Home Question for moms who reentered the work force.

[MichelleCarmen]

What did you put on applications to explain the years you were not working?

I''m applying for various jobs. One is entry level with possibility for advancement and that one was just an application w/out a resume and I put down my most recent job (over eight years back) and now there is a big gap for those years.

Another one I''m now looking at requires a resume, but is a job that I have a better chance of getting. It''s in childhood education, but an entry level one not requiring a degree in that field, just references (which I have and it''s as a substitute teacher''s aid - something I can do). Would, in that case, putting down being a SAHM raising two kids for those years be beneficial to my qualifications?

I''m avoiding jobs asking for resumes for the obvious reason of NOT having an up-to-date one and keep in mind, I''m NOT planning to jump into a fancy career, just looking to make some money and keep busy while the kids are in school (I''ve been volunteering, but still have too many free hours.). It''s a bit frustrating that even min. wage jobs listed on Craig''s List expect a resume.

What is the best route? I''ve been told to wait until the interview to explain the gap, but why would a company ask me in after seeing that gap?

Also, for seasonal jobs, are companies as strict? I''m planning to apply at Macy''s for holiday work and wonder if they even care as long as I am professional in the interview.

 

[Miranda]

That''s funny. I was just thinking about this last night when DS asked about my old job. What would I put on a resume? Uhhh, I worked 14 years ago? Haha!

Maybe on an application you could add all of the volunteer work you have done. PTA board positions? Letters of rec from teachers? I really don''t know - just thinking out loud. All I know is that I''ve been working damn hard for the last 14 years, but, I have nothing to put on a resume.

Have you thought of starting your own business? I have a few friends who run internet businesses. They make a thousand or so dollars a month. It''s not big money, but, it''s better than nothing. They only work a few hours a day. I was just doing a spread sheet on the costs of opening a children''s bookstore in my area. The problem is that rent is so darn high in my area. $5000 a month for a 1600 sq. ft. space - and it''s not completed inside! Crazy! And who knows where the economy is headed. I hesitate in dumping all of our savings and probably getting a business loan to get this off the ground. Nope, I''ll just spend all of my time writing up a business plan and making spread sheets thinking of what ''could'' be! LOL!

Good luck!

 

[Haven]

MC--I''d be happy to look over your resume and help you update it, if you''d like. I used to teach resume writing workshops at our local community college, and I currently teach high school English classes.

Good luck with your job search!

 

[mrssalvo]

MC-I am in the same boat. I have thought about going back to work part time but have the gap on my resume too. I did apply at a YMCA and listed my recent experience, dates of employment and reasons for leaving, which was to become a SAHM so I figure that would explain the gap. But, a few other jobs I''d be interested in want you to fill out the application online and my resume won''t look great. I think I''d have a much better chance selling myself if I could meet my future employers in person before they actually looked at my resume. I''ll be following this thread to see what advice you get.

 

[purrfectpear]

I think a resume IS important no matter how "entry level" the job is. I used to hire legal secretaries and paralegals, and I would be more comfortable with a simple statement that you left the work force to raise children, than no explanation (leaving me to think you''d been laid off, unemployed, or just didn''t look for work?).

Other acceptable answers I''ve seen have been time off to care for a sick parent, travel overseas (works best for people in their 20''s), husband in the service with multiple moves.

I''ve seen those resume sites that say you should discuss your volunteer efforts, but personally unless you were the senior chairwoman of a major charity, I wasn''t interested in your volunteer "skills". Just tell it like it is.

Unfortunately it is illegal for an interviewer to ask if you''re done with the child bearing, but believe me it will be in their minds. If you ARE done, feel free to tell the interviewer that you enjoyed having the time to spend with your children - but that you are wanting to reenter the workforce on a permanent basis now. Alleviates a lot of questions that the interviewer cannot ask (but would like to)

 

[neatfreak]

I think if there is a gap in your resume and you can''t drop it off in person (and thus get your foot in the door that way) I think it is perfectly appropriate for you to mention in a cover letter that you are ready to reenter the workforce after taking x years to raise your children.

As for your resume, if you have **relevant** volunteer experience I would totally include it. Otherwise I''d skip it personally.

 

[deegee]

I just hired two applicants with gaps in their resumes and applications. I didn''t ask about the gaps and assumed it was time they stayed home to raise kids. As long as they were qualified for the jobs I was interviewing them for, I really didn''t care what the gaps were! Anyway, I asked each person I interviewed to tell me about themselves, the two ladies I ended up hiring used that opportunity to briefly explain the gap. I also had two applicants who had gaps due to taking care of sick parents, which they also explained while they were telling me about themselves.

One of the applicants I hired did volunteer accounting work during her gap (for 12 years!). She didn''t have it on her resume or application, but she did make sure to let me know.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/20/2008 9:26:24 PM
Author: deegee
I just hired two applicants with gaps in their resumes and applications. I didn''t ask about the gaps and assumed it was time they stayed home to raise kids. As long as they were qualified for the jobs I was interviewing them for, I really didn''t care what the gaps were! Anyway, I asked each person I interviewed to tell me about themselves, the two ladies I ended up hiring used that opportunity to briefly explain the gap. I also had two applicants who had gaps due to taking care of sick parents, which they also explained while they were telling me about themselves.

One of the applicants I hired did volunteer accounting work during her gap (for 12 years!). She didn''t have it on her resume or application, but she did make sure to let me know.

What were the positions these women were applying for?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Miranda - What sorts of online work are your friends doing? Considering I''m looking for PT work that probably will be entry level, making $1K per month would suite me just fine. I''m not looking to bring in the bucks to support the family, just supplement what my DH makes. Actually, my goal is to stick nearly 3/4 of what I make into savings.

Oh, and like you, I thought of starting an establishment - for example a drop in daycare for moms looking to get a break during the day and shop or run errands seemed great. I asked on a few mommy boards and most were hesitant to bring their kids to places like that, so my grand idea of opening my own business has come to a stand still. Thay was been my only idea. I do love the idea of a book store (especially a used one) but many here in Seattle have closed up because leases have become enormous.

My whole problem also plays into what Perrfectpear said about making it clear to employers that I''ve enjoyed raising my kids, yet want to move on and venture into the work force. I''m not planning any more babies but AM trying to find a job that will be PT during the school year, yet very little hours during the summer so I''m even more limited than ever. Daycare for two kids is insanely expensive. The YMCA that my sons'' school uses to take care of kids AT the school AFTER school from 3-6 pm charges $500 PER kid per month, so it''d be ridiculous for me to shell out $1,000 for my two kids just to keep my job until fall rolls around again.

 

[deegee]

They''re both accounting/auditing positions. We also interviewed them for an office assistant position as well as a customer service position. Both had previously worked in accounting/bookkeeping/personnel fields, and their experience and maturity impressed me much more than some of the new college grads we interviewed. One lady started Friday and is eager to learn. Her attitude is so refreshing after some of our recent personnel disasters! (off topic - I hired a new college grad a few months ago that refused to do anything I gave her. She said it wasn''t what she went to college for. She was let go after about a month.)

I was actually afraid that our personnel office would have issue with the 12-yr gap lady. For us, non-paid experience doesn''t count towards the minimum job experience. Even though she had volunteered in an accounting capacity for 12 years (working from home, unpaid), it didn''t count as experince. Luckily our personnel office didn''t take issue.

 

[deegee]

MC - my neighbor has kind of the same situation as you. She wanted something for during the day while the kids were in school, but she wanted to be home when they got home. She didn''t want to work in the summer while the kids were off. She worked at a restaurant for a few years because they allowed her to work late breakfast/lunch, no evenings and no weekends. She quit that job this past summer. Now that the kids are back in school she''s trying to find something part-time.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Thanks everyone!

I've only applied for two positions and already was given a phone interview and it didn't go very well. I wasn't sure if the position would be right for me, but I've heard fabulous things about the company and I've shopped there all my life, so I felt it'd be worth a shot.

You never know who's reading these boards, so I'll keep it short and say that I was disheartened by the interview. After spending hours planning out answers as to why I'd be good for the position, compatible with the customers, AND why that particular company appealed to me, most of the questions, instead, were directed toward how I'd bring in money for the company. The HR rep asked examples of how I've been persuasive in the past and how I'd approach customers to convince them to buy.

I can tell the job won't be for me and I kind of fumbled over those answers and I think I messed up enough that they won't call me back (which won't upset me). DH keeps laughing saying because I feel this way, they probably WILL call me back! lol

It is wrong to be so picky in an poor economy like this, isn't it?

Hopefully something else comes along SOON!

HAVEN - thanks for your offer to help with my resume. I may take you up on it if I apply for the educational position I'm considering. I'm going to volunteer at my sons' school for a few more months to aquire a bit more experience and determine if I want to work with kids all day! I'm still a bit afraid that one may paint all over me or cut my hair off with his/her scissors!

OH, and get this. I was browsing Craig's List, just searching various jobs, and found one as a clerk at a GAS STATION and they asked for a resume. Can you believe that? What would I say? I have experience counting money to buy doritos and beer?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/23/2008 11:32:19 AM
Author: MC
Thanks everyone!


I''ve only applied for two positions and already was given a phone interview and it didn''t go very well. I wasn''t sure if the position would be right for me, but I''ve heard fabulous things about the company and I''ve shopped there all my life, so I felt it''d be worth a shot.


You never know who''s reading these boards, so I''ll keep it short and say that I was disheartened by the interview. After spending hours planning out answers as to why I''d be good for the position, compatible with the customers, AND why that particular company appealed to me, most of the questions, instead, were directed toward how I''d bring in money for the company. The HR rep asked examples of how I''ve been persuasive in the past and how I''d approach customers to convince them to buy.


I can tell the job won''t be for me and I kind of fumbled over those answers and I think I messed up enough that they won''t call me back (which won''t upset me). DH keeps laughing saying because I feel this way, they probably WILL call me back! lol


It is wrong to be so picky in an poor economy like this, isn''t it?

Hopefully something else comes along SOON!

Blech. Sounds like a company I personally wouldn''t really want to work for if all they care about is bringing in the dough! I don''t think it''s wrong to be picky at all unless you absolutely NEED the money. If it''s just about bringing in some extra and using up your time, I think you SHOULD be picky so you enjoy your job.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 10/23/2008 11:35:36 AM
Author: neatfreak


Blech. Sounds like a company I personally wouldn't really want to work for if all they care about is bringing in the dough! I don't think it's wrong to be picky at all unless you absolutely NEED the money. If it's just about bringing in some extra and using up your time, I think you SHOULD be picky so you enjoy your job.

Thanks. It's both about keeping busy (my kids ARE gone from 8-3:30 and I'm bored and just killing time) but I also need to find a job for financial reasons - but have one year before that will be an issue.

As a side socialogical experiment, since the beginning of summer, I've been watching and studying people in various work environments looking for signs of happiness and contentment, but am haven't found many people who look truely happy. I thought if I could find examples that would led me to a profession. . .I do know I'm only looking at a small slice of society, since I only go to a certain stores/services, but everyone seems unhappy or overstressed.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/23/2008 11:45:03 AM
Author: MC

Date: 10/23/2008 11:35:36 AM

Author: neatfreak



Blech. Sounds like a company I personally wouldn't really want to work for if all they care about is bringing in the dough! I don't think it's wrong to be picky at all unless you absolutely NEED the money. If it's just about bringing in some extra and using up your time, I think you SHOULD be picky so you enjoy your job.

Thanks. It's both about keeping busy (my kids ARE in gone from 8-3:30 and I'm bored and just killing time) but I also need to find a job for financial reasons - but have one year before that will be an issue.


As a side socialogical experiment, since the beginning of summer, I've been watching and studying people in various work environments looking for signs of happiness and contentment, but am haven't found many people who look truely happy. I thought if I could find examples that would led me to a profession. . .I do know I'm only looking at a small slice of society, since I only go to a certain stores/services, but everyone seems unhappy or overstressed.

Well I think the truth is that a lot of retail/sales positions that you might be applying for (I am assuming retail here since you talked about bringing $ in and having shopped there) are a means to an end for people. And just because someone else is happy doesn't mean you will be ya know? My mother owns a greenhouse and she loves it, but I know I would be just MISERABLE working there. But I think a lot of people in retail are miserable there because it isn't their passion, just something to pay the bills.

I have a question for you: If money was NOT an object, what would you do with your time? Help people in some way? Shop? Bake? Teach? Read? Whatever those things are, see if there is a job that would allow you to do those things ya know?

 

[Haven]

MC--I''d love to help with the resume. Just let me know.

I do the same thing you do, I observe people working and try to see whether they''re happy. The young women who work at Paper Source always look happiest to me. And there''s a small chocolate shop by my mother''s house with happy employees, too.

Then I look around at my colleagues, and sadly, there''s not a lot of happiness going around. But I''m happy, so I guess that''s all that counts.

If money were no object, I''d teach small workshops on various creative endeavors, such as calligraphy, drawing, painting, or creative writing. I think I''d be happiest doing that.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

A chocolate shop would be a wonderul place to work. How can employees NOT be happy around all those goodies, especially if they are allowed to endulge during their work hours!

If money wasn''t an object for me, volunteering more hours at my kids'' school would be ideal and also, like you, teaching small workshops. I''d love to help friends and fellow ladies learn to keep their house plants alive and possibly teach classes on how to do so! It kills me to see a dying plant at one of my friend''s houses. I''m always tempted to water the plant, but don''t want to offend anyone.

It appears there is a Paper Source store in my state. I''ll have to drop in their one of these days. Possibly they''ll need seasonal help.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

What interests you?

My aunt went back to work after her kids were all in school for the same reasons as you. She worked in an upscale flower shop with me and LOVED it. Nearly everyone who worked there was a former SAHM.

I''m sure there are many happy retail stores you could find to work at!

 

[peonygirl]

I'm not a SAHM, but I remember when my mom went back to work when I was a teen, and it was REALLY hard for her to find a job. I remember being surprised because she graduated with honors from Princeton and had a great resume for the few years she worked before she had me. However, employers were comparing her to people who hadn't left the workforce, so of course they were more qualified for just about everything than her. Now she works at Starbucks and she just loves it. I think that she was like you in that she never intended or wanted to have a career, but my parents got divorced so she had to find a job.

As far as people liking their jobs, I wouldn't be surprised that if you were looking in the service industry where people do the same rote tasks day-in-and-day-out, you didn't find many people who enjoy their jobs. My mom is one of the few I've seen that likes her retail/service job a lot. She has some regular customers she enjoys chatting with.

From observing others, I think the people who love their jobs are the people who are a) helping others or b) doing something really interesting that exercises their creativity or intellect daily. I am one of those people who LOVES her job, and it definitely encompasses both of those things (I'm a medical researcher in a university setting). Of course the job just has to fit your personality too.

Are you thinking about getting a job just for a few years, or do you plan to be working more as your kids get older and don't need you as much? If it's the latter, you could totally take some classes in addition to volunteering, which would also boost your resume and skills. The good thing about classes is that they meet at prescribed times so you can probably schedule them around when your kids are in school.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I am planning to reenter the workforce in the New Year (I must recertify) and have already been offered a job; I sent a cover letter with my resume; and the cover letter outlined the "time" gaps in my resume. I am a bit concerend that I will not be able to provide current references--people have moved on/retired in the four years I have been at home.

cheers--Sharon

 

[crown1]

Date: 10/23/2008 12:30:43 PM
Author: MC
A chocolate shop would be a wonderul place to work. How can employees NOT be happy around all those goodies, especially if they are allowed to endulge during their work hours!

If money wasn''t an object for me, volunteering more hours at my kids'' school would be ideal and also, like you, teaching small workshops. I''d love to help friends and fellow ladies learn to keep their house plants alive and possibly teach classes on how to do so! It kills me to see a dying plant at one of my friend''s houses. I''m always tempted to water the plant, but don''t want to offend anyone.

It appears there is a Paper Source store in my state. I''ll have to drop in their one of these days. Possibly they''ll need seasonal help.

hi! i had a friend whose dil opened a business caring for live plants in businesses, offices, and hospitals. maybe you would like something like that?