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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"Ful time mum" on CV- yes or no?

492 replies

likeababyelephant · 01/06/2017 18:57

I just received a rejection from a job a spent ages tailoring my CV for and writing a very good cover letter for. Only to be told there were others with better skills/more experience. This is for an HR entry level job btw.

I can't help but think that it's because I put "full time mother" on my CV. But I would expect recruiters to seek to diversify their workforce, especially as it's an HR job. Are they discriminating against mothers or something?

Should I omit this information from my CV. I feel like I have better/more skills as a mother than I did before I had DD.

OP posts:
gemma19846 · 03/06/2017 11:05

"Full time mother" pisses me off no end. Maybe she read it while she was at work and was annoyed to that youre implying mums that work (to support their offspring) are only part time parents. Youre a "stay at home mum". All mums are full time parents 😡

Maireadplastic · 03/06/2017 12:02

Yes, I suppose 'full-time parent' annoys some in the same way that 'working parent' is annoying. We are all working parents.

gemma19846 · 03/06/2017 13:09

Well not really Maire 😕 working is working in a job role, parenting is parenting. If that was the case stay at home mums would be classed as employed/in work which they arent

gemma19846 · 03/06/2017 13:11

We dont go to work and are suddenly no longer parents (eg part time parents) staying at home isnt full time employment work

makeourfuture · 03/06/2017 13:16

I would have no problems with seeing the OP's description on a CV.

RainbowsAndUnicorn · 03/06/2017 13:45

Yes, I suppose 'full-time parent' annoys some in the same way that 'working parent' is annoying. We are all working parents.

Not the same at all, you are a parent whether you work or not if you have a child. You only work if employed or self employed, parenting is not work at all.

MaisyPops · 03/06/2017 15:58

Not the same at all, you are a parent whether you work or not if you have a child. You only work if employed or self employed, parenting is not work at all.

Well said.

But now you need to sit back and watch as the arguments come 'but you would pay a nanny or a nursery to look after your children'. I mean, I made lunch today but I'm not a chef.

It's almost funny how it goes.

Really it's quite simple.

Full time mother suggests women who work are part time parents.

You can only say you are working if you have a job.

Staying at home to look after children is not having a job.

Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 16:07

I'm afraid I really don't like it when I see 'full time mum' on a cv . I find it unprofessional and with a dig at parents who are employed. That's just an honest view of how it looks to me.

MumFullofDreams · 03/06/2017 16:49

Some really interesting pieces of advice here and we'll worth reading as I'm a new Mum looking to get back into work having been away from full time work for about 18 months.

OP, if you are still reading this, please don't be disheartened by the responses. Mumsnet can be a bit of a harsh world but so can the world of work unfortunately and actually you've got some really great feedback here to help you.
Sadly, the feedback has missed a lot of the point because you haven't really taken a career break as your career hasn't yet started. This is an awkward stage to be at for everyone, keep your chin up and focus on applying for anything you can that is relevant. Can you do some work experience? Things like that really help to build a CV and show how willing you are.
You must be feeling very confused after reading all of this, if you're on Twitter please feel free to find me on this username and I'd be more than happy to help out - as one Mum trying to get a career started (again, in my case!) To another.

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/06/2017 16:56

Plenty of people have given advice very specific to the OPs situation, but it also took several posts for the actual situation to become clear in the first place.

But OP has been advised by several posters - myself included - the because it covered the period where she was at uni it shouldn't have been mentioned at all.

By and large the responses have been consistent and helpful.

MumFullofDreams · 03/06/2017 17:47

Which is what I've said ☺ Just trying to be kind as she seemed understandably daunted by the response.

Epipgab · 03/06/2017 18:02

I'm afraid I really don't like it when I see 'full time mum' on a cv . I find it unprofessional and with a dig at parents who are employed.

Is it dig at SAHPs if you refer to parents who are "employed" rather than "employed outside the home"?

StatisticallyChallenged · 03/06/2017 20:17

When I'm at my full time job I am still being a parent - I'm earning the funds we need to keep my child fed, clothed...is that not part of parenting? Oh, yes, it is.

However, if you want to use "full time parent" and risk alienating the person who makes decisions about whether to employ you or not...crack on.

Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 20:18

Epi , I'm afraid your comment makes absolutely no sense to me. 'Full time mum' is unprofessional in my opinion . More preferable would be -for example- 'career break to raise young family ' .

I'm sure that many of us on here who work are also mothers. Mothers who have employed work are in no way less of a parent than those who don't. Would you expect a potential employee to write 'part-time mum' on a cv alongside their latest job title? No. I expect a cv to be accurate and concise.

CommonFishDiseases · 03/06/2017 22:17

I have found this thread SO helpful and confidence boosting - thank you all for your input, especially the HR experts!

YoloSwaggins · 04/06/2017 00:38

Is it dig at SAHPs if you refer to parents who are "employed" rather than "employed outside the home"?

How is a SAHM "employed in the home" ? Confused

Where is your contract, pension plan, manager, etc - how is it employment? It's not a job. You are not employed.

SleightOfHand · 04/06/2017 01:06

I always say someone that works inside the home, one of the hardest jobs too.

SleightOfHand · 04/06/2017 01:11

Btw, it's an unwritten contract, lots of jobs don't have pension plans and they don't need a manager as they are one. I could do with an emojo with a face and a tongue sticking out.

brasty · 04/06/2017 01:12

Doing housework and looking after your kids is hard work, but it is not a job.

SleightOfHand · 04/06/2017 01:22

I think it is.

SweetLuck · 04/06/2017 01:25

Tis not! Grin

brasty · 04/06/2017 01:26

Is doing your garden a job?
Or hoovering your house?
Or cutting your kids hair?

StatisticallyChallenged · 04/06/2017 09:45

Who is your unwritten contract with?

Can't be the kids, they can't enter in to a contract...so who is your employer? The provider of funds in your home? Do you really want to suggest that thousands of stay at home mums are their husband's/partner's employees?

AyeAmarok · 04/06/2017 09:48

Oh for goodness sake. You're not "employed in the home".

Looking after DC and doing housework requires a lot of effort. It might be "hard work", work meaning effort, but it's not a job. It's not "employment.

Running a marathon is very hard work. It's not employment.

Scotlass · 04/06/2017 09:57

Ok i'm biting.
I work full time and I parent full time. My DC go to school and afterschool care. The 'work' in my home is still done by me, I feed them breakfast, lunch and dinner and do cleaning/gardening/shopping. Sadly there's no one doing the jobs in my home when i'm out earning a wage. I just need to fit it in along with 40hrs at work.

Sounds like career break to raise a family covers what your situation is. Good luck with your job searching.