charity work,
• assisting in the classroom, or 
• online courses (as well as any certifications achieved)

All of this volunteer experience shows employers that you are well-rounded and willing to take the initiative to complete tasks that are meaningful to you and your community.

3 Tips for Writing a Resume That Gets You an Interview

Now that you know how to write stay at home mom on resume and make it effective, I want to share 3 more important bits of information that will make or break your resume.

1. Start With Your Information

This may seem obvious, but I want to mention it nonetheless.

Always list your contact information including your first and last name, phone number, and email address at the top of your resume where it can easily be referenced.

Do not put this information in the resume header or footer.

If you don’t have a professional email address, it’s a good idea to make one because potential employers will trash your resume if it contains an unprofessional email address.

You can create a gmail account for free and set up a new email address with just your name. If that particular email address is already taken, you can add a period or some numbers.

And when you are proofreading your resume, make sure that all of the information is correct.

I once had a client who had transposed two numbers in her telephone number and didn’t realize it for months after submitting her resume to several companies.

Once she fixed it, she got her dream job!

do you Need a

Resume refresh.

A comprehensive + uniquely individualized overhaul of your current resume, as well as the knowledge you need to replicate the process, resulting in an eye-catching document that secures the interview with your dream employer. 

2. Make it Concise and Easy to Read

Longer is not better. A great resume doesn’t have to be three pages long…in fact, it should only be one page.

If your potential future employers have to filter through multiple pages, they will toss your resume out.

Use a profile statement not an objective statement.

While an objective statement tends to focus on what your goal is, your profile shows potential employers why you are the ideal fit for their particular company.

This short resume summary (or 30 second “elevator pitch”) is first thing your potential employer is going to scan in order to determine if you’re a good fit for the job posting. 

Think of it as your first impression.

Use bullet points throughout and begin your work experience or professional experience section with unique action verbs written in the past tense. 

Bullets make your resume easier to read, create a better experience for the one reviewing, and will help you keep your information concise.

3. Use the Job Description

Don’t just start writing any resume. Do your homework and determine what type of job you are hoping to obtain before you start writing.

Then take some time to research niche-specific keywords in the field you are pursuing.

But don’t spend too much time researching or you will find yourself stuck in “analysis paralysis” which will lead to you never actually writing the resume. 

Many companies use an applicant tracking system, which is software built to automatically reject resumes if they aren’t fit for the position. 

That means yours may not even make it to the individual in charge of interviews and hiring if it doesn’t get through the system.

So keep the job description nearby while you write in order to tailor your resume for the specific job you want. 

Maybe you found your way here because you typed “How to write stay at home mom on resume” into Google or maybe you clicked a pin on Pinterest.

…But how you got here isn’t nearly as important as what you plan to do with the all of the information you have obtained.

I know it’s been a long time since you’ve had to write a resume.

But during your time as a stay at home mom, you’ve learned invaluable new skills and life lessons that employers are seeking in employees. 

You have the skills and abilities to be successful, and now that you know how to showcase these on your resume, let the job search begin!

Jennifer is a former elementary school teacher (M. Ed.) turned literacy interventionist, blogger, podcaster, TpT author, and homeschooling mom. When she's not with her husband & boys, she's sharing her love for Jesus, designing websites, helping other teachers pursue online businesses, organizing ALL THE THINGS, or watching New Girl. Read More >>