Wondering how to put a stay-at-home mom experience on your resume?
Keep reading to find out.
Getting back into the workforce is tough for stay-at-home moms. And it doesn’t matter whether you’ve been a stay-at-home mom for a few years or since your child was born.
Employers don’t like to see gaps in a resume.
The crazy thing is that stay-at-home moms work tirelessly every single day, even though they’re not working in an office.
So how can you use the skills and experience you’ve earned from being a stay-at-home mom to your advantage?
In this article, I’m going to help you describe some of your skills, experience, and duties to help you craft the perfect resume.
I’m also going to share with you a sample resume for a stay-at-home mom that puts all these things together.
Let’s take a look at some of the frequently asked questions stay-at-home moms run into when trying to create a resume.
You may also like: 20 Best Careers After Being A Stay-at-home Mom
FAQs About Creating A Stay-at-Home Mom Resume
How do you say “stay-at-home parent” on a resume?
The professional term for a stay-at-home mom is a house manager or a homemaker. When creating a resume as a stay-at-home mom, it’s important that you use the professional term.
Doing so will help your potential employer to see you as someone who’s not ashamed of your role as a stay-at-home mom.
How do you describe the duties of a stay-at-home mom on a resume?
When describing your duties as a stay-at-home mom on a resume, try to list those duties that can be used as transferable skills in the mainstream job market.
Don’t just list the obvious ones like cooking, cleaning, and childcare. Those are important, but employers really want to see that you have the skills and experience needed to perform that particular job you’re applying for.
Some stay-at-home mom duties that can be used as experience on a resume include; teaching and tutoring, household accounting, School event planning, Scheduling appointments, Keeping track of multiple schedules, etc.
Let’s discuss each skill further below
List of Stay-at-Home Mom Duties For Resume
Teaching and Tutoring
One of the most important duties of a stay-at-home mom is to teach her children.
As moms, we teach them morals and how to follow rules and directions. We teach them how to be responsible for themselves, their siblings, and their properties.
Besides teaching them all these things, we also help with homework and create class projects. Some stay-at-home moms take it even further and homeschool their kids.
All of these things take hard work and dedication, and it’s something to be proud of. In fact, a study done in Norway proved that kids who have stay-at-home parents do much better in school (source).
So when you’re creating your resume, make sure you include this important duty on the list.
Household Accountant
If the job you’re applying for requires you to be good with numbers, then you should definitely include Household Accountant on the list of stay-at-home mom duties.
Most SAHMs are responsible for handling the finances of their family.
They create a monthly budget for food, clothes, and other necessities. When shopping, they keep track of the numbers to make sure they don’t overspend.
They make sure the bills are paid on time. They also make sure they have enough money left at the end of the month for their savings.
If you do any of these things as a stay-at-home mom, then you should list them as a duty on your resume.
Event Planner
If you’ve ever helped plan a school fundraiser, bake sale, play, or any other school event, then you can list Event Planner as a duty on your resume.
I’ve helped plan school field trips, bake sales, and Halloween parties a few times in my life. The skill required to do those things is the same one required to plan an office event.
To plan an event, you need to be someone who thinks ahead and can anticipate people’s needs. You have to be able to communicate with multiple different people in other to get the job done.
If this sounds like you, then make sure you list Event Planner as part of your stay-at-home mom duty on your resume.
Appointment Scheduler
If you’re planning to work as a receptionist or in a position where you’ll be scheduling appointments, then make sure to include Appointment Scheduler on your list of SAHM duties.
As stay-at-home moms, our days are filled with appointments we have to take our kids to. From doctor’s appointments to dance practice, we’re always on the move.
It takes real skill to plan out the month ahead with everyone’s appointments and schedules, without creating a conflict.
We may make it look easy but it’s hard work.
That’s what a receptionist does on a daily basis in an office. We do it for all our kids and sometimes for our spouses too.
So make sure you include this stay-at-home mom duty on your resume.
Home Caretaker
Including your duty as a Home Caretaker in your resume is only important if it relates to the job you’re applying for.
It doesn’t make sense to put it in your stay-at-home mom resume if you’re applying to become a radiologist for example.
If this skill is relevant to your future position, then highlight all you do to care for your home.
Cooking and Meal Prep
As I said before, this stay-at-home mom duty is only relevant if you’re applying for a job in the food industry.
If that’s the case, then make sure your resume highlights the different cuisines you can cook. Also, highlight your baking skills in your resume as well.
Stay-at-home Mom Skills For Resume
Wondering what skills you should put in your resume as a stay-at-home mom? The list below might help.
Here are some skills stay-at-home moms have that you can include in your resume: time management, quick thinking, social media management, entrepreneurship, great communication, conflict resolution, etc.
Let’s break each one down to understand it better.
Time management
Time Management is an important skill required to be a stay-at-home mom.
You have to keep track of which kid needs to nap and at what time. When to bathe and feed your kids breakfast, Lunch, and dinner.
On top of all that, you’re also juggling multiple schedules for after-school activities.
I’m sure there are more time management things I’m not listing here but you get the picture. Time management is definitely an important skill to list in your resume as a stay-at-home mom
Decision-Making Skill
The ability to make quick decisions on the go is critical to surviving as a stay-at-home mom. When you have a million tasks to complete in a day, you’ll need to make decisions about each one of them
This will require you to put things in order of priority so you know which to complete first.
This skill will be very valuable in a work environment that requires people to think on their feet. If that’s the kind of job you’re applying for, then you should add decision-making as a skill on your resume as a stay-at-home mom.
Organizational Skill
A stay-at-home mom that isn’t organized will be easily overwhelmed. Being organized will help you plan your day more effectively and get more tasks done.
Organizational skills come with everyday practice, and that’s what stay-at-home moms have perfected.
We keep our homes organized using many different strategies. To get the kids ready for school in the morning, we have to prep lunches, iron clothes, and plan for the next day.
There’s so much that goes into having a neat and organized home. Every stay-at-home mom should put this skill on their resume.
Communication skill
To make it in any job out there, you’ll need to have good communication skills.
Our job requires us to communicate with our kids, their teachers, our spouse, and others to ensure that our family runs smoothly.
When you create your resume, make sure that you explain how you use this skill each day as a stay-at-home mom.
Empathy
Empathy is a huge skill that’s critical in the healthcare industry and those that deal with customers directly.
Empathy means being able to place yourself in someone else’s shoes.
As stay-at-home moms, we use this skill of Empathy every day.
When dealing with our children, we listen and speak with empathy. We use empathy when dealing with our spouses and other family members. So make sure to add this skill to your stay-at-home mom resume.
Entrepreneurship
I included entrepreneurship as a skill because a lot of stay-at-home moms have a side hustle.
On top of caring for our family full-time, we also run our own business or do something on the side to make extra money.
We sell on Etsy, deliver for DoorDash, drive for Uber, and so much more. That’s not an easy task and it should be highlighted in your resume.
This will show your potential employer that you’re resourceful. It shows that you know how to find creative solutions to problems.
Conflict Resolution
If you’ve ever broken up a fight between your kids, had a conversation with them about an existential crisis, or helped them make a tough decision, then you’re a master in Conflict Resolution.
A conflict doesn’t have to involve a disagreement. It’s the ability to think through a difficult situation to find a solution.
Every parent has had to do this at some point in their kid’s life. This is a skill that a lot of employers look for when hiring for a position.
That means you should definitely put this skill in your resume as a stay-at-home mom.
Social Media Management
Do you have huge followers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or another social network? If so, then highlight that on your stay-at-home mom resume.
Your ability to manage your social media sites might impress some employers. Especially if you’re applying for a marketing position.
This will show that you know how to network and reach a variety of people.
Leadership Skills
As a stay-at-home mom, you’re the leader of your household.
It’s your job to raise your children to become the best person they can be and that requires strong leadership skills.
You can also show that you have leadership skills by referencing any programs that you lead.
Examples are; choir leader, parent-teacher leader, troop leader, etc.
Time management
Time management is one of the most important skills a stay-at-home mom has.
To run a household, you need to be able to fit all your responsibilities into a few hours a day. This is because the rest of your time will be spent taking care of the kids.
To manage their time, stay-at-home moms make use of planners and calendars frequently. You won’t survive daily life without them.
That’s why you should add time management to your resume as a stay-at-home mom.
Planning Skills
Planning is the ability to think ahead in order to prepare for future events.
Stay-at-home moms should put this skill on their resumes because they do this every day.
Here’s a small list of things that requires planning for in a family.
Meals require planning. Some moms take it to an extreme and plan meals a month in advance. We plan activities for the family on weekends and educational activities during the week.
We also plan playdates and family visits as well.
Being able to plan ahead is a skill that would be valuable in any industry.
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Scheduling Skills
Planning and scheduling go hand in hand.
If you plan trips and events without taking the necessary steps to get things scheduled, then those events won’t happen.
As stay-at-home moms, we’re always scheduling appointments, events, and activities to help our family run smoother.
Computer Skills
If you can use the computer for typing, emailing, and other forms of communication, then you have some computer skills.
Some stay-at-home moms use the computer to make worksheets for their kids. Others use track household expenses with Excel.
Make sure you include this stay-at-home mom skill on your resume if you do any of these things.
Having good computer skills will help you in the job market.
You can also take classes on Skillshare for Excel, Word, and PowerPoint if your future job requires it.
Now that you know what skills to add to your resume as a stay-at-home mom, let’s take a look at some tips on creating your resume
Tips on How To Write a Stay-at-Home Mom Resume
Highlight your bilingual skills
If you speak another language other than English, it could be an asset to your future employer.
Sales jobs and others that deal with customers usually value bilingual employees.
Make sure that you list this as part of your skills in your stay-at-home mom resume.
Get a new certification
If you’ve been a stay-at-home mom for a long time, your certification may have become outdated.
You may need to get a new certification or license. You may also need to take a continuing education course to be considered for the job.
I recommend using Skillshare to find courses or certifications that may fit the requirements for the job you want.
Getting a new certification will help elevate your resume and help you stand out among others.
Sometimes it may be better to go back to school for a new degree if you have no prior education.
Check out 20 Best Careers After Being A Stay-at-home Mom to see some possible career options.
Include any volunteer work
You’ll be surprised how much skill you can acquire from volunteering.
Through volunteering, you may be able to get the necessary qualifications for the job you’re trying to apply for.
If you want to work in healthcare, try volunteering in a hospital. If it’s IT you want, then volunteer at a computer repair store.
When you’re done, don’t forget to include those skills in your stay-at-home mom resume.
Include your educational experience
If you have an educational experience that’s relevant to the job, you should list those first.
Recruiters won’t care about the fact that you’ve been out of the job market for years if you can show that you have education and some experience.
Include freelance work experience
If you’ve freelanced before and have acquired skills that could work for the job you’re applying for then include them.
Every stay-at-home mom I know does a side hustle to make money.
Some sell on Etsy, do Uber, write articles for blogs, and others have a small business they run.
To improve your stay-at-home mom resume, you need as much relevant experience as possible.
You can get that by freelancing.
Try looking for freelance work in your desired industry and offer your services. You’d be surprised who will hire you.
List your relevant work experience first
You don’t need to start your resume listing that you were a stay-at-home mom, except if it’s relevant to the job.
If you start your stay-at-home mom resume in reverse chronological order, then you can put your most relevant experience at the beginning and work your way down.
On average, recruiters take about 6-7 seconds to scan a resume (source). This means that you have a short window to put your best foot forward.
Showing your qualification, education, and experience is what recruiters are looking for.
Be open and honest when asked about your resume gap
If you’re asked about the gap in your resume, don’t try to hide anything.
Simply explain that you took some years off to raise your kids as a stay-at-home mom.
Explain that you acquired a lot of skills as a SAHM that you will bring to the table for this new job.
Talk about certifications you’ve earned, courses you took, volunteer work, and other things you did to stay relevant in the field during your time off.
Stay-at-Home Mom Resume Template – With Example
Here’s a sample stay-at-home mom resume I created to help you.
Feel free to use my template to craft your own. You can download it by clicking the download below.
Click To Download A Copy
Sample Stay-at-home Mom Resume
Let’s pretend you’re applying for a job as a customer service representative. You’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 5 years, and now want to get back into the workforce.
Here’s what your stay-at-home mom resume should look like.
About Info
Name: Susan Johnson
Phone number: 111-222-3456
Location: NY, NY
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/Susan.Johnson
Career Objective
I’m passionate about helping people solve problems using various conflict resolution strategies I’ve acquired over the years. I’m seeking to use my experience in the service industry to help provide quality customer service to clients in your company.
Work Experience
Waitress/Greeter 2014-2017
Iced Tea Cafe
- Provided good customer service as a waitress and server
- Welcomed patrons into the restaurant as a greeter
Store Associate
Wendy’s Department Store 2018-2019
- helped customers find desired items in the store
- Worked the register as a sales associate
Self-employed
Lyft, Etsy, DoorDash 2019 – Present
- I create and sell hair bows on Etsy
- Deal with customer inquiries
- Provide great customer service to ensure customer satisfaction
- I have great reviews on Lyft for my good customer service.
Stay-at-Home Mom 2019 – Present
- Work with parents and teachers to host PTA meetings to discuss ways to improve school culture.
- Work with parents, teachers, and students to put on the annual school play.
Volunteer Work
- American Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Speaker
- School anti-smoking speaker
- Church receptionist
Education
- list all educational institutions you’ve attended.
Relevant Courses
- include any courses that you’ve taken to help prepare you to deal with customers.
- Check out Skillshare for courses you can take to improve your skills
Skills
- choose any of the stay-at-home mom skills listed above and summarize them in bullets here.
Final Thoughts On Stay-at-Home Mom Resume
Getting back into the job market after being a stay-at-home mom is not easy. I’m sure you’re filled with a lot of anxiety about whether you can perform any other job that’s not in the Homemaker role.
I’m here to let you know that your fears are valid.
Continue to apply for that dream job you want until you get a YES. Don’t ever give up.
As they say, you’ll never know how close you are to succeeding if you quit before it’s done.
My suggestion is to tweak your resume, volunteer and get as much transferrable skills as possible to earn you that dream job.
