What skills can I put on CV from being a SAHM?

[aztecnik]

I'm in my last year of a degree graduating in summer 2021. I've been busy raising DD on my own and doing the second year of my degree part time over 3 years, due to depression and money/homeless issues. Now doing full time as she is in reception.

When I look at graduate jobs, they all want some kind of experience even unpaid. I never had the chance to do any extra curriculars that interested me or volunteering for that matter. I did a few short stints of menial work, but left because it was miserable running to and fro from childcare to work and having no energy in the evening to cook or clean. I work 3 hours a week now as a cleaner.

Looking at a few internships and graduate jobs. They want examples of particular skills which I haven't got, like leadership, team player or project manager that you would get from clubs and stuff at university.

How can i phrase my time at home to reflect the skills that employers are looking for in my job applications?

Personally, I wouldn't. As someone who was looking to hire, I'd rather someone be open about their relevant experience and skills, and it would feel a bit like scraping the barrel. I don't think being a SAHP, is any different than being a parent in general, and also isn't a whole lot different from just the general sort of life skills you get from, well, living life as an adult, and we all should have those.

If you were in uni, then I think that sufficiently accounts for your time during those years. I would focus instead on the skills you have gotten from paid work (if you don't have any voluntary or unpaid work) and also from your degree. You will have developed skills that you probably aren't thinking of now. I review lots of applications (for postgraduate programmes, less so for jobs). It's rare that I think much about the experience people claim they got from clubs and volunteering in uni, unless it's very tightly connected to the job. But things like research skills, critical thinking, knowledge in particular areas that are relevant to the application are all important. Will you need to do a dissertation? Can you play up the skills you developed doing that? Or the specific knowledge base and how it has prepared you for the job you are applying for?

I wouldn't even mention your DD in your CV unless you have to.
Just put you were studying part time and working part time.

If at interview they ask why you studied part time then mention your DD.

Try to use skills from your cleaning job/university in the personal statement bit.

You could talk about the skills of organisation and time management that you have developed as a single mum who is studying. You are clearly determined and achieve the goals you set yourself.
Also, what skills have you developed through your studies? Eg research, marshalling facts, critical thinking.What are your transferable skills?

I agree. It's a bit embarrassing when people start listing their skills gained from being a SAHM. Being a cleaner is still a job, so think about your skills from that, for example, hard-working, takes initiative, good at communicating with clients, etc.

Personally, I wouldn't. As someone who was looking to hire, I'd rather someone be open about their relevant experience and skills, and it would feel a bit like scraping the barrel. I don't think being a SAHP, is any different than being a parent in general, and also isn't a whole lot different from just the general sort of life skills you get from, well, living life as an adult, and we all should have those.

This. No disrespect OP, but what skills do you think you have as a SAHP that other parents who work don't have? What tasks do you do day-to-day that the average working parent doesn't also have to do, but fit around their working hours?

I think if you can't evidence that you have the skills the job spec is asking for in any shape or form then you probably aren't a suitable candidate for the job. Have you considered more entry level type jobs, which would give you some experience/income whilst working your way up to the kinds of jobs you're currently looking at?

I would not list SAHM tasks revolving around child care/raising. Think about everything you have done...

Did you do any group/team projects as part of your university coursework?

Do you belong to your DDs school parent/teacher organisation?

Have you been part of any community COVID support?

If you are religious, do you do any community support work through your local church/mosque/synagogue/temple?

For teamwork skills, you could bring up previous experience of group assignments at uni but embellish it so it seems you were the most productive

Yes, just focus on your transferable skills from studying and from your work.

I worked in recruitment and would get applications saying that they had learned stakeholder negotiation from dealing with their child, and it was an instant turn off.

How full time are your hours? Can you look at volunteering now? A lot of charities are looking for people to support from home during COVID.

What sort of jobs are you applying for & what’s your degree in?

I always think it's so cringe worthy when people suggest you big up your time as a sahp, saying you were a teacher, Nanny, taxi driver, chef, PA, accountant etc. I have usually seen that suggested by people at job centres, but never by people that actually hire.

Not that there is anything wrong with being a sahp of course, but it is what it is - a career break due to caring responsibilities.

Ok, thanks for the responses. I did look online for tips on this, but glad I asked on here.

I've only done 1 group thing at uni, it was for a presentation. Did group work/project for work experience last year for a job centre course for unemployed young people.

I'm doing psychology so I guess I've got critical thinking and research skills there. Although I did struggle to concentrate in second year because it was part time and I was depressed so only got 55% for that year.

Maybe technical skills? I'm using for bayesian statistics in one of my modules.

Cleaning job perhaps negotiating time with clients/client management? Understanding tax? Budgeting? Going the extra mile for new clients to keep them?

*Going the extra mile for new clients to keep them?

What sort of jobs are you applying for

NHS health policy grad scheme, HMRC tax specialist grad scheme and anglian water internship are main ones now

A lot of charities are looking for people to support from home during COVID

I've got maybe 3 hours a week to do something as this year is quite full on.

I'll look in to that.

I wouldn't, Ive had cvs with sahp "roles" trumped up on an application and we cringe. We are parents and know the multi tasking skills of a sahm so simply stating you were at university and any part time jobs you had is sufficient and more credible

I think you're selling yourself a bit short on your work experience - maybe have a deeper look at the jobs you've held in the past and the soft skills you needed for each?

Have a look at articles about the soft skills employers are looking for e.g. www.thebalancecareers.com/top-soft-skills-employers-seek-1986632

Then write a list of examples how you align to these soft skills.

I did a few short stints of menial work

• What sort of menial work? Did any of it involve working in a team? Did you have to pay attention to detail? Did you have to adjust your rota and show adaptability? Did you manage to implement any suggestions that improved efficiency at work?

• Do you clean as an independent cleaner or for a larger organisation? If it's the former then definitely mention this - you've essentially started your own small-scale business. Write about it in a way that shows off your work ethic - how many of your clients are regulars? Have you managed to get any referrals? I'd be more impressed about someone who showed that they were passionate about being a cleaner than someone who writes about it passively - show your dedication to doing your job to the best of your abilities.

• If you've worked for a larger cleaning organisation did you have to adjust your schedule to other cleaners - this shows evidence of team work and adaptability.

Another thing you can do is to describe some of the projects you've worked on during university - examples of your creative/quantitative/qualitative/research skills you utilised for coursework assignments (obviously this would be easier once you've finished your dissertation). Talk about a few key examples passionately and show the employer that you'd bring the same enthusiasm into their workplace.

Have a 2 sentence summary statement at the top of your resume summarizing who you are and what your goals are e.g. zety.com/blog/resume-summary

I've hired plenty of graduates who didn't have any prior corporate experience - some of them with similar experiences as yourself. I care more about whether someone is enthusiastic and has the capacity to learn more than I do about raw stats on their employment history (i.e. duration of employment/quantity of internships).

Good luck!

A few suggestions that you could try to link your experience with.
Understanding and applying complex approaches (bayesian stats),
Synthesis of evidence and literature,
Translation of complex research findings to inform policy/ practice.