July 9, 2010

Resume advice for a mom returning to the workforce

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Q: I am currently staying at home with my son, but I am contemplating going back to work. What suggestions do you have for updating my resume?

Kristen says: There is no denying that it is tough to break back into the workforce after an extended absence for family needs. There is an upside, however. With so many people out of the workforce due to job cuts, the playing field is a bit more leveled for you.

Before you return to the workforce, you need to take stock of your skill set. Hopefully, while you were watching your son, you didn’t let your professional credentials lag completely. Did you take or teach classes in your discipline, keep an industry blog that shows that you kept abreast of changes, or write any freelance pieces that helped you create a portfolio? Perhaps you took a few consulting opportunities along the way. Don’t forget volunteering you have done. Treat any of these activities as you would any other professional job entry.

It is unfortunate that I see so many suggestions for moms to use a functional resume to deal with “explaining” the time you were away from the workforce. A functional resume is a list of skills grouped by type that is followed by a list of employers with name, date, title and location, with no more information than that. From a recruiting perspective, most hiring managers don’t want a functional resume unless you are in an industry with multiple concurrent clients, doing the same work (think public relations or stock broker). The reason is that employers want to know when you acquired your skills, how you applied them and how fresh they are. A functional resume is a red flag that you are trying to hide something. You are better off with a short sentence explaining that you were out of the workforce for a certain amount of time.

The key to writing an effective resume in today’s market is keywords, which you should be able to find in the job description. Make sure to repeat them as many times as possible on your resume to get in front of a live person. This should also help you navigate resume databases. You might try contacting a local recruiter or HR professional to look over your resume and make suggestions.

For more information about keywords and resume databases, read "Beating the resume-tracking numbers game" in NWjobs' Hire Ground blog.

Kristen Fife is a recruiter, resume consultant, and employment expert based in the greater Seattle area. She has worked with clients all over North America to help organizations and individuals find a mutual fit in the workplace. Ask her a question at recruiters_inbox@nwjobs.com. Sorry, no personal replies.

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2 Comments

Carol Fishman Cohen on July 10, 2010 12:08 PM | Reply

I echo Kristen's advice NOT to use a functional resume. Most recruiters hate them. So use chronological but don't include any gaps. If you were engaged in volunteer or other activities relevant to the position you are applying for, you may want to include a "Career Break Experience" section in your resume to include these. Somewhere on your resume, maybe in the personal section if it doesn't fit well elsewhere, put 2005-2010 Career Break to care for children, or whatever your break was for, so the person doesn't have to wonder what you were doing during that time. More resources for people returning to work after a career break can be found at www.iRelaunch.com.

Professional Writing on October 27, 2010 10:20 PM | Reply

In any career transition, whether returning after maternity leave, or transitioning from an administrative role to a management position, positioning is crucial. Your resume must demonstrate that you have what the position needs, and that you will provide the employer with a good return on his or her investment.

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