Going back to work after bringing up kids, what do you put on your CV?

[hamsterballs]

Need to find a job now my youngest is starting reception. What do I put on my CV where there is a big gap? Or just leave the gap and expect them to assume? I have had a brief job in the last year, and done a course.

These are probably the same ones who tell us that ‘life admin’ takes 6 hours a day, 5 days a week.

I knew as soon as I read the thread what I would end up reading 🙄

Yes of course you put on your CV that you have been a SAHP, it's a very valid and valuable life choice not something to bypass.

I wouldn't list all your GCSEs just the amount of GCSE including maths and English. It's great that you have done a course to throw on there also, shows you are a self starter type and will forward yourself.

Most employers/recruiters know what is involved in being a SAHP. I personally wouldn't list all the day to day tasks of being a SAHP, most will assume you ran the house, children and all that goes with that.

I do think if you list the household jobs you did on there it will look like you are scrabbling around for things to put on there, which is not necessary as a SAHP is a valid role and choice it also looks like a filler rather than you being confident in what your previous experience, recent role, recent course and own personal qualities brings to the table.

Have confidence in yourself, your abilities, your choices and what you bring to the table. Go in knowing you are good enough.

Please don’t put all the guff about managing a home and PTA reponsibiloties
Most women I know do all that stuff and carry on with their careers

Be honest about taking time out to raise your children. That’s completely valid and that’s sufficient information.

Anything more and you’ll look silly and like you lack judgement

Those who look at CVs, are you put off by women returning to work after being home with children?

No, it's really common. But ime there are returners who see themselves still as SAHP and what I mean by that is that they are the ones to do all the kid stuff, the job comes second and their work/attendance suffers.

And then some returners make sure the other parent (if around) really steps up, appointments, pick ups etc are shared and there is a plan b

And obviously kids are more important than a job, but the employer wants to have confidence that the job will be done too

I agree with this.

An interviewer can pick up on the vibe of the first category of returner. They might be too focused in the interview on asking for pt, WFH, hols and flexibility. These are valid questions but coming too soon in an interview means they are more interested in what the job can do for them than what they can do for the employer.

Whilst important, best to wait until the offer is made before asking or going through a recruitment agent as an intermediary who can diplomatically smooth out the process a bit more.

@blueshoes you seem to categorise people quite easily. Calling me a troll is offensive.

Wow I've just realised how rubbish being a stay at home really is. Honestly you've made me feel so rubbish about my role. I didn't realise just how other women viewed stay at home mums which i honestly thought was important. People view it as a luxury but to be honest I used to love working in an office and find being a Stay at home mum very very hard work.
I might just return to that and then get a cleaner and a nanny.
I really honestly mean that.

Honestly you've made me feel so rubbish about my role. I didn't realise just how other women viewed stay at home mums which i honestly thought was important. People view it as a luxury but to be honest I used to love working in an office and find being a Stay at home mum very very hard work

If you are serious about feeling like this, please don't, don't allow that to be the case. Most women in life, don't view SAHPs like that at all, there are however women on here who really do. And these threads always end up the same, but don't let strangers views on here make you feel,rubbish, why would you ?
I'm not sure luxury is the right word to describe how I see it, but I felt bloody luckily that I could spend all that time with our DS and had a DH who respected me for who I was and not what I earned.

But if we a thought and felt the same the world would be a boring place.

I might just return to that and then get a cleaner and a nanny
And there is nothing wrong with that if you are unhappy as a SAHP, it's also a valid choice to return to work.

I would hate it too. If you feel like that then you really should return to work. Being a working mum is great IME.

@blueshoes and @Whatsfordinneragain this is really really useful information. Something that I had not thought of at all. Thanks so much

You turned this into an argument about SAHM's though. Other people just answered the OP's question and said ' put caring responsibilities etc in the gap' and advised her not to put stuff on her CV that is unnecessary and irrelevant.

Why suspicious? What's wrong with not working for 1-2 years if someone can afford to? Or do you automatically assume that those people are lazy?

I don't think anyone thinks being a SAHM isn't valuable. Just like being a WOHM isn't valuable. It's different life choices, that's all.

That doesn't mean listing all of those in an application is sensible. If I picked up a CV that said "break to raise my children" or something of that ilk, I'd treat like any other CV and, if suitable for the role, shortlist. If there was a list of what being a SAHM includes, I'd be less likely to take it seriously. That's not because I don't value what a SAHM does but I'd question the judgment in listing it all out.

Not every WOHM has a cleaner, nanny etc. I'd expect that the vast majority don't. I don't know anyone with a nanny and only a couple of people with a cleaner.

I'm moving into a new role soon which will mean recruiting a team. It's a tech-related role and I'll need people with a particular skillset. A career gap of several years wouldn't put me off at all if they had relevant experience prior to the break and especially if they could demonstrate that they have kept up with the tech involved, maybe they have spent time during their time at home learning a new programming language or brushing up on the latest functionality in Excel or Power BI and have done a few projects so will be able to get up and running quickly.

I would just put "career break to raise my young family" or similar but point out the course you did and any actually relevant stuff like volunteering etc.

I think it's more that you don't know what that person was doing in the 2 years. They could have been volunteering in Costa Rica, carung for a child or relative or they could have been in prison or binge watching Netflix. Its better yo say what you were doing than leave it up to the imagination.

I agree with this. Be honest - a career break is fine - and those who don't think it is won't be convinced by you adding the skills you think you've acquired whilst looking after your kids.
I was a SAHM for 15 years - I went back to work 5 years ago to help dh run his new business. I was surprised by how little confidence I had at first, I was terrified and this was my biggest challenge - not IT, working practices, time management or knowledge. I recruit for our company now and I have recruited several women who have taken career breaks, they have been more committed/stayed longer than the ambitious career climbers (make and female) - although they all have their place in our company.

Why suspicious? What's wrong with not working for 1-2 years if someone can afford to? Or do you automatically assume that those people are lazy?

I wouldn't assume it was a 2 year period of just not working (as opposed to caring responsibilities which people usually mention) - that would be way down my list of guesses honestly. I would assume that the person had been doing something that hey didn't want to disclose, most likely a job they had been sacked from or performed badly in and didn't want to risk a bad reference.

I have recruited several women who have taken career breaks, they have been more committed/stayed longer than the ambitious career climbers (make and female) - although they all have their place in our company.

This reflects my experience, I've had great experiences with returners in the main.