Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

What do you write on your CV for your SAHM gap?

21 replies

juicylucytoo · 11/10/2011 14:17

Stopped working in 2008 to raise DS1. DS2 came along in 2009 and so now I'm updating my CV.

What do I write? "Raising 2 children"?

Thanks for your ideas Smile

OP posts:
juicylucytoo · 11/10/2011 14:22

Oh, and I have another gap. I spent a year travelling South America. Do I put something or leave it blank.

I had considered "travelling and learning Spanish". What do you think?

[Thanks]

OP posts:
juicylucytoo · 11/10/2011 14:22

Make that ThanksSmile

OP posts:
Pagwatch · 11/10/2011 14:31

I used to write lady of leisure, stay at home parent, unemployed, n/a or whatever suited my mood.
Now I write carer because it shuts people up. And that's actually what I am really.

Pagwatch · 11/10/2011 14:33

Ooh.
For some reason I managed to completely sweep part the cv bit so my answer is what I write generally when form filling.

Sorry. Completely useless reply Grin

Probably not my first, nor my last

juicylucytoo · 11/10/2011 14:40

Not a bad idea though.

May 2007 - Present
Carer for 2 little ingrates Wink

OP posts:
An0therName · 12/10/2011 10:04

if you have done some voluntary work in the SAHM time I would put it in - when are the travelling if it was a while ago I don't think I would be too concerned

cheeseandmarmitesandwich · 12/10/2011 10:14

I was always told the worst thing you could do was leave gaps. For the South America thing I would just put 'Gap year in South America - during my gap year I spent time travelling around South America. I gained valuable experience of living and working in a different culture and improved my Spanish language skills'. Or something.

I had 2 years as a SAHM - in that time I did one piece of freelance work. On my cv I put 2009-2011 Freelance XXX Grin . In the description I then put something along the lines of 'I have kept up my skills with occassional freelance work. Recent projects include...' and then described the one piece of work I did. Worked for me, I got a job!

I think it also helps to write a good covering letter explaining a bit more about what you have been doing and any volunteer/extra stuff you have done, no matter how tenuous, such as preschool committees, toddler groups etc.

juicylucytoo · 12/10/2011 10:54

That's what I thought - that I shouldn't leave gaps. Will think of some appropriate bs for the South America gap.

I haven't done anything since stopping work for the kids Blush - will have to volunteer for something sharpish. Think there's a course at DS1's school.

OP posts:
RubberDuck · 12/10/2011 11:03

I use the phrase "extended career break to raise family".

Mind you, I'm still unemployed, so perhaps I'm not the best person to ask Grin

juicylucytoo · 12/10/2011 11:06

Sounds better than I've come up with so far Rubberduck, so will use that until I've got something better to write!

OP posts:
juicylucytoo · 12/10/2011 11:07

insert anything where appropriate Grin

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 12/10/2011 11:12

You can always put in some stuff about how taking time out of the workplace to raise children has given you an opportunity to develop your skills in patience, negotiation and multi-tasking Grin

Conundrumish · 12/10/2011 18:30

I put career break to raise our family and included voluntary stuff I have done

Conundrumish · 12/10/2011 18:31

PS: Most employers want to make sure that the gaps don't mean that you have been in jail or sacked!

GnomeDePlume · 12/10/2011 19:55

I would second 'Career Break' for the appropriate period with a breakdown of responsibilities and achievements, couch it in professional terms so that it fits in with any professional experience.

juicylucytoo · 12/10/2011 19:59

Thanks guys, will start looking for opportunities to volunteer!

OP posts:
LizzyLiz · 12/10/2011 21:56

Have you volunteered at pre-school or school or been part of playgroup committee or PTA? If so, you can include those as voluntary roles during your extended career break.

joshandjamie · 12/10/2011 22:27

How about:

For the period of x to Y, worked at (insert surname) Inc. Duties including:

  • multitasking
  • cleaning
  • cooking
  • entertainer
  • taxi driver
  • teacher
  • psychologist
  • sales person (selling broccoli to a toddler - you bet that takes some doing)
  • innovator (using sick bags as puppets on long haul flights)
  • first aid
  • artist
  • ability to network (coffee mornings)
  • incredible patience
  • ability to explain complicated things in simple terms
An0therName · 13/10/2011 10:00

joshandjamie - I agree but I wouldn't but that down on a CV - I don't think it comes across that great

juicylucytoo · 13/10/2011 10:30

Grin @ jandj

@ LL I'm afraid I haven't done anything yet. My DH works offshore and so I'm on my own with the kids for 2 weeks at a time, which has made it difficult to commit to anything regularly and most of the playgroups around here are surestart (while the money lasts), so they're run by employed helpers. DS1 only started school this Sept so I haven't launched myself into the school world yet, but I will start now.

OP posts:
purplebridgett · 13/10/2011 11:04

I just put full-time mother.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread