Resume Writing for the Real Mum Returning to Work

You’ve decided, for whatever reason that you’re going to return to work, after being “just a Mum” for the last 6 months, two years, five years, 12 years, whatever.

But who’s going to want you? What skills do you have? After all, you’ve only been someone’s parent for the last however long. What skills could you possibly have developed in that time?!

And how do you translate this onto a resume?!

Easy! Especially if you’re a Real Mum.

The standard template for a resume is pretty straightforward. It looks something like this:

Personal Details
Career Objective or Personal Statement
Education and Academic Qualifications
Relevant Skills and Abilities
Relevant Employment and Work Experience
Professional Development
Special Skills and Achievements
Interests
References
It’s the Relevant Skills and Abilities and the Relevant Employment and Work Experience that are the problem bits. You’ve been at home. Caring for kids. What could be relevant?

Hmm, lets see. How many times a day did you find yourself saying, “Get dressed now or you can stay behind”? Or perhaps “If you don’t pick your toys up RIGHT NOW I will throw them in the bin”? Or maybe you did the old “Stop jumping on the bloody beds. I’ve just made them and you’ll hurt yourself”?

And by “saying” I actually mean “screaming at the top of your lungs”.

I think that pretty much translates to “Communication”, don’t you? You’re effectively able to communicate to your team exactly what needs doing, when the task must be completed, and the consequences of not completing the task in the desired time frame.

There were also those days that required ensuring everyone had lunches, books, homework, swimming bag and relevant swimming accessories, soccer gear, ballet shoes, brief case, clean clothes … And those where soccer training clashed with ballet classes, at the same time as hubby was returning from his interstate business meeting.

“Organisation” is the key to this one, not only did you successfully get everyone to their appropriate destinations on time, but the appropriate equipment also went with the appropriate offspring. Most of the time, anyway.

Oh, and those days where you had to feed the baby, clean poo off the walls, do the ironing, remove breakfast from the table, floor, walls and … ceiling?, pick children up from school at the designated time, and prepare dinner. I’d say your ability to “Prioritise” is up there with the best of them!

The “screaming at the top of your lungs” also inlcudes screaming such things as “If you two don’t leave each other alone I’m going to smack your heads together” and “If you hit your brother again, you will NOT be going to that party this afternoon”.

There, “Conflict Management” and “Human Resources” all rolled in to one.

And how many times did you build a sandcastle when you really wanted to lie on the beach reading a book? Or have spaghetti bolognaise three nights running, when a nice chicken and spinach risotto was all you craved? Shared your ice cream? Sat in the corner of the wardrobe and scoffed your stash of good chocolate so no one else would see you and ask for some? If that doesn’t make you a “Team Player” then I don’t know what does? Easy!

Under your Relevant Skills and Abilities heading, you now have:

* Ability to effectively delegate and communicate, to a diverse range of people, duties and responsibilities, including tasks required and deadlines;

* Consistent and efficient organisation and time management of a number of tasks and responsibilities;

* Ability to manage and prioritise conflicting responsibilities;

* Ability to communicate has enabled me to effectively perform conflict management. I am also able to foresee and prevent any potential imminent conflict;

* Ability to work within a team, to understand the needs and wants of other team members, and to ensure the co-operation and co-ordination of all team members.

There you have it … pages and pages of skills you’ve not only developed, but that you’ve honed to perfection. Possibly aided by a good chardonnay. You’re only trouble now is cutting them down to fit on your resume.

Who wouldn’t want you?!

Article Source: http://www.therepozitory.com.au

Mad Cow (aka Amanda Cox) is the founder of www.realmums.com.au, a parenting support website that acknowledges and openly discusses the realities of parenting. She is a Real Mum to two boys, a Real Wife to a grumpy bugger, a WAHM and has recently completed a BAppSc. Health Promotion. In her spare time, she creates sculptures from leftover WeetBix. Mad Cow may be contacted via email at madcow@realmums.com.au

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