Q&A: How do I write a resume after 5 years as stay home mom, with 20 years of different job types? - How to write a resume – Writing a Resume Guide

by Wootang01

Question by jennystef: How do I write a resume after 5 years as stay home mom, with 20 years of different job types?
I have had a variety of jobs for 2-3 years each. Customer Service, Preschool Teacher, Graphic Designer, Medical Billing. How do I include these past jobs to show that I have worked all this time, but to not look like I don’t have enough experience with anything? help!!

Best answer:

Answer by Tony S
You write a functional resume over the standard chronological. You focus on skill sets more so than employment. You sell skills not previous employers. You could also lie, this is called “padding” and is believed to be found in 75% of all resumes. You find 5-10 solid references. YOu contact each person, even if it is your mother. You prep them for what they will say about you and how to say it. You MUST contact them and prep them. Do not assume they will say good things. Also use caution your best friend of 35 years may not be your best friend in 2 weeks from this moment. You list only 3 of those references on your resume. But, you present the additional ones to the prospective employer when you contact them. If you received your MBA/BA more than 10 years ago – do not list the date. They will eventually ask. But the do not tell policy works best. Although it is absolutely illegal to deny you employment based on age or gender it is common place. Your resume is simply over looked. This is a difficult, mostly impossible thing for you to prove in court. It is also cost ineffective – for you. So, although it is unfair, illegal and sucks try not to date your self.

You write a clear clean and articulate objective summary. Who you are, why you want to work for “this company” and what you have done in the past that will carry over to benefit this summary. You also identify a personal propositional statement and sell this during the interview. Back to the objective. An objective is not, “I am looking for a company I can retire from that offers promotion from within.” That crap is not unique or impressive. For each resume you submit make sure your objective is industry specific. It is best to make it company specific.

All of your jobs have had great attention to detail and people/networking skillsets. Identify 5-10 common skill sets you posses that others might not. A “people person” “a phone talker” are not skillsets. I often feel like spitting in someone’s face when they tell me they are a people person. Drive, Desire, Motivation, Unbound creative passion – OH YA! Give them descriptive power words.

So any way:
Google: Functional resume. Learn what the difference between that and the standard crap chronological resume is. If you are wishing to earn $ 40-50k a year consider hiring a LOCAL career coach. IT is a pain int he butt to do over the net. Identify your skill sets. Create a personal propositional statement, talk to and have 5-10 people commit to giving you GOOD references. GO out of your way to hide your age especially if you are 40 +. A lot of people on here will bitch about that I bet. But, trust me despite the fact it is illegal and unethical it happens daily. Prior to marketing your age sell yourself so age is less important, got it?

Honestly, you do not have experience with anything. 2-3 yrs is not impressive. More than 3 jobs in 5 years is frowned on. This is why we are presenting your skill set in a different fashion.

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