How do I apply for a job after being a stay-at-home mom?
I have both B.S. and M.S. degrees, was a Peace Corps Volunteer, worked in a variety of science jobs, including management positions, then left my job to be a stay-at-home mom. That was ten years ago. I did a lot of volunteer work until Covid hit. At that point, I started homeschooling my children and no longer had time to volunteer. How do I reflect that on my resume? Where do I even begin? I'm not even sure I know what kind of job I want anymore.
you just squeezed so much into a few lines! I am impressed and intrigued. Now do that, but for the audience that is reviewing your resume. And add more contributions, how-to, and impacts.
As stated, it would be nice to know what you want next after all that. but then again, you can also just start. You can always leave a wrong fit. Def get some big ones sorted out like if you want a commute, do you want to control your time, do you like ppl or prefer to be solo, do you want prestige, how important are the values and mission of the employer, etc.
Also as mentioned, network! Not just cold. Go into your warm network since those people know you or know your type. I bet there's lots of Peace Corp folks who have gone on to all types of stuff. I know at least 3 ppl off my head right now! See what other Peace Corps ppl have in their LI profiles too. Use your experience to figure out the link, then spin your story for the layperson to get us from here to there in your resume.
checkout www.evolveme.work. They focus on women returning to working outside the home.
I know it's totally overwhelming. What I can tell you unless you're in a financial bind, take your time to really clarify what you're looking for. I am a firm believer in the power of networking, not only to help you create opportunities for yourself with companies you're interested in but also as part of your research. To help get you started in having a clearer vision, make a list of your skills and your values. What skills do you have and what skills do you want to utilize daily in your job that would create a sense of fulfillment. Evaluate your values and see what positions align with both your skills and values. Then look into companies that are aligned with your interests and start applying to positions. It takes time and additional effort but it's better than just taking a job that isn't going to be a good fit just to get yourself back in the game. Happy to answer questions. You're in a great position. PS. There's always a way to translate volunteer work to skills and accomplishments, primarily in the areas of project management, fundraising, marketing etc. Don't discount that!
Check out "The Mom Project" - they specialize in supporting women in situations like yours!
Hi there, I am an attorney who also took ten years off to homeschool my children and I will always cherish my memories of that special time. Re your transition back, others will have great resume tips for you and other technical advice in your scientific field. What I can offer is a personal perspective: always look at yourself and your time at home as an incredible asset to your new employer. I can tell you that when I transitioned back into law I was more than prepared because I had taken ten years off to do what mattered to me and therefore was energetic and not burned out like my colleagues the same age. Before I transitioned in I put time into studying changes in my industry (new cases and statues basically) and then ended up being more up to date than the people who had worked without a break. Only people who have taken care of their children full time understand the amount of work it takes. My work ethic at the office was unparalleled because I was used to doing SO much at home that I was just automatically a busy bee at work. Within one year I became the highest performing attorney in my section! I want to encourage you to look at yourself as an incredible woman and mother who had the courage to make a bold decision and now you are like a Jedi Warrior who can handle anything at work. Likely it will seem easy in many ways. I had some technological issues to get up to speed with so I found a nice IT person and baked him cookies and boy did he help me with getting my computer organized. More success with sugar than vinegar has been my experience. All my best to you!
I'm a Resume Writer and here are a few tips that I want to give you:
~~ You want to focus on your transferable skills and if you've been out of work for more than 10 years, I'd suggest creating a Combination/Hybrid resume. This kind of resume focuses on your skills and less on your unemployment history.
~~ You also want to include keywords from the job descriptions in your resume too. This will create a tailored resume for each job that you apply for.
I hope this helps! Feel free to ask me any questions, ok? :)