These days you can’t go very long without hearing how dismal the job market is, how it is flooded with talent, and how the good jobs seem to be few and far between. A difficult market for many, a brutal and callous market for those stay-at-home parents trying to re-enter the workforce. And with countless stay-at-home parents across the country finding themselves trying to do just that, what can they do to standout from other jobseekers? How does a stay-at-home parent compete with those who may have a more recent job history or more current skill set? Can stay-at-home parents position themselves to not only meet, but beat their prospective competition? These are but a few of the gut-checking questions stay-at-home parents need to confront and overcome in order to succeed in re-entering today’s workforce.
We, at Ultradad, pondered these questions and then did the research to answer them. First, let’s get up to speed on the current job market. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the current Great Recession is “far outside the experience of any this country has seen in 70 years.” These are tough times for stay-at-home parents to re-enter the workforce, but they are not impossible times. So with this in mind, Ultradad has compiled information and tactics which we believe will assist many stay-at-home parents to re-enter and succeed in the job search arena.
To begin, stay-at-home parents need to sit down and take an honest personal inventory. For instance
• What is the condition of current skill sets?
• Is the education up to par?
• What goals have been accomplished during the period of time outside the traditional workforce?
• And do not forget past work experiences, expertise, and outside activities.
The information gathered here will become the body and focus of your resume and cover letter. It simply needs to be enhanced and molded to perfection. So how does one “enhance” that which they embody?
By simply taking a few additional steps, parents can make themselves much more marketable. For example, if the skill sets are slightly dated, consider taking a class or two in order to bring them up to speed. Many local colleges and adult learning centers offer classes which can address this issue perfectly. Also, http://www.ocw.mit.edu/ and www.youtube.com/edu offer a variety of free online college class secessions which can assist in bringing stay-at-home parents up to speed on current industry and higher education topics. In no way is Ultradad suggesting these video class sessions as a substitute for higher education. Nor do we suggest their reference as part of your formal education on your resume. We simply present them as a tool for your own personal edification.
How about goals? If you are in a position to enhance your resume with the completion of a few considerable goals prior to beginning the process of re-entering the workforce, do it. This includes roles or projects you may have undertaken with outside organizations such as schools, churches, sports, or even a home based business. Major tasks completed with measureable results are fantastic items to mention to prospective employers.
Have you volunteered? If not, you should. According to Kim Isaacs, Director of ResumePower.com, “Just because you weren’t paid doesn’t make the experience any less valuable, so treat volunteer work like you would a paid position on your resume.” In addition to this being great resume material, volunteering also places you in a position to network with new people, maintain and learn new skill sets, and highlight leadership abilities.
Upon completing the assessment of your personal inventory and past work history, it is time to begin the resume and cover letter writing process. Keep in mind that upon completion, these are both still just templates which will need to be molded to appropriately fit each and every job lead you pursue.
There seems to be some debate regarding the format your resume takes on and it hinges on the length of time you have been out of the workforce as well as the skill set you may possess. According to Linda Matais, president of the National Resume Writers Association, parents should consider using a combination/hybrid format rather than a chronological or functional formatted resume. This type of resume emphasizes the skill sets and achievements and downplays the gaps in employment history.
Also, the amount of detailed work you put into your resume will not go unnoticed. The professional email address, the type of paper stock used, and most importantly, how well written the resume is collectively create a solid resume. Have others proofread, critique, and offer insights on your resume in order to ensure professional communication skills are present. And remember, the resume is intended to place your skills and achievements in the spotlight, not your children’s.
With the resume complete, the stay-at-home parent is left with only the cover letter to complete. This is very important as it is essentially the first impression the parent presents to the prospective employer. The cover letter should be no more than a page in length, compelling, and position the individual as the essential key to the business’s future success. Think about the attributes you possess and those which best fit or could be most effectively utilized by the employer. These personal highlights should be clearly conveyed along with a brief explanation as to how time outside the traditional workforce has been spent and what you have accomplished.
With both the resume and cover letter template complete, parents should be properly positioned to effectively marketing themselves to prospective employers. Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the many online social networking sites. Many times it’s who you know that can make a difference when it comes to re-entering the work force.
