Hello ladies,

20 Comments

1. Barb HansenApril 21,2022 at 5:55PM UTC

   I would be honest about your volunteer work with the non-profit. I don't know why saying it was volunteer would be an issue, but I'm interested to hear from HR professionals on this matter.

   I know there are a few websites that focus on returnships for Moms - here is the only one that came to mind: https://www.pathforward.org/

   Good luck.

2. Emily StarkApril 21,2022 at 6:49PM UTC

   Pathforward is a great resource for returnships!

3. AnonymousApril 24,2022 at 5:25AM UTC

   Hi Barb, Thank you for providing info on Pathforward. I've registered for their webinar on 5/18. Thanks for the support.

4. AmyApril 21,2022 at 5:57PM UTC

   Depending on how your resume is set up you can list it as a volunteer position. I would include it in your cover letter too. Volunteering is work too. And can say a lot about a person.

5. AnonymousApril 24,2022 at 5:17AM UTC

   Hi Amy, In my experience, volunteers are good at multitasking as they are juggling a lot of things at the same time. The limitation would be, it's not as challenging as a corporate job.

6. AmyApril 26,2022 at 8:43PM UTC

   One may have chosen to volunteer to gain new experience. True there is comfort in volunteering to do things you are good at, but it is also a great way to learn and network. Those reading the resume do not know the difference unless they ask you about the experience.

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistApril 21,2022 at 7:06PM UTC

   Just list it as a regular position but put volunteer after the title:

   XYZ Company

   Senior Project Manager - Volunteer

   December 2020 to Present

8. AnonymousApril 24,2022 at 5:15AM UTC

   Hi Joan, Thank you for sharing the format. I'll do that. Your responses are really helpful. Glad to be a part of this group.

9. Rebecca AliApril 21,2022 at 8:19PM UTC

   Have you looked at iRelaunch? It's a great resource for people returning to work after caregiving breaks.

10. AnonymousApril 24,2022 at 5:13AM UTC

    Hi Rebecca, Thank you for the information. Sure. I'll check if iRelaunch has any roles regarding TA or Recruitment.

11. Marty OvermanApril 22,2022 at 12:08PM UTC

    As a hiring leader I would not be deterred by the volunteer status. I fully respect that volunteer hours can be significant and importantly they are a choice. You chose to spend your "extra" time contributing to something you didn't get paid for. If you leveraged skills that are valuable in the workplace to do it then list those too.

    What type roles are you pursuing?

12. AnonymousApril 24,2022 at 5:11AM UTC

    Hi Marty,

    Thank you for the response. I worked as a Technical Recruiter before. The volunteering role is also into Talent Acquisition. So currently looking out for a Recruiter role. I recently took up PHR certification. I'm planning to apply for some Junior HR Generalist roles as well.

13. Marty OvermanMay 2,2022 at 2:04PM UTC

    That is definitely relevant experience - especially as technical talent is in short supply these days! I know we are looking for someone for our TA team. Check out Imperva!

14. Suzanne ReynoldsApril 22,2022 at 2:23PM UTC

    Hello! I am proud to be a returning mom myself and work at Path Forward. We have an event on 5/12 with Trimble, Collective Health, and Chevron. These events are hosted regularly with our great partners who expect to see and honor your time away from paid work. Please join us to hear what companies are looking for, what roles they currently have for returning caregivers and hear how to get ready for these great opportunities! If you find the roles aren't what you're looking for, please visit our website and keep checking back! Good luck!

15. AnonymousApril 24,2022 at 5:07AM UTC

    Hi Suzanne, Thank you for informing about Path Forward. Haven't heard about it before. I'll definitely visit your website and see if there are any suitable roles for me. Thanks for the support. It means a lot.

16. AnonymousApril 22,2022 at 8:51PM UTC

    Never be embarrassed, volunteering is a great thing and well respected. I say transparency is always the best policy. What roles are you looking for? You will find what is meant for you. Use this time to network, get your professional profiles updated and narrow down what you are looking. Also take this time to find any refresher courses you need to take on interviewing just to keep yourself updated on the latest interviewing processes so you can nail the next one! Stay positive, transparent, and patient. Good luck to you and keep us posted!

17. AnonymousApril 24,2022 at 5:04AM UTC

    Thank you for the response. I've worked as a Technical recruiter before. So looking out for roles in Talent Acquisition. Yes, I'm looking up some Youtube videos about how to introduce yourself, how to answer behavioral questions using STAR method etc. Thanks again for the support. I'll be in touch.

18. Lisa MarieApril 30,2022 at 3:06PM UTC

    Hello Anonymous:

    Since others have given pratical and straightforward advice for presenting your volunteer work, my advice is regarding you feeling annoyed at not being selected after only 6 or 7 interviews.

    Please understand that you may or may not be selected quickly. Many people apply for literally hundreds of positions and either do not receive a call for an interview, or if they do get an interview (or even a series of interviews for one position), the hiring manager or recruiter ghosts them. They hear nothing. Ever.

    Sadly ghosting has become somewhat of the norm for some hiring managers and some recruiters who are either truly overwhelmed with the volume of work (particularly hiring managers), or are just unprofessional in their approach to finding new talent.

    Another practice that you should prepare for is possibly "rounds of interviews" where you may go through anywhere from 3-8 different interviews with different decision-makers. This is depending on the structure of the organization and their process of finding new talent.

    Bottomline, understand that 6 or 7 interviews may be just the beginning of your journey to finding your next job, so prepare to be patient, and not become annoyed if things do not move as fast as you believe they should.

    My last bit of advice is: do not take rejection personally (no calls for interviews or no call back after interviews). Simply find something valuable to learn from each interview experience and move on.

19. AnonymousMay 4,2022 at 8:41PM UTC

    Hi Lisa, Thank you for the motivating words. Yes, job search is time consuming and I understand that I have to be patient till I get back to work again. I'm planning to send my kid to a daycare so that I get more time to prepare for interviews. Luckily I haven't come across ghosting much. Only one recruiter didn't get back to me yet with the feedback, so I assumed that I wasn't shortlisted. Rejection is redirection and I know something is around the corner.

20. Jubi BaruahMay 19,2022 at 11:37PM UTC

    If you mention part-time or full-time, you may have to show paystubs and W4. I hope you will find your dream job soon. Good luck,