How Do You Explain a Resume Gap for Motherhood?
Inside: Do you have a “resume gap” from the time you took away from the paid workforce for parenthood? As you re-enter the paid workforce, let’s talk about making your story shine!
I firmly believe these things exist:
– life on other planets
– unexplained miracles
– the perfect chocolate chip cookie
But as a career coach for parents, there is something I am equally as certain does NOT exist… ❌
The Parenthood “Resume Gap”
It’s not real. Not one bit.
I know you THINK you have a resume gap, though. So, let’s break down the myth of the resume gap and learn strategies to ensure that your story shines as you re-enter the paid workforce.
The Myth of the Resume Gap
If you took time away from the paid workforce for parenthood, what were you doing during that time?
WORK.
You haven’t been paid for this work, but you have been…
Flexing communication and management skills (active listening, advocacy, negotiation, coaching, etc.). 💬
Learning new industries (childcare, healthcare, education, etc.). 📚
Engaging with your community, solving complex problems, and building new connections. ⛓️
Raising a whole PERSON. 👶
So, do you really have a “gap” in your work history? Nope. What you have is added value that you bring to an employer alongside your rich paid work history!
How to Fill Your “Resume Gap”
I know what you’re thinking. But there IS still a period of time on my resume that is going unfilled. What do I do with that?
Ah, glad you asked! Because there’s an art to including your unpaid work on your resume, and it’s not simply listing on your resume that you were managing your household from X year to Y year.
First, let’s focus on your target job. Do you have one in mind? If not, we’ll hit pause here and move on over to the Career Sweet Spot exercise to help you get focused in your job search. A resume is a marketing document, and within a clear target in mind, the marketing message is going to be all over the place and ineffective.
If you do have a target role in mind, let’s break it down. Based on the job descriptions you’re reading and what you know about the company, what problems are they trying to solve?
That’s ultimately what a company is looking to do when they hire – solve problems!
When you know what problems they are trying to solve for, you can include relevant experience and skills on your resume that highlight your ability to solve those problems.
Like…
Education and Self-Directed Learning
If you’ve been continuing your education while on a career break, make sure that is clear on your resume and brought to the top. Usually, I will recommend Experience comes before Education on a resume for a candidate who is 3+ years out of college, but in this case, moving your education up can make sense.
Remember that education can include formal degrees and certifications and a subheading I call “Self-Directed Learning.” There is so much you can learn through free classes and research, so if you’ve been keeping up on your industry that way – claim it!
Volunteer Work
I have a feeling that you’ve been using your skills and experience in other ways outside of your home to benefit your family and community. Volunteer work can absolutely go on your resume under Experience (I have never once seen a resume say “Paid Experience” at the top), especially if it’s relevant to the work you want to do next.
Applying for a role in higher education, and you’ve been volunteering with the PTA or your local alumni chapter? Get that onto your resume and highlight your accomplishments in that work!
Project Work
Often, I’ll talk to parents who took time out of the paid workforce, and they will say, “I haven’t been working formally, but there was this project I took on as a contractor…”
Don’t downplay that work! Your skills added value in a part-time, contract, or consulting basis. It doesn’t matter that it wasn’t full-time in the office. Work is evolving and your experience in the gig economy can help your next employer solve problems.
Unpaid Work
And yes, your work inside the home has a place on the resume as well.
If the role you are applying for directly relates to your home and family care skills, then you can add your family management and childcare experience into the Experience section.
If there is not a direct correlation but your skills will allow you to make an impact, leave your family care role off the Experience section and try this instead. Add in a Skills section and highlight skills relevant to the role that you have acquired or built during your time as a paid professional and as a parent.
Then, right underneath your Summary or Skills section, you can include a line that says “Family Sabbatical X Year to X Year” to “fill the gap” for the employer reading your resume.
How to Explain a “Resume Gap”?
Now, let’s say you are going into an interview setting, and the employer asks this question…
“I see you have a gap on your resume from the last time you were working until now. Can you explain?”
First off, if you use the strategies above, then you likely won’t need to tango with that question at all. However, they still might ask, so let’s make sure you have a great answer in your back pocket that fills you AND the employer with confidence.
Try something like this:
“In 2022, I had the opportunity to take a sabbatical from my work in X industry to care for my children full-time. During this time, I was able to manage the needs of my family while continuing to stay current on advancements in the industry through X, Y, Z. (Here’s where you can include self-directed learning, project work, and volunteering.) Now, I am eager to contribute my skills and experience to X company in the Y role where I know there is a strong fit with my background and the needs of the organization.”
Boom.
You don’t apologize for the “gap,” you simply provide information about that period of your life and work history and then focus on the future. Your answer might differ slightly from what I’ve outlined, but keep that framing in mind. No apologies, forward thinking.
A “Resume Gap” for Parenthood? Nope!
With all this in mind? Are you with me in busting the resume gap myth?
There are plenty of other myths out there that we can throw our belief behind. Loch Ness Monster? Big Foot? Mermaids? Maybe!
But a Parenthood Resume Gap? That’s just not real!
Take all of your exceptional experience and skills and go build a career and life you love!
(And if you need help as you tackle this exciting yet a *tad* overwhelming period of life, let me know!)
