resume template for stay at home mom returning to work

Stay-at-home Mom Resume Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

You’re a stay-at-home mom.

You’re great at time management, organization, and able to juggle five jobs at once.

Safe to say you’d make a great employee!

But HOW do you prove your abilities to your future employer?

What do you put on a stay-at-home mom resume, anyway?

Well, that’s exactly what we’re about to answer.

We understand that applying to jobs after years of staying at home can be a daunting experience. But please don’t worry - our guide will get you back on your feet in no time!

An example of a finished stay-at-home parent resume that works
How to write a stay-at-home mom resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
How to make your stay-at-home mom resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Before we dive into why the company should hire you, here’s a stay-at-home mom resume example, created with our very own resume builder:

Want one of these? Then follow the steps below:

How to Format a Stay-at-Home Mom Resume

Whether you’re getting your kids ready for school or running them a bath, you know the importance of preparation.

Similarly, you need to prepare your resume format before you can start writing!

But what does this actually mean?

Well, your resume needs to be structured correctly.

The most common resume format is “ reverse-chronological ”, and it is for good reason. This format puts your most recent achievements up-top, which keeps your resume clean and easy to follow.

reverse chronological format work at home mom

You may also wish to explore the two following formats:

Functional Resume – This type of resume focuses on skills, which makes it ideal for stay-at-home moms who have gaps in their employment history or never worked in that specific industry.
Combination Resume – Getting back into the same job after a short break? Combining both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”, individuals with both the required skills and experience may want to use this format.

After picking the correct format for your situation, you need to sort the resume layout .

For a stay-at-home mom resume that looks the part, we recommend:

Margins - One-inch margins on all sides
Font - Use a professional resume font that stands out, but not too much
Font Size - Stick to 11-12pt font size for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
Resume Length - Maintain a 1-page limit. For guidance, view these one-page resume templates

Use a Stay-at-Home Mom Resume Template

Ever written a document?

There’s a good chance you used Word, or similar processing software.

Now, these programs are great for creating simple documents, but are they good enough for your resume?

Not if you want a professional-looking resume!

Why do we say this?

Well, Word isn’t the best for holding structure.

You see, it can take hours to create the perfect structure, only for you to make one small change, and BOOM…your resume falls apart.

You’re a busy parent - Free up your time by using a stay-at-home mom resume template .

What to Include in a Stay-at-Home Mom Resume

The main sections in a stay-at-home mom resume are:

Contact Information
Work Experience
Employment Gap

To really impress the recruiter, you can also add these optional sections:

Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

That’s the sections sorted, but what should you write for each of them?

Let’s find out!

For a full rundown on each section, view our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

Now, this isn’t the time to unleash your creative flair.

You just need to keep this section factually-correct .

You could submit the best resume in the world, but if your phone number is wrong, well, you won’t be getting any interviews.

As you can see, accuracy is the name of the game in your contact section.

The contact information section must include:

Title - Align this to the exact job title you’re applying for
Phone Number - The one you are most-easily reached on
Email Address - Keep your email professional ([email protected])
(Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location.
Emily Brown, Receptionist. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
Emily Brown, Supermom Receptionist. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Stay-at-Home Mom Resume Summary or Objective

The job market is getting more and more competitive.

In fact, most employers usually have a HUGE pool of applicants to choose from.

Taking this into account, we can’t be too surprised that recruiters are known to spend less than 6 seconds on each resume !

Although rather concerning, we can use this knowledge to our advantage.

You just need a way to hook the reader.

But HOW can you do this?

Use a resume summary or objective , which are both attention-grabbing paragraphs that sit at the top of your resume.

This paragraph will be the first thing the hiring manager lays their eyes on, so make it the best it can be!

Although similar, there are differences between a summary and an objective…

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence paragraph that summarizes your most notable professional achievements.

Fast-working and friendly receptionist with 18 years of experience working on the front desk of a local gymnasium, where I achieved a customer satisfaction score of 98%. Highly-skilled in data-entry, customer service, and negotiation. Seeking to leverage interpersonal skills and a commitment to great service to become the new receptionist at GYM XYZ.

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence paragraph of what you want to achieve and why you’re perfect for the position.

Enthusiastic and friendly gym-goer looking to work as the new receptionist at GYM XYZ. Passionate about keeping visitors happy and satisfied. Relevant experience includes serving customers during two years at CAFÉ XYZ. Skilled in POS, communication, and time management.

So, should stay-at-home moms use a summary or an objective?

Generally, because stay-at-home moms will have large employment gaps, a resume objective would be the best choice. With that said, if you’re entering back into an industry that you have plenty of experience in, a resume summary would be the best choice.

How to Make Your Work Experience Stand Out

The work experience section is the most important section on your resume.

As such, it’s a section that requires special care and attention.

The goal is to write a powerful work experience section that stands out and highlights your most notable achievements .

Doing so will instil confidence and reduce any perceived risk in hiring you.

Now, you may be concerned about your employment gap, but don’t be.

Anyway, it’s always better to explain your employment gaps, rather than attempt to conceal them.

Here’s how to correctly structure your work experience section:

Position name
Company Name
Responsibilities & Achievements

Receptionist

06/2017 – 03/2020

Based on surveying, I achieved a 99.4% visitor satisfaction score during my three years at Real Gym
Welcome and advised 250+ customers a day
Developed a new fitness class system that reduced complaints by 48%

Instead of simply talking about your daily tasks, you should show how valuable you were at your previous employment. You see, this will allow the recruiter to immediately see how you’ll directly benefit the company.

Instead of saying:

“Kept visitors happy”.

“Based on surveying, I achieved a 99.4% visitor satisfaction score during my three years at Real Gym”.

Apart from being much longer, how is the second statement different?

Well, it uses quantitative data to back-up your skills. It allows the recruiter to see why you’d make a great addition to the team.

On the other hand, the first statement is way too generic. The recruiter has most likely read those exact words 18 times today.

What if You Don’t Have Any Relevant Work Experience?

So, you’re going back to work after a long lay-off.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean you will be applying for the same job.

What if you don’t have experience?

Not to worry!

You see, just because you’ve never worked as a receptionist, doesn’t mean lack the relevant skills and experiences needed to be great at that job.

You would just need to mention the crossover skills from previous jobs, like being able to operate a cash machine, having great communication skills, and being detail-orientated.

How to Explain Gaps in Employment on a Stay-at-Home Mom Resume

Why is there a gap in your employment?

Your employer will want to know what you’ve been up to recently.

Even though you’ve talked about your previous jobs, it’s now time to address the elephant in the room.

The trick here is to focus on any skills learnt during your time as a stay-at-home mom, especially skills relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Stay-at-Home Parent

05/2017– Present

Created a blog that documented my journey through parenthood – receives 10k+ views per month
Volunteered at my local charity – served dinner to 100+ homeless every Tuesday night

Sure – an employment gap isn’t ideal, but you can use this section to highlight the skills and experiences developed during this gap. Essentially, you can spin a negative into a positive !

Now, we both know that being a stay-at-home mom IS a full-time job, but resist listing your parent-related duties, unless the job involves working with small children or similar.

Use Action Words to Make Your SAHM Resume POP!

Those poor hiring managers.

Having to read the same generic words in every resume they read.

Although bad for them, this is great for you!

You see, it allows you to create a “return-to-workforce” resume that stands out by using some power words :

Conceptualized
Spearheaded

How to Correctly List your Education

Next, let’s discuss what to put in your education section.

Regardless of the position that you’re applying for, this section follows a simple formula:

Qualification Type
Institution Name
Years Studied
GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

When put together, your education section should resemble the following example:

Majoring in Culinary Arts

Ohio State University

2008 - 2012

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE), Financial and Revenue Management, Research Project, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Experience Economy, Exploring Professional Practice in Hospitality.

Still have a few questions? Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get from stay-at-home moms:

What if I haven’t come to the end of my studies yet?

Not to worry. Just include the courses and modules studies to date

Should I include my high school education?

If it’s your highest form of education, then yes

What is more important, my education or experience?

Experience always wins this race, although education is still important

For in-depth answers, check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top Skills for a Stay-at-Home Mom Resume

As a mom, you have invaluable skills that your little-one depends on.

But you can’t exactly write “able to put three kids to bed every night” on your resume.

So, what should you do instead?

Well, what did you write in your experience section?

Here’s a trick: analyze both your work experience and the job description.

If you see any skills that crossover, add them to your resume.

Do this correctly, and you’ll be showing the exact skills the recruiter is looking for!

And if you need more inspiration, here are some of the most common soft skills:

Personable and friendly
Endurance (long hours)
Conflict resolution
Time management
Team player
Be honest here. Interviewers will usually ask applicants to explain more about the skills listed.

Confused about what skills to put on your stay-at-home mom resume? Check out our comprehensive list of 150+ must-have skills this year .

What Else Can You Include?

There we have it.

All essential sections have been added to your resume.

But don’t call it a day just yet!

Adding just one or two of the following sections could be deciding factor in whether you’re hired for the job or not!

Awards & Certifications

Have you ever been employee of the month?

Have you completed any courses that are relevant to the job?

If you have any awards or certifications, be sure to include it in your resume!

Awards & Certificates

“Employee of the Year 2018” - Real Gym
“Learning How to Learn” - 2019 Coursera Certificate

Applying to a Spanish restaurant?

Then being able to speak some Spanish is sure to increase your chances.

Whether it’s a specific requirement or not, being able to speak multiple languages is impressive – and who can argue with that!?

Rank the languages by proficiency:

Intermediate

Now, you’re likely wondering, “why would the hiring manager need to know about my keen interest in badminton?”

Well, because it allows them to learn more about whom you actually are.

Companies want new members of staff that fit in well with the current team.

The easiest way to do this is to discuss your hobbies, especially those hobbies which involve social interaction.

Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

How to really “wipe the floor” with your competition?

Attach a convincing cover letter with your resume!

You see, your resume is great for delivering the core message, but nothing speaks to the recruiter like a well-written cover letter.

But what do we mean by this?

Well, a cover letter allows you to make a personal connection, which ensures you’ll be remembered by the hiring manager.

As well as offering the chance to fill in all the blanks, a cover letter also shows that you want to work for this exact company .

Here’s how to create a structure that works:

And here’s the winning formula:

Personal Contact Information

Use your full name, profession, phone number, email, and address

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Use their full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

Make sure your opening paragraph commands attention. Briefly mention:

The exact job position you’re applying for
Your experience summary and best achievement to date

Once you’ve grabbed the reader’s attention, you can delve further into the following specifics:

Why you chose this specific company
What you know about the company’s vision and culture
How your skills will be beneficial to the company
Whether you’ve worked in similar positions before

Closing Paragraph

Finish with a closing paragraph that:

Concludes the key points of your cover letter
Thanks the manager for reading and for the job opportunity
Ends with a call to action. For example, “At your earliest convenience, I’d love to discuss more about how I can help your company with X” will work.

Formal Salutations

While remaining personal, the letter should end in a professional manner. Use something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely.”

For extra cover letter advice, view our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Key Takeaways

Good luck with your new job:

Because if you followed the steps in this guide, you should now have a job-winning resume!

Make sure to:

Select one of the recommended formats for your specific situation and employment history, and then follow the recommended layout
Catch the reader’s attention with a short, snappy summary or objective
In the work experience section, make sure to highlight your most relevant and best achievements, rather than just your daily duties. Oh, and don’t be put off by your employment gap
For a highly-specific application that starts a conversation, include a convincing cover letter

9 Stay-at-Home Mom Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Stay-at-home moms manage a variety of household responsibilities, including budgeting, meal planning, and organizing family activities. When crafting your resume, consider highlighting your experience in multitasking, problem-solving, and communication. Adding skills like time management, leadership, and adaptability can further enhance your profile. It's important to mention your ability to create a nurturing environment and your experience in coordinating schedules, demonstrating the significant contributions you bring to any role.

All resume examples in this guide

resume template for stay at home mom returning to work

Homemaker No Experience

Returning To Work

Returning To Workforce

Work From Home Mom

Stay at Home Mom Returning to Teaching

Military Spouse Stay at Home Mom

Resume guide.

SAHM resume example

Resume format

Resume experience section

Hard & soft skills

Certifications and education

Resume summary/Objective

Additional sections

Key takeaways

By Experience

Over half of stay-at-home moms in the US point to expensive childcare as the main barrier to re-entering the workforce. Indeed, navigating the complexities of childcare while remaining socially active can be a challenge.

If this strikes a chord, chances are you're a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) thinking about making a return to work.

Luckily, stay-at-home parenting does not exclude having a job. And if you’re among those 57% of SAHMs worried that their employment gap might put off potential employers, there's good news. You can craft a stay-at-home mom resume with no experience and still get noticed.

This guide is designed to empower you to highlight your skills and experiences, crafting an impactful SAHM resume that stands out. Here's how:

Create a stay-at-home mom resume that convincingly translates full-time parenting skills to the professional realm;
Leveraging your employment gap as an asset by strategically emphasizing your skills and experiences in your resume;
Avoid stereotypes and biases with a selection of real-life resume examples from stay-at-home moms.

Let’s get to it.

Stay-at-home mom resume example

Graphic Designer | Creative Solutions | Visual Storytelling resume example

Here’s what this applicant does well in their resume:

Highlighting transferable skills : Olivia highlights her time as a stay-at-home mom to showcase her knack for project management and multitasking. She shows that personal experiences can evolve into professional assets, especially her creative and efficient project handling, key for graphic design.
Showcasing freelance experience : Olivia's resume shines a light on her freelance graphic design projects. She outlines key successes, like boosting project inquiries and client satisfaction, proving her professional drive and success, even during a career pause.
Promoting continuous professional development : The candidate lists certifications and a zeal for ongoing learning, showing her dedication to keeping her skills sharp and relevant for graphic design work.
Leveraging community engagement : Featuring her work as a Community Workshop Leader, Olivia displays her leadership and educational skills. This role underlines her willingness to contribute to the community and collaborate with diverse teams, essential for client-based projects.

Now let’s dive into organizing all these strengths and talents within a resume.

How to format a stay-at-home mom resume

Facing a significant employment gap might seem daunting, especially when re-entering the job market. Yet, if motherhood is the primary reason for your career hiatus, this experience can be reframed positively on your resume.

The point is to choose the resume format that best fits your circumstances. Here are the three most fitting layouts for stay-at-home mom s returning to the workforce.

The reverse chronological resume . Ideal for those with substantial experience before taking maternity leave. This format is highly favored by recruiters and can effectively minimize the impact of a 2-year gap, particularly in the post-pandemic job market. Tailor your resume to each job application and consider including a cover letter for a personal touch.
The hybrid resume . A combination resume works well for those eyeing a career shift or who have been out of the workforce for 3-4 years. It blends your skills and experiences, focusing on your competencies rather than the chronological order of your employment.
The functional resume : Best suited for individuals with a career gap of more than 4 years, this format emphasizes professional strengths and skills over employment history. Remember, transparency is key; you can acknowledge your role as a homemaker while still highlighting your capabilities.

And to make sure that you really nail your resume, here are a few a dditional formatting tips for a SAHM resume:

Length: Aim for a concise format, one or two pages max, ensuring plenty of white space for readability.
Fonts : Don’t rely on crazy fonts to impress recruiters. Rubik, Lato, Montserrat, Raleway, Exo 2, and Volkhov work perfectly fine. All serif fonts are ATS-friendly.
File Format : Go with PDF when exporting your stay-at-home mom resume. It retains its formatting across all devices and platforms.

Is your resume good enough?

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

After choosing a resume format, it’s time to decide on the best sections to feature on your resume to help your tal ents s hin e bright.

The top sections on a stay-at-home mom resume:

A resume summary providing a brief overview of your skills, experience, and career objectives, showing how they align with the demands of the targeted role.
A strong s kills section that showcases transferable skills gained from parenting, such as time management and organizational abilities.
A work experience section detailing your work history. It could involve formally employed roles, or even the management and planning that goes into running a household.
A detailed e ducation and certifications section with relevant academic qualifications, trainings, or workshops that you’ve attended. This would demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning.
An additional section for personal projects or community involvement. This section will highlight your extracurricular engagements, such as community service, charity work, or even personal projects like a blog. It will provide a more comprehensive profile of your skills and interests.

For stay-at-home moms, these top resume sections will best showcase the skills that recruiters are seeking.

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

Demonstrated organizational skills : Stay-at-home moms often juggle multiple tasks and schedules simultaneously, skills that recruiters value in a variety of job roles.
Problem-solving abilities : As a stay-at-home mom, quick and effective problem-solving is a necessity. This is a highly sought-after skill in many work scenarios.
Time management : Managing the varying needs and schedules of a household showcases strong time management, a skill highly valued by recruiters in all fields.
Adaptability : Stay-at-home mothers need to adapt rapidly to changing situations and events, demonstrating flexibility and resilience which are highly favored in the professional world.
Strong communication skills : Being a central point of communication within a family demonstrates the ability to mediate, negotiate, and express oneself clearly and effectively.

With a clear focus in mind, you can start building your resume experience section.

How to write your stay-at-home mom resume experience

The experience section often stirs anxiety among stay-at-home moms, worrying about whether to list their role as a homemaker. The most common fear is that this might not be seen as relevant.

However, it's essential to include this phase of life, as recruiters look for explained career gaps. (Plus, you’re a proud mom, of course, you’d put it on your resume)!

The best advice here is to focus on the skills and achievements during this time, such as managing projects, organizing events, or any freelance work. Highlighting these experiences demonstrates valuable competencies like time and people management, organizational skills, and multitasking.

Naturally, if you do have a work history before taking your maternity leave, include it in your resume.

Now let’s take a look at two resume examples.

• Managed household budget.
• Participated in community support groups.
• Helped the children with assignments.
• Enrolled in a basic programming course.

Clearly, this applicant didn’t make the most of her experience as a stay-at-home parent. She merely listed a few responsibilities. Here are three mistakes:

No specific relevance . The bullets don’t directly translate to specific professional requirements. Employers look for experiences that are transferable to a range of roles.
Sparse action verbs . To demonstrate agency you need to choose your words more wisely. For example, “ participated” c ould have been “ organized” . Action verbs provide clarity and dynamism to resume entries, effectively showcasing your initiative and impact.
Lack of description. This is a missed opportunity to amplify the candidate’s responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom. Providing descriptions allows for a better understanding of the skills and values a stay-at-home mom brings to potential employers.
• Managed household budget and finances, achieving a 20% reduction in expenses through strategic planning and cost-effective purchasing.
• Organized weekly community support groups, enhancing local engagement and support networks, showcasing event planning and community-building skills.
• Developed and implemented a home-based learning curriculum for early childhood education, promoting cognitive and social development.
• Completed a 6-month intensive C# programming course, acquiring key software development skills and laying the foundation for advanced technical problem-solving.

Now, this candidate understood the assignment. Let’s see why.

Demonstrates transferable skills : The section highlights a range of transferable skills, such as organization, community engagement, and technical proficiency, which are valuable in many professional settings.
Quantifiable achievements : Activities are presented with outcomes that suggest measurable impact, like enhancing local engagement and promoting cognitive development. This adds credibility and substance to the candidate's experience.
Shows continuous learning and adaptability : Completing a 6-month intensive programming course illustrates a commitment to personal and professional growth.

How to quantify impact on your resume

The impact of your experience as a SAHM on your resume can significantly improve your chances of getting a job. It makes your skills and contributions clear and measurable to potential employers.

Here are essential tips for incorporating quantifiable metrics into each section of your stay-at-home mom resume:

Include the number of years you've managed household finances, illustrating your financial prowess.
Specify the number of events you've coordinated (such as family gatherings or fundraisers), indicating your project management and organizational ability.
Listing the number of languages you're proficient in as a polyglot shows strong communication skills and adaptability, vital skills in most workplaces.
State the number of people involved in any community projects you have led, showing your skills in rallying groups and leading teams.
Include the number of children you manage daily schedules for, demonstrating adeptness in juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities.
Specify the difference in spending before and after you took over the household budgeting, demonstrating your ability to optimize costs.
Mention the frequency of educational activities you arranged for your child/children, as this could indicate a commitment to development and learning, critical in a professional environment.
Incorporate the number of online courses or workshops you completed during your stay-at-home period, as this demonstrates continuous learning and improvement.

How to write a stay-at-home mom resume with no experience

For a SAHM with minimal professional experience, resume building can feel like a daunting task. However, there's a silver lining: your resume can still make a strong impression on job recruiters.

It's all about strategizing effectively!

Remember what we did with the experience section? You can easily employ this technique and focus on skills or freelance projects relevant to your career development.

Volunteer experience : If relevant to the job you’re applying for, volunteering can highlight your involvement in community service, school committees, or local organizations. Including specific achievements, such as organizing events or leading projects, shows recruiters your initiative and project management skills, even outside a traditional work environment.
Certifications and courses : Listing relevant certifications, online courses, or workshops you've completed during your time as a stay-at-home mom can bridge the gap in professional experience. This section indicates your dedication to personal development.
Skills and competencies : Tailoring this part to showcase transferable skills such as time management, organizational abilities, financial planning, and communication can add immense value.

Here’s a tip. If you have any hobbies or interests you consider applicable to the job you are applying for, do add them in a separate section. Learning languages with Duolingo in your free time? This hobby showcases your ability to commit to a long-term goal and enhances your communication skills across diverse cultures. Who knows, it might land you a job in an international organization.

How to list your hard and soft skills on your resume

Hard skills are about your technical know-how, like using software, while soft skills cover your ability to communicate, lead, and solve problems. Both are key to a strong resume.

When adding skills to your resume, mix hard and soft skills to show your range, drawing from your experiences, including your time as a SAHM. This helps employers see how your skills fit their needs.

For hard skills, consider tasks where you used specific knowledge, like budgeting for your household, teaching your kids with educational software, or planning digital-based community events.

Best hard skills for your stay-at-home mom resume

Financial Planning
Project Management
Advanced Microsoft Office Skills
Digital Communication Tools (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams)
Social Media Management
Blogging Platforms (WordPress, Blogger)
Online Research Tools
Scheduling Software
Basic Graphic Design (Canva, Adobe Spark)
E-commerce Platforms (Shopify, Etsy)
Bookkeeping Software (QuickBooks, Zoho Books)
Online Education Platforms (Khan Academy, Coursera)
Email Marketing (Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
CRM Software (Salesforce, HubSpot)
Photoshop or other Photo-Editing Software
Web Analytics (Google Analytics, SEMRush)
Video Editing Software (Adobe Premiere, iMovie)
HTML or CSS Basic Knowledge
E-learning Software (Moodle, Google Classroom)

Soft skills can be showcased by thinking about your interactions with others and how you've cared for your family. Skills like leadership, time management, and adaptability are ones you've probably developed through parenting.

Best soft skills for your stay-at-home mom resume

Multitasking
Time Management
Organizational Skills
Conflict Resolution
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Decision-Making
Communication Skills
Stress Management
Collaboration
Motivational Skills
Negotiation Skills
Critical Thinking
Emotional Intelligence

You can show off your skills in more places than just the skill section of a resume. In the Experience section, explain how you've used your skills in real life. Also, in the Volunteer Work or Projects sections, talk about times when your skills helped achieve good results. And remember to add numbers to make your point when you can.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

H ighlighting your education is essential. Seize every chance to add substance to your resume.

Next, think about including relevant certifications. These not only demonstrate your skills and commitment to growing professionally but also shift attention away from that dreaded employment gap.

Below are five valuable certifications that can boost your resume and impress recruiters.

Best certifications for your stay-at-home mom resume

Project Management Professional ( PMP )
Certified Professional in Learning and Performance ( CPLP )
Microsoft Certified: Office 365 Fundamentals
Google Analytics Academy Certification
Certified Associate in Project Management ( CAPM )

How to write your stay-at-home mom resume summary or objective

When building your SAHM resume, get creative and include sections that best showcase your skills. However, don't overlook crafting a compelling summary or objective. This brief introduction often catches an HR manager's attention first, and if it's engaging, they're more likely to continue reading.

If you've been on maternity leave for an extended period, a resume objective might be your best choice. While resume summaries are ideal for those with extensive experience, objectives serve as your pitch to potential employers.

Here’s why objectives are particularly fitting for stay-at-home moms with a career gap:

They're concise and punchy, ideally no more than three sentences.
They highlight your strengths without the need to summarize your entire work history.
Objectives clarify how you plan to contribute to the company's success, showing recruiters your potential value.

Let’s look at two examples of resume objectives, wrong and right.

This example says nothing about the candidate’s proposition. To enhance it, they could have:

incorporated stronger adjectives to strengthen their self-description;
used less tentative language to avoid any hints of uncertainty or apathy;
chosen more effective vocabulary to tell the story of their professional journey (that’s right, they’re writing a story about their professional self).

This one is so much better. Here’s why:

It’s only three sentences but they simply ooze enthusiasm (5 words capturing readiness).
The objective centers on the candidate's competencies and skills .
The last sentence subtly reveals an open and approachable personality, a valuable asset to any team.

Additional sections for a stay-at-home mom resume

Enriching your SAHM resume with a special section for your side hustles and community contributions can really make it stand out. If you're like many stay-at-home moms who've found ways to stay active and engaged, consider sharing:

Your blogging or social media endeavors : This isn't just a hobby; it's a showcase of your prowess in creating engaging content and navigating the digital marketing landscape. It speaks about your ability to captivate an audience, manage digital initiatives, and stay ahead with modern marketing tactics.
Your freelance or consulting projects : Have you dabbled in freelance work or consulting? This is the perfect place to highlight your entrepreneurial spirit and independence.
Your volunteer work : Giving your time and talents to causes and organizations reflects more than just goodwill. It's a testament to your ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, and plan events. For SAHMs preparing to re-enter the workforce, such volunteering underscores a commitment to your principles and the community, while honing skills that employers value.

If you're squeezing in resume planning between mom duties, here's a swift rundown of how to craft that standout stay-at-home mom resume:

Pick a resume format that suits your employment history. Remember, a chronological resume might not be your go-to if you've had a long gap since your last job.
Highlight resume sections that showcase the skills and responsibilities you've embraced during your time as a mom, steering clear of listing basic skills.
Make your experience section pop with measurable achievements, and avoid simply naming household tasks.
Include both hard and soft skills that you can apply in various job roles.
Don't forget to list any relevant certifications that bolster your qualifications.
If you've engaged in freelance or community initiatives, dedicate a section to these projects to demonstrate your active engagement and versatility.

Stay-at-Home Mom resume examples

Explore additional stay-at-home mom resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Coming back from a career break might appear daunting, but the transition can be smooth if well-managed. Here's advice for those returning to work:

Emphasize transferrable skills. Did you take on a project coordination role with a non-profit, or any unpaid work? Every experience is valuable and helps build certain skills.
Show your up-to-date industry knowledge. It is crucial to illustrate involvement in your field despite the time off, whether through joining online courses, volunteering, or researching.
Talk about soft skills gained during the break. This may include communication, time management, or problem-solving skills.
Don't shy away from explaining the gap. Showcase it as personal growth and professional development time.
Highlight networking activities. It’s about who you know and what you know. Mention any professional communities you're a part of.

Ensure to align your career break story with the job role requirements for a successful application.

Looking to build your own Stay-at-Home Mom resume?

Resume Examples

How To List Contract Work on Your Resume

Quitting your job without another one lined up: pros and cons, how to answer the "what do you least like about your job" interview question, how to spot toxic work culture at the interview: 17 signs to watch out for, who do you trust for career advice a 2024 enhancv study, what to write in email when sending resume to a friend.

Create Resume
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences
Resume Templates
Resume Builder
Resume Summary Generator
Resume Formats
Resume Checker
AI Resume Review
Resume Skills
How to Write a Resume
Modern Resume Templates
Simple Resume Templates
Cover Letter Builder
Cover Letter Examples
Cover Letter Templates
Cover Letter Formats
How to Write a Cover Letter
Resume Guides
Cover Letter Guides
Job Interview Guides
Job Interview Questions
Career Resources
Meet our customers
Career resources
[email protected]
English (UK)
French (FR)
German (DE)
Spanish (ES)
Swedish (SE)

Made with love by people who care.