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

[likeababyelephant]

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.

Fucking hell elendon are you being deliberately obtuse. In what way is staying at home with your children a career?? And I'm saying this as something that is considering doing that soon.

It's not about whether something is laborious or not, or even whether or not it increases your skills - the SAHP bit is still different to one's career/employment. It doesn't have less value personally or to society (or shouldn't), as a result of that, but it doesn't belong in a list of past jobs or achievement on a CV, because it's a different type of thing altogether.

As others have said, that big a big faux pas on a cv.

If you have employment gaps, you can explain this on your cover letter.

I put 'career break' (raising family). it seemed right to explain the four year gap on my cv. I've had two jobs and four interviews off the back of that cv so it obviously didn't hurt.

Of course they're being deliberately obtuse. Well, I'd like to think so anyway but given how many times you get the odd person turn up on here saying things like "but you would pay a nanny to do it so it is a job" / "that's typical, nobody values women's work" in their little pity parties.

Most SAHP just get on with it and are secure with their choices.

If you want to get a job as an engineer, employers won't be impressed if you list your job experience as a hairdresser.

A job in childcare is the one area in which the fact OP has children is of interest to employers. But OP is not applying for a job in childcare, and caring for children has nothing to do with HR.

Caring for other people's children is a career. Caring for your own children is being a parent.

I would say you choose to employ yourself as working as a full time carer to your children. That way you cover all angles

Don't put this on a CV, you'll sound bat-shit crazy.

No, looking after other people's children is not the same as looking after your own.

Let's compare a decent nursery. Do you:
-Have a manager who you have to take direction from
-Have a team of other adults who you have to liaise and cor-ordinate with
-Have to take a professional qualification
-Have to abide by a wide range of care standards, health and safety regulations, child protection rules, etc
-Have to follow defined and stipulated policies and procedures
-Have to communicate with numerous clients on a day to day basis, giving them feedback about their children and accepting feedback on your performance?
-Have very limited and defined downtime (no, you can't park the kids in front of the TV while you have a cup of tea and mumsnet when you work in a nursery)
I could go on. It's not the same. At All

I would say you choose to employ yourself as working as a full time carer to your children. That way you cover all angles

what now?

'Career break while raising a family and now ready for the challenge of re-entering the workforce' or similar. Do not try to fudge over gaps in your CV. Be honest and let your skills and personality shine through. I did this after many years of unemployment and motherhood- got a specific qualification for the job I wanted, even though I have a degree, was successful at my first interview, worked there for 7 years and gained further qualifications and have been self-employed for nearly 4 years. Show you are willing to learn and improve your skills, dress for the job you want, not the one you are going for, and be yourself. Good luck!

It's like that question 'What do you do all day'. I mean really?

When I worked, I did a few things, went to lunch, flirted, chatted, and logged off. Sold things, wrote things. Held an account. Drove in my car or went on the tube. I did this as my child, my precious child, was being looked after. By strangers actually. But by golly I got a kick out of paying the company almost a thousand pounds a month for the service.

And if looking after children is seen as not work then why are nursery fees so expensive?

If you made your own dinner today, do you consider yourself a professional chef?

OP how old are you and how long was the break?

Saying career break to raise kids is fine - full time mum, no! - but I'm wondering if you can just put your degree dates on and the fact that you're job hunting now. For some reason I have it in my head yore quite young, I might be confusing you with another poster.

HR and feminist here. I wouldnt progress your CV if i saw that. It's not professional. Explain your career break, yes, but don't insult working mums in the process. On top of that, it sounds so facebook.

I also wouldn't progress someone who listed it as a skill or achievement. You need to demonstrate relevant experience gained from a similar environment and unless it's a childminding role, getting toddlers out the door is not relevant.

Definitely would put career break to raise family. I changed career paths having been at home for 8 years and that was all I needed to say to get an interview and ultimately the job. I think trying to apply the skills you used at home to the workplace is just cringey and unnecessary.

Why is it a career break?

*Can someone from HR explain exactly why it is?'

Er... because it's a break. In your career. Therefore it is a career break

So you're bitter about your own experience of work Elendon? Maybe deal with that rather than give shit advice to someone wanting to re enter the workplace

I'm off on Mat leave just now and today I was employed as a nanny, cleaner, chef, taxi driver, child nutritionist, professional bum wiper.

No, actually I was a mum and that's ok, no one is saying it isn't hard work and time consuming. It isn't a career though.

If I saw that on a CV I'd chuck it.

Don't mention children on a CV.

(no, you can't park the kids in front of the TV while you have a cup of tea and mumsnet when you work in a nursery)

I'm surprised these career professionals are allowed to eat and look at their phones!

Oh dear - put 'career break to raise young family' - nothing wrong with that.

elendon you sound really bitter for some reason.

I wonder if cvs full of the cringemaking Facebook stuff about their skill set of negotiating, multi-tasking, nursing and catering ever land on the desks of recruiters who really love that twee bollocks, think it's the cutest funniest thing they've ever seen and give them the job? I guess statistically that sort of marmite cv must hit the sweet spot once in a thousand goes, and you only need one. Better to be the top candidate once and hit the shredder the other ninety nine times than be runner up and honourable mention on the shortlist for all one hundred.

Just musing.

Absolutely working in a nursery or for example being a childminder is a job, and you would put it on your CV as such, putting 'full time mum' to explain a gap in your career is very irritating, we are all 'full time mums' whether we are at work or not!