Should you put “Stay At Home Mom” on your resume?

Being a stay-at-home mom is a demanding (okay, and yes, quite fulfilling) role. Unfortunately, we hear a lot of “just a stay-at-home mom” as descriptions of the time we’ve spend with our children which is a completely ignorant statement. There are many, many, MANY skills that are acquired and built from time with children. Suppose you’ve been doing the gig for a while and you’re looking to reenter the workforce or start a new career. In that case, it's important to recognize and highlight the valuable abilities you have developed through your experience as a stay-at-home mom.

Multitasking, adaptability, time management, resourcefulness, conflict resolution, decision-making, patience, perseverance, and communication skills make you a strong problem solver. These skills are not only essential in managing the daily challenges of motherhood but are also highly transferable to the professional world.

Multitasking

As a stay-at-home mom, you are the ultimate multitasker.

From managing household chores to taking care of your children's needs, you have a ridiculously amazing ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Employers highly value this skill in their workforce, as it demonstrates efficiency, organization, and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively. Highlight your multitasking abilities on your resume and during interviews to showcase your capacity to handle diverse responsibilities in a fast-paced work environment.

Adaptability

When you’re a stay-at-home mom there are ALWAYS unexpected challenges and constantly changing circumstances. For example, one second you’re getting ready to make dinner and the next second you’re cleaning your toddler’s feces off the walls.

Your ability to adapt quickly to new situations and adjust your approach is a valuable skill. Employers seek individuals who can thrive in dynamic work environments, where the ability to embrace change and think on your feet is crucial. Share examples from your experience as a stay-at-home mom (except the aforementioned one) that demonstrate your adaptability and problem-solving under pressure.

Time Management

When you’re trying to juggle getting the kids to school on time after you have sufficient amounts of coffee so you can come home and do everything that needs to be done in five hours before the kids get off school…your time management skills have to be on point. This effective time management that’s essential to being a stay-at-home mom directly translates to the professional world. Emphasize your time management skills when applying for jobs, as this clearly demonstrates your ability to handle demanding workloads and deliver results.

Resourcefulness

As a stay-at-home mom, you often need to find innovative solutions with the resources at your disposal. Remember that time you had to use duct tape to keep the diaper shut? Or the time you came up with yet another excuse as to why the Tooth Fairy didn’t come for the third night in a row?

This resourcefulness is highly valuable in problem-solving within the workplace. Employers appreciate individuals who can think outside the box, adapt to limited resources, and find creative solutions to challenges. Share stories of how you have repurposed household items or implemented cost-effective strategies to meet your family's needs and goals. These examples will highlight your ability to find practical and efficient solutions in a professional setting.

Conflict Resolution

My kids are screaming at each other in the background as I write this and I imagine yours as doing the same as you read this.

Conflict resolution is a vital skill in both motherhood and the workplace. As a stay-at-home mom, you constantly resolve conflicts and mediate between highly irrational people (our children). This experience equips you with strong interpersonal skills, the ability to negotiate and to find compromises. Highlight your conflict resolution abilities when applying for jobs, as it demonstrates your strength in fostering positive working relationships and handling difficult situations.

Decision-Making

As a stay-at-home mom, you make countless decisions every day that impact your family's well-being. Your ability to make informed choices, plan effectively, and consider multiple factors is a critical problem-solving skill in the professional world. Employers value individuals who can make thoughtful and strategic decisions under pressure. Showcase how you have considered various factors and made choices that have positively impacted your family's lives.

Patience and Perseverance

Yes. You may not think it, but you have a lot more patience than you give yourself credit for. It’s hard. I know. BUT you are doing a great job.

As a stay-at-home mom you’re constantly facing challenges and set backs (remember the dinner/toddler poop situation?) but you always remain resilient. Not only did you clean up the poop but you still made dinner, cleaned up, and waited until after the kids were in bed to have a breakdown. This determination is highly valuable to employers. It indicates your ability to overcome obstacles and maintain focus on goals.

Share stories that show your patience, adaptability to changing circumstances, and ability to stay calm under pressure. Demonstrating your perseverance will assure potential employers that you are a reliable problem solver who can tackle difficult situations with a positive attitude.

Communication Skills

As a stay-at-home mom, you engage in constant communication with your family members. Like, fucking CONSTANT. They don’t stop talking. Ever.

This experience hones your communication skills, including active listening, clear expression, and allowing opportunities for open discussions. These skills are highly sought after in the professional world. Employers value individuals who can communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and superiors. Emphasize your communication abilities when applying for jobs, showcasing your capacity to articulate ideas, build rapport, and contribute to a collaborative work environment.

If you’re deliberating about putting “Stay-at-home mom” on your resume I say you absolutely should. I have it on mine to showcase all the skills that are mentioned above. As a stay-at-home mom, you have honed a wide range of problem-solving skills that are highly valuable in the professional world. These are invaluable during your time as a stay-at-home mom but also if and when you choose to enter a professional position.

Don’t forget to commend yourself on how you’re developing as a person as you excel in your role as a stay-at-home mom.
Yes. I said, “excel”. Don’t forget to commend yourself for what an amazing job you’re doing as a stay-at-home mom. Parenting is the hardest job in the world and you’re clearly doing a good job of that if you’re considering putting it on your resumé.

Do you have a story about putting “stay-at-home mom” on your resume? Please share below!