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Valuable Suggestions On CV Writing For Mums Returning To Work

27th April, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

The prospect of returning to work after maternity leave or after quite a considerable absence can sometimes be very daunting. You can feel removed from the work environment, almost as if you’d been on a very, very lengthy holiday.

Of course, you know that this time off has been anything but a time for relaxation and you might feel as if you have been working harder than ever. Nevertheless, it’s now time to get back to a career and you need to pay attention to your CV or résumé.

1. Be positive about the situation. During your time off you have amassed several new skills. You are really good at multitasking, time management, project management and your coping skills have improved considerably! When you have to manage a typical home and be responsible for bringing up a new arrival, you should not underestimate the skills that you are able to master and they should be added to your résumé.

2. Those who are involved with coaching for women say that you should put together a “functional” résumé. This type of approach lists your skills and qualifications rather than focusing on a chronological list of employers. As such, you are definitely focusing on your experience and this should be stressed in the body of the document. List your employers without reference to dates and focus on your skills, experience and qualifications above all else.

3. Do not be apologetic when it comes to your maternity leave absence. Employers do not look badly upon somebody who has taken time off to be with their family as they have a lot more to worry about, such as staff without any motivation, or who are forced to stay home. Be prepared to defend your position as being very acceptable to society!

4. While you have been away from work, you may well have taken on some voluntary tasks, attended evening classes or some other extracurricular activity. Put all this experience into a positive light and include it on your résumé. This will show that you are well capable of being a home keeper and a mother at the same time and can dovetail your interests and duties through multitasking, which your employer will appreciate.

5. Show that you are in control of every situation by outlining your plan to manage that time off. For instance, it is far better to say that you had a plan to be with your new baby until a set date, a certain age, for example. This is far more preferable than saying that you are just going to be with your baby “until the little one is ready,” as this does not show much spirit. You need to show that you’re in control.

6. Do some research before you prepare to send out those résumés. How long were you away for? Your research should reveal what has changed in a particular line of business. This might be the time to catch up on your specific education, even learn a new system operating procedure. If you include this action on your résumé, it shows what you’re capable of.

7. You may think that you need to rely on contacts that you made prior to your career break and that any references you include should be “business only,” but this is not the case. Networking is important at all times and as you move within your usual circles during your “time away,” you will be amazed at what contact lists you build up, all of whom can confirm what type of character you have, how you conduct yourself and how reliable you are.

In our modern era, professional coaching advice from online life coaching experts prompts you to consider everything in a good light in your life, so that your résumé is top quality and ready to go.

Amanda Alexander, Director of Coaching Mums, helps pressure-cooked, stressed working mums who long for more hours in the day. Through her coaching programmes and online life coaching courses, Amanda shows mums how to create fulfilling and successful lives. For your simple 5 step guide to balance as a working mum, download our free eBook today!