When I wrote Job Search for Moms, one thing stuck in
my mind, how can a mom, who wants to return to the workplace, explain her absence
while she stayed at home raising her family. It’s a tough quandary and many
experts discourage putting it on the resume.
Instead they suggest talking up the volunteeriing, entrepreneurships or
schooling that took place during that time.
As a former HR professional and also mom, I can understand
the frustration. Why do mothers (and the
small percentage of stay at home fathers) have to hide or camouflage the time
that they spent at developing and nurturing their children? On top of that,
what new parent has the time, inclination or even energy to start a business,
attend meetings or go to school? Later
perhaps, but not right way.
Many experts suggest creating a functional resume that
highlight skills rather than the chronological history of companies and
positions. I understand that and have
even written resumes in this manner. I’ve also written chronological resumes
that state, for example, “Full Time Parent, 2011 – Present”. (The same holds true for a Full Time Caregiver.)
Both formats have worked and the applicants have been called in for an
interview.
The news outlets can’t give us enough articles or segments
on a woman’s rights in regard to health care and other areas. While these are critical, there is never any
mention about a woman’s right to return to a full or part time career that
welcomes her past experience as well as her time spent as a stay at home mom.
There is no uproar about her struggle to find a position that allows her to
utilize her skills and competencies without stopping and wondering about that “gap”
in her resume. Full time moms, dads or other caregivers have the ability to
prioritize, multitask, problem solve, communicate and lead (to name just a few
skills). These are the skills needed in
today’s organizations and frankly, it’s not fair that they can’t even get in
the door without being pinpointed, discriminated against or ostracized.
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