by Chris Durst Updated 10/18/23
If you took time out of the workforce to raise and/or school your child(ren), you may have a “gap” in your resume that prospective employers will wonder about.
This is a topic that comes up often and we always advise job seekers to focus was on identifying the skills they used and the experience they gained during that time.
The objective is to determine which skills are “transferable” to more traditional jobs so that they can be listed on a resume.
Parenting-related transferable skills commonly identified are:
- Time Management
- Negotiation Skills
- Communication Skills – particularly explaining complex ideas and processes in an easy-to-understand way
- Adaptability
- Schedule Management & Coordination
- Crisis Management
- Budgeting
And, for the homeschoolers, transferable skills included:
- Setting realistic goals
- Following through with plans
- Time management
- Needs assessment
- Setting priorities
- Delegation
The bottom line is, you should not underestimate the value of skills used and expertise you use in non-traditional “jobs.” Parenting is hard work and it fine to include it on your resume if you do it in a meaningful way and in terms that hiring managers will see value in.
So, take some time to brainstorm about the skills you have from those years and work to build a “job description” for that time that adds value to your resume!
Now, you just have to create a “job title” for that period (Caregiver, Home Educator, etc.) and add a brief entry into your resume to fill the gap and showcase your skills.
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