how to put stay at home mom on resume example

The Career Counter

Reinvention for Moms

Best Stay-at-Home Mom Resume Example

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest career and home organization articles, news, and tips

How Can We Help?

Resume writing, resume templates, diy resources, home organization planners, you may also like, stay-at-home dad resume – example and tips, work from home resume sample – plus 20 skills to include, how to post a resume on linkedin, 6 critical steps to highlight stay-at-home mom duties on your resume, homeschool mom resume example.

Career Products Hand Crafted by a Certified Professional Resume Writer

Professional Career Coaches with Decades of Experience

Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches

Looking to create your stay-at-home mom resume ? Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom returning to work or a parent considering a career change , crafting a resume that highlights your unique and relevant skills and experiences is crucial. In this blog post, we’ll provide you with an effective stay at home mom resume example that will help you stand out from the crowd and land more interviews .

The good news for moms is that our work inside the home is starting to be recognized and more respected. Some companies are even offering what are called “ returnships, ” programs helping moms make smooth transitions back into the paid labor market.

If you prefer videos to articles, please check out my YouTube video about writing a strong stay-at-home mom resume below:

How to Write a Killer Stay-at-Home Mom Resume

Should You List Your Stay-at-Home Mom Experience on Your Resume?

Before I show you the best stay-at-home mom resume example, I want to address the biggest question I get asked by clients: should I even list my stay at home mom (SAHM) experience on my resume?!

Resume Writing Service for Moms reentering the workforce

Including (or not including) your SAHM experience on your resume is an important and strategic decision when re-entering the workforce . Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of listing this experience:

Highlights your transferable skills: Listing your stay-at-home mom experience allows you to showcase the transferable skills you’ve honed, such as time management, budgeting, multitasking, and problem-solving, which are valuable in any professional setting.
Eliminates your resume gaps: It provides a clear explanation for employment gaps, showing that your time was spent productively managing complex household tasks and responsibilities.
Demonstrates your commitment and responsibility: It reflects your commitment, responsibility, and ability to handle challenging situations—qualities that employers value.
Offers insights into your personal growth and learning, which can be attractive to potential employers looking for candidates with strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.
Allows you to find companies that value work-life balance, family, and diversity. By putting your SAHM experience out there, you will attract employers who value and support working moms and what you bring to the table.
Can create perception Issues: some employers may hold biases or misunderstand the relevance of SAHM experience in a professional context, potentially leading to undervaluation of your skills.
Employers might question your knowledge of current industry trends or technical skills, depending on the field.
It can be challenging to articulate household management skills in a way that resonates with corporate job requirements, risking your resume being overlooked.
Revealing personal information such as family status can sometimes lead to discrimination, although it is illegal.
It might be hard to tailor SAHM experiences to specific job descriptions compared to traditional professional experiences, making it tougher to highlight the most relevant skills.

Ultimately, the decision to include or not include your stay-at-home mom experience on your resume should be carefully considered against several factors. For example, the job and industry you’re applying for, the specific company culture, and how effectively you can articulate the relevance of your skills and experiences to the position.

I often encourage my clients to create different versions of their resume, depending upon each unique job they are applying for. For example, if you know that one particular company is incredibly supportive of working moms, it might be beneficial to include your SAHM experience.

Another option is to send out both versions (one that includes your SAHM experience and one that doesn’t) of your resume and see which resume gets more traction.

Whichever route you decide to take, crafting your resume as a stay-at-home mom transitioning back into the workforce can be daunting. Despite the hard work and skills gained from managing a household, many SAHMs worry their experience won’t be seen as relevant. However, with the right approach, you can create a resume that showcases your skills and experiences in a way that makes you stand out as a strong candidate.

I’ll now take you step by step through how to write a stay-at-home mom resume , followed by the best stay-at-home mom resume examples:

How to Write Your Stay-at-Home Mom Resume

Title and contact information.

Start with your name, phone number, email address, and city and state of where you currently reside (or where you plan to reside if you are relocating) at the top. Consider adding a LinkedIn profile if you’ve got one. LinkedIn is used by the majority of companies to recruit new employees. Having a detailed and keyword-rich profile will help you stand out as an applicant and will also help you get noticed by more employers.

Regarding email, I suggest creating a free Gmail account if you don’t already have one. Using email accounts like Yahoo or AOL can make you appear like you are not current with technology.

Download a Stay-at-home Parent resume template

Professional Summary

Write a compelling professional summary that highlights your skills, experiences, and goals as they relate to your targeted job. This section is your elevator pitch. Here is a stay-at-home mom resume summary example:

“Accomplished finance professional with over 10 years of both professional and volunteer experience in budgeting, financial analysis, and project management. Adept at developing and implementing financial strategies to achieve both short and long-term objectives. Proven track record in managing complex, multi million-dollar budgets, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. Eager to leverage expertise in challenging new role that allows for significant contributions to financial planning and business growth.”

The stay-at-home mom skills on your resume should highlight both your soft and hard skills. Think about the skills you’ve developed that are transferable to the workplace:

Time Management: Coordinating schedules, managing appointments, and meeting deadlines. Budget Management: Handling household finances, shopping smartly, and finding the best deals. Conflict Resolution: Navigating sibling disputes or negotiating with service providers. Creativity and Innovation: Planning activities, meals, and learning opportunities. Leadership: Guiding your children, organizing community events, or leading volunteer groups.

Professional Experience

This section can be tricky but think broadly about your experiences. Include volunteer work, freelance projects, contract work or part-time jobs you’ve held while being a SAHM. For your stay-at-home mom experience, you can frame it professionally. For example:

Household Manager / Family CEO [Dates of your tenure as a SAHM]

Managed daily operations of a busy household, including scheduling, nutrition, education, and entertainment.
Developed and implemented a household budget, reducing expenses by X%.
Coordinated educational activities that enhanced children’s skills in literacy, mathematics, and science.
Led a volunteer group at [Organization], organizing events and fundraisers, raising $X for [cause].

Accelerate your career with our professional resume writing service

List your highest level of education, including the institution’s name, degree, and year of graduation. If you’ve taken courses or received any certificates or degrees that are relevant to the job you’re applying for during your time as a SAHM, include those here as well.

Even if you are currently enrolled in a program or field of study and you haven’t finished, you can and should list your training and education on your resume. Especially if it’s related to your career goal. You can write “Currently enrolled” or list the date as “2023 – Present,” or “Expected Graduation: Spring 2024.”

Certifications and Professional Development

If you’ve completed any certifications or professional development courses or if you have attended any professional conferences during your career pause, list them here. This is especially important for stay-at- home moms with no work experience or no experience that is directly related to their new career goal.

This section can include anything from a project management certification to an online marketing course. Also, if you are a member of a professional association related to your targeted field you can highlight it under a section titled “Professional Affiliations.” You can also list it under “Professional Development.” Make sure to also market skills like leadership, teamwork, and any other relevant skills or achievements that are related to your targeted job.

Volunteer Experience

If you’ve volunteered, this is a great way to showcase your commitment, skills, and experience. List your roles, the organizations you’ve helped, and any significant and relevant achievements and skills.

Also, I recommend listing your volunteer experience under your “Work Experience” section vs. creating a separate volunteer section. Even if you weren’t paid, listing your volunteer experience just like regular work experience demonstrates the value and significance of your work.

Formatting and Design

Keep your resume clear, professional, and easy to read. Use bullet points for lists, bold headings to define sections, and ensure there is plenty of white space. Check out our resume templates crafted specifically for stay-at-home moms !

Tailor Your Resume

Last but definitely not least, make sure to always tailor your resume to every job you apply for. Highlight the most relevant experiences and skills based on the job description. This shows potential employers that you’ve researched the role and understand what they’re looking for. Most importantly, this allows you to market yourself as an excellent fit for the role!

Now that you’ve hopefully got a good understanding of what to put on your resume, let’s take a look at two strong stay-at-home mom resume examples.

Stay-at-home mom resume example #1:

(555) 123-4567 | San Francisco, CA [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/janesmith

Excited to utilize extensive experience in early childhood development to transition into preschool teaching role. Demonstrated success in creating engaging learning environments, fostering childrens’ social and educational growth, and implementing creative activities that support developmental milestones. Strong background in organizing educational playgroups and leading volunteer projects.

Early Childhood Education: Proficient in creating educational activities that promote literacy, numeracy, and social skills.
Creative Lesson Planning: Skilled in designing and implementing creative and interactive lesson plans tailored to children’s interests and developmental levels.
Behavior Management: Experienced in using positive reinforcement techniques to guide behavior and support social and emotional development.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a knack for engaging children and building relationships with parents.
Organizational Skills: Strong ability to organize and coordinate events, manage schedules, and create structured learning environments.

Volunteer Preschool Assistant ABC Preschool, Hometown, State September 2021 – Present

Assist in classroom with daily activities, supporting lead teacher in creating dynamic and educational environment for preschoolers.
Develop and implement creative arts and crafts projects, contributing to sensory development and fine motor skills.
Facilitate outdoor play and physical activities that promote health and wellness.

Budget Chair, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) XYZ Elementary School, Hometown, State August 2019 – June 2021

Managed PTA’s annual budget, effectively allocating funds for school events, programs, and classroom resources.
Organized fundraising events that raised over $10,000 for school improvements and educational materials.
Collaborated with school administration and teachers to identify needs and ensure resources were used efficiently.

Stay-at-Home Mom Hometown, State June 2015 – Present

Designed home-based learning curriculum focusing on early literacy, numeracy, and social skills, preparing for preschool education.
Organized and led local parent-child playgroups, fostering community and peer learning among preschool-aged children.
Engaged in continuous education on child development and early childhood education through online courses and workshops.

Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education (In Progress) Online University

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology State University, Hometown, State Graduated May 2015

Certifications

CPR and First Aid Certified
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential (In Progress)

Professional Development

Workshops on Positive Discipline in Early Childhood
Seminars on Creative Curriculum for Preschool

Stay-at-home mom resume example #2:

Olivia lopez.

(987) 654-3210 | Dallas, TX [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/olivialopez

Creative and results-oriented stay-at-home mom with strong background in marketing, seeking to leverage extensive experience in brand management, content creation, and digital marketing strategies. Proven track record of developing effective marketing campaigns, enhancing brand visibility, and engaging diverse audiences. Highly skilled in leveraging social media platforms, SEO optimization, and analytics to drive growth and engagement. Eager to bring innovative marketing solutions and fresh perspective to a dynamic team.

Digital Marketing: Proficient in social media management, email marketing, and content marketing strategies.
Brand Management: Experienced in developing brand identities, positioning, and messaging to create cohesive brand experience.
Content Creation: Skilled in creating compelling content, including blog posts, social media content, and marketing collateral.
Analytical Skills: Strong ability to analyze market trends, customer behavior, and campaign performance to inform data-driven decisions.
Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, adept at crafting persuasive messages and engaging diverse audiences.
Project Management: Effective at managing multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines, and coordinating with team members.

Freelance Marketing Consultant Self-Employed June 2020 – Present

Developed and executed digital marketing strategies for local businesses, increasing their online presence and customer engagement.
Managed social media accounts, creating content calendars and implementing campaigns that grew followers by an average of 30%.
Conducted market research to identify trends and opportunities, resulting in targeted campaigns that boosted client sales by up to 25%.

Marketing Coordinator ABC Corporation, City, State January 2015 – May 2018

Coordinated marketing campaigns across digital and traditional channels, achieving 15% increase in overall brand awareness.
Collaborated with design team to create marketing materials, ensuring brand consistency and messaging alignment.
Analyzed campaign performance using Google Analytics and other tools, providing insights that led to optimized future campaigns.

Bachelor of Science in Marketing University of State, City, State Graduated May 2015

Google Analytics Certified
Hootsuite Social Media Marketing Certification
Digital Marketing Bootcamp , Online Course, Completed 2021
Content Marketing Strategy Workshop , Online Seminar, Completed 2020

PTA Marketing Chair XYZ Elementary School, City, State September 2018 – June 2020

Led PTA’s marketing efforts, increasing event participation by 40% through effective social media campaigns and community engagement.
Designed and distributed newsletters and flyers, enhancing communication between school and parent community.

Looking to Reenter the Workforce?

In Conclusion

Crafting a resume as a stay-at-home mom re-entering the workforce requires showcasing your skills and experiences in a way that resonates with employers. Focus on transferable skills, tailor your resume for each job, and don’t underestimate the value of the work you’ve done at home. With the right approach, your SAHM resume will stand out from the crowd!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i make my stay-at-home mom resume stand out.

To make your stay-at-home mom resume stand out, consider highlighting your transferable skills gained during your time as a stay at home mom. Focus on relevant experiences such as organization, multitasking, time management, problem-solving, and communication skills. Additionally, include any volunteer work, part-time jobs, or freelancing projects you might have done during your time at home.

What should I include in my stay-at-home mom resume?

When creating your stay-at-home mom resume, be sure to include the following sections: – Contact information: Your name, phone number, email address, and optionally, your LinkedIn profile. – Summary or objective statement: A brief overview of your skills and experience and how they can add value to your targeted job and field. – Skills: Highlight relevant and transferable skills such as organization, multitasking, communication, etc. Use the job posting to determine which skills to highlight. – Work experience: Include any relevant part-time work, freelancing, or volunteer experience. Unpaid experience counts as work experience! – Education: List your educational background, including any certifications or additional training, even if it’s still in progress. – Additional sections: You can also include sections such as volunteer work, professional memberships, or any relevant hobbies or interests.

Remember to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for, focusing on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position.

Lee Cristina Beaser

Lee brings over two decades of expertise in guiding individuals towards career success. Having helped thousands of professionals in a wide variety of industries, she has a deep understanding of the intricacies of the job market. Lee founded The Career Counter, a platform dedicated to providing busy people, especially moms returning to the workforce, with tools and services tailored to their unique career goals.