"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.

Career break where you no longer have an employer is just the same as unemployment.

Looking after your own children is nothing at all like being a professional childcare worker just as cooking your lunch doesn't make you a chef.

So what is a career then?

They'd do that on their specified lunch break - not when they felt like it. No nursery worth their salt will allow the staff to have their phones on the floor.

I agree with PP who says you sound bitter, along with having a disgusting attitude towards childcare professionals. Grow up.

An actual job that you get paid for? 'career break to raise a family' would be absolutely fine, it's 'full time mum' that irks me as it implies that those that don't stay at home are somehow part time mothers and therefore inferior! Eek I am clearly hormonal

I am a nursery manager and I have rejected cvs like the ops
I'm looking for experience of working looking after children
Looking after your own children is nothing like working in a nursery
If wally isn't

I never felt a full time mum whilst working. I was happy to give to someone else my six month old baby. Then I went to work. I went to work to get PAID!

In other words, putting down full time mum means you are in voluntary work, non payment. And jobsworths see this as being lazy.

Today 20:07 Elendon

'So what is a career then?'

That thing you tried and didn't get on with, so I wouldn't worry involving yourself in a thread about it

Another vote for 'career break' no explanation. Did you do anything in a voluntary capacity whilst at home like run a playgroup or help with fundraising? You could include that sort of thing if those are skills you will need in work.

Agree Insancerre. We sometimes get applicants where having their own kid has been a motivator for a career change (my own DH was like this) so mentioning children in that context is relevant - but it still doesn't go as a job on the CV. It goes in the covering letter to explain why you're changing direction.

'Full time mum' really winds me up, I respect what SAHM's do, definitely but as someone who has had the final say in who is hired - if anyone referred to them self as a 'full time mum' I would probably reject them based on their narrow mindedness to see that every mum is a full time mum, some woman work on top of that and some people make the CHOICE not too. In my opinion, it is a luxury and most certainly NOT a career and to compare it to a nursery nurse is also utterly ridiculous. Do you have 20 kids to take care of? Do you follow early years curriculum? Report to a manager and Parents? The list goes on... I agree though, do put 'career break to raise children' it is not an unnoticeable skill, most certainly not a job which is what should be listed in a cv. In an interview, by all means reference to raising children when asked for examples no, your CV is not the place. And yes, I am sensitive about this, for years being the only working mum in my friendship group and constantly listening to people call themselves 'full time mummy's' like I didn't also raise my child, clean my house, cook and manage my family whilst also working 40 hours a week on top.

Can I ask a quick question about 'full time mum'. What do those who are offended by it want women who aren't employed to call themselves? Just unemployed? Stay at home parent? (Who stays at home though with kids?) Im just wondering what the proper term should be. I read plenty of posts from people saying they work 'full time' but that usually means around 40 hours a week doesn't it? So how can you work 'full time'? If a mum can't be a 'full time mum' when she literally looks after her children 24/7. No one works in a paid job 24/7 and yet they can say they do if they work 40 hours a week!?

I've seen a post before from a women who was annoyed about the phrase 'full time mum' because 'all mum's are full time mums' but later in the post stated she was a 'nurse, working full time'.
Not trying to stir up an argument, genuinely interested what the proper terminology is. I ask as someone who has worked part time, full time, and not at all for a while since having children, and once or twice had to fill in a form requiring 'occupation'

I would just put career break or sabbatical.

Id just put something along the lines of 2014-2017 taken time off to have my children something along them lines. I'd never use the term full time mum I'd just give an explanation to the gap

Of course it could also apply to men, I just use women as I'm looking at it from my own perspective, and although I know they're out there, I've never known a dad who doesn't go out to work.

Agree with mostly everyone. Please don't be disheartened OP and best of luck with your job search.

At least you didn't put 'Family CEO' or 'Family finance director' on your CV.

All that would tell me is that someone is clueless about what a CEO or Finance Director does and it would make me wonder what else they were clueless about.

I know someone who works in a care home, handsomely paid I might add, and she sits and reads most of her day. This is a home designed to help adults live 'an active life'. She supervises and helps when asked. She has a career in caring. She used to run around a supermarket all day and then was a barista. She likes her career now (and it pays more).

Thanks for all the advice so far. I knew it wasn't a good idea to put it on.

slim

I haven't had a career break. I'm halfway through my degree applying for an internship. I'm 25 so not really young.

Being a mum isn't a job, it's parenthood. I have a full time job, but I am a mum 24/7 (whether I like it or not! :D). I'm not a part time mum, which by implication I would be if being a full time mum requires staying at home. In the context of paid work, full time has a defined meaning.

I would say "stay at home mum/parent" is more appropriate.

I think the issue that actually needs highlighted in this thread is how many shit university careers advisors there out there misadvising and actively holding back people who are trying to enter the workforce, who have often never held a job outside a university or applied for a job themselves in many years, much less been a hiring manager.

I don't understand your care home story elendon what is the point you're trying to make?

You're over thinking it knobbly. Full time generally means the equivalent of around 37 hours a week (but of course many salaried positions mean far more than this in reality)
I am a teacher, I work full time (a lot more than 37 hours ) If I applied for a job that was advertised as part time, then I would consider myself a part time teacher because that would be my contract (even if I worked 37 hours a week which many part time teachers seem to!)

I don't see why someone who is staying at home needs a special title? When I worked 3 days a week I described my thurs and fri as my 'days off' although of course in reality they were pretty busy as I was looking after toddlers

From a recruiter perspective I would be careful about putting Career Break without clarifying. It can be used to hide periods of unemployment that can put you straight on the 'no' pile if they have a high volume of applicants.

If you are you enough that you can pass your SAHM time off as prior to University then I would leave it as a gap.

How ever the preferable thing would be to put - Career Break - Careing for Relative. That way it is ambiguous.

Also, only list achievements if they are relevant or stand out achievements - 'I was hockey captain in year 11 is not necessarily something that needs to be their' however 'I was society chair for the debate so at uni is'.

Try and keep your hobbies section interesting - hearing about keep fit classes and partying on a Saturday night will not stand you apart.

Could you do some volunteering so that you up have recent work experience?

You're 25? I'd just put the degree dates and any work experience.