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mom experience applicable for job applications?
  • luckyathomemom
    Posts: 7Member
    I am a US Navy veteran, I got out of the Navy to have children and have worked hard to get my Bachelors degree in Business Administration while being a stay at home mom for the last 5 years.  I'm looking at jobs and wondering if its considered unprofessional to use my experience in conflict management, planning, and budgeting my house and applying it to the work force.  I realize the difference, but many of the same tactics apply.  What do you think?  Would you hire someone who thought their experience raising 3 young children should count toward employment?
  • MarySunshineMarySunshine
    Posts: 5,454Member
    I think it depends on the position you're applying to, but overall I say it should. I know a lot of the same tactics I used teaching my PreK kiddos have been used to deal with adults. :-)

    I think you'd definitely have to be prepared to make the connection between your experiences at home and experiences you may encounter at the position your interested in, you know they love to ask those "thought provoking" questions during interviews.
    I'm as sexy as a burp mid-kiss. Watch out!

  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 2,953Member
    @luckyathomemom (please don't kill me) no. it doesn't "count" in the outside world. I (as a user of SM) get that moms (and dads) have quite possibly the toughest jobs in the world.

    but... it's rather small scale when compared to say... being a supervisor over ADULT employees and balancing a budget of millions of dollars (or thousands)

    The way you handle adults under you is MUCH different than you'd hand a child/teen etc. You can't threaten to take away your coworkers phone ;) or ground them without tv... etc.

    It's... I personally appreciate it? and when I've interviewed SAHM's I've tried to revert back on their previous career (so in your case the navy!) because all though you may be the toughest boss out there... or toughest hardest worker... but it's like apples and oranges :(

    (why do i get the feeling I'm going to regret posting this?)
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • luckyathomemom
    Posts: 7Member
    No not at all!! I greatly appreciate the feedback! I haven't been in the work force since I was in the Navy, which has been 5 years and before that I was 18, so I really have no clue whatsoever.  I was really hoping someone in a hiring position would reply so I could get some reliable feedback, Thank you!
  • irishlassirishlass
    Posts: 6,726Member
    I have been thinking about this lately. I'm never going to be given a job! I've only ever done very casual waitress work and I worked in a fruit and veg shop every saturday for 4years. I haven't been in a workplace in almost 4 years now! I have been studying and being a sahm. I'm not even finished my degree yet. I'm fucked!
    "Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Seuss
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    So @luvlyssa, I'm basically effed if I ever go back to work? I have been at home for almost 8 years. Going back into my corner now.
  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 2,953Member
    awww @chaosmom *hugs* love you. No. not screwed at all. it's personality. period. it's getting in the door and personality. you write good cover letters and you go in and you're confident as hell (even if you aren't) you're sweet friendly and CHARMING. not in any way is ANY SAHM screwed. is it harder to get in the door? I would say that's a very strong yes.

    to be fair.. it's hard for any of us. :( the job market is horrid right now. I'm doing (about) 3 interviews a week... and apparently *my* personality sucks cuz I'm not getting SHIT.

    I was out of work for three years due to my medical issues. once I got a job? it was so so so so much easier to get interviews... so when I have talked to some of you? I say "humble yourself. work at a convenience store/gas station. work at mcdonalds. it SUCKS but it gets "current" work experience on your application/resume" and then we write a KICK ASS cover letter and you get in.

    *hugs* @chaosmom I'm sorry I sounded... ..... horrible. sigh.
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • shate98shate98
    Posts: 2,822Member
    my only comment...

    while you can't use SAHM as actual resume material, I might include it either in your cover letter or resume, not as "job experience" but as what you've been doing with your time these past 5 years. A lot of people have been unemployed because of the economy- some for years- and there is a difference between losing your job and being out of work, and leaving your job for family.

    You would need to word it tactfully, though. Can't help you there. I suck at tactful. :P
    "As you wander through your life, whatever be your goal,
    keep your eye upon the doughnut, not upon the hole."
  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 2,953Member
    and btw @socalibeachmum had it PERFECT.. it's personality that matters in an interview.

    Be charming, friendly, smile, oh and did I say CHARMING?!

    Seriously ladies... pm me if you want help with your resume and cover letter. My personality may suck so I'm not getting the jobs I want... but I'm getting a crap ton of interviews so I know I'm doing that right at least!

    Lastly? Know there are HUNDREDS of applications for every one job out there. The higher your unemployment rate? the more competition. Right now Utah is "average" (or slightly above average) and I've started asking "For my own curiosity, as part of a project I'm working on, how many applications did you get for this position?" (I never ask how many they're interviewing)

    I've heard anywhere from 98 - 413... FOR ONE EFFING JOB.

    one! some how you have to beat out those other jerks and get in the office.
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    No, @luvlyssa, you didn't sound horrible at all. This has just been my biggest fear. I quit my job when I had ds7 because I just absolutely hated my manager. She finally got fired 2 months later. If only I had waited it out a little longer... but then when I applied for a job at 3 different banks about 6 months later, I was overqualified. So, I just stayed home. Now, I have zero work history for 8 years. Thinking about going to school this fall. I'll only have 1 kid at home then & then he goes to school next year. But will that even help?? School does not equal work, I know.
  • Luvlyssa
    Posts: 2,953Member
    @chaosmom I think a lot of moms have done what you did... that said
    school, family and a job would be very hard... schedule wise. because you'll have specific school schedules so family and work has to work around that... then you'll have to work around work.

    So would I hire you? Yes... if your family and school schedule fit my needs... you may narrow the pool a little but school shows you're trying to get back out there. Honestly... it's a win lose situation. School is good. it shows you're trying to better yourself. It also narrows your availability... which makes you less desirable :(

    what are you going to school for? is it something you can get an internship for?
    Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
  • BeautifulDefianceBeautifulDefiance
    Posts: 755Member
    I totally used those on my resume. I put it down as a home coordinating engineer lmao. When asked about it I explained how much focus and determination it took to be a shm while going to school full time and how time management was essential. Good luck
    I prefer not to think before speaking. I like being just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth.

    SMSM_s_5

  • chaosmomchaosmom
    Posts: 3,846Member
    @luvlyssa, probably just go for a year or so to get my certification for medical billing/coding then go to work. I did the classes but never finished the certification 3 yrs ago. Didn't have the $400 for the cert exam.
  • BeautifulDefianceBeautifulDefiance
    Posts: 755Member
    @socalibeachmum I hate those stupid "tell me about a time" questions. I just need to be more creative I guess cuz that answer rocks!!
    I prefer not to think before speaking. I like being just as surprised as everyone else by what comes out of my mouth.

    SMSM_s_5

  • BellaBefanaBellaBefana
    Posts: 8,207Member
    I don't think so, in fact, in a recent interview for a position that I've no direct experience in, I was asked why I thought I was qualified, so I started rattling off various "things" I've done over the years like charity work, etc.  then I got to "I'm also a single mom of a toddler."  The response, was "yeah, I think you can handle anything, then..."  Unfortunately, he got overruled and I didn't get the position, but I'm hoping they'll come back to me with another one...
    Bite me, cupcake!
  • [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,022
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
    well behaved women seldom make history
  • pdxmama
    Posts: 1,470Member
    I used to work in an employment readiness program that served people with serious barriers to employment. Many of the people that we worked with had large gaps in their job history (usually due to active addiction issues, incarceration, homelessness, etc.) we always went with a functional resume, rather than a chronological resume. Now, I know being a SAHM is nothing like the situations I listed above, but I think that the same idea could be utilized no matter what the reason for your gaps in employment. Feel free to chime in @luvlyssa, lol.
    Whereas a chronological resume lists your previous jobs in order of newest to oldest, usually with a short paragraph or bullet points outlining specific job duties that you had in each job, a functional resume is a little different. Instead of taking up the main body of the resume listing all of your individual jobs, your main section (right after your objective, which should always be specifically tailored to the job you're applying for), should be titled Highlights of Qualifications or Relevant Skills for example. Then you can list all of the skills that you possess in one section, rather than as applicable to each job. Things like:

    Able to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
    Computer savvy with extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office Software.
    -or-
    More than 5 years experience working in a fast paced office setting.
    3 years experience providing excellent customer service. (these are kinda nice bc you don't have to specify how recent the experience is, just how much experience you have)
    so after putting down all of your skills, you then do a small section called Employment History or Relevant Employment. Since you've already listed all of your skills, this will just be name of employer, job title, dates of employment.
    It's definitely another option if the chronological resume isn't working for ya.
  • BellaBefanaBellaBefana
    Posts: 8,207Member
    Volunteer work is GREAT on a resume...
    Bite me, cupcake!
  • weezerweezer
    Posts: 290Member
    Noooo! Most hiring managers hate to see that cutesy "domestic engineer" stuff on resumes, I would not even mention it. It'll be clear what you've been doing for the past 5 years if you have cues like "PTA member" or "preschool assistant" in your volunteering experience. I like this article too: http://blog.jobfully.com/2011/06/resume-returning-to-workforce/
    Photobucket
  • luckyathomemom
    Posts: 7Member
    @pdxmama, I really like that approach, and I think I might change my resume up a bit and see if that helps at all.  I really appreciate all the constructive feedback!!
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