How To Write a Stay-at-Home Parent Resume
Re-entering the workforce can be daunting, and you may have questions about how to create a resume if you haven’t been employed in a few years or have significant gaps on your resume. Use the tips and templates below to craft a compelling resume highlighting your skills, such as home management and handling projects as a volunteer.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Modern resumes have traded the objective for a profile summary. This section should give a hiring manager a quick overview of your skills and the type of position you’re seeking. It’s fine to write your profile summary as if you don’t have any gaps in your resume, but if you need to explain, you can add “returning” or something similar before the job title to make it clear you’re coming back into the industry.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A compassionate, empathetic attorney with over 10 years of experience in family law. A proven track record of managing complex negotiations and litigations for over 500 legal cases. Adept at identifying peaceful resolutions to preserve family relationships and secure fair compensation for clients.
Entry-Level Profile Example
An environmental science expert with an advanced knowledge of land management policies, habitat conservation, and community outreach. A proven track record of collaborating with naturalists, planners, and conservationists to address local and state issues facing communities in Florida.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
The professional experience section is usually the largest on your resume. If you previously held several jobs, focus on those most relevant to the position. Remember that something doesn’t have to be a paid position to count as professional experience. If you did volunteer work, including these roles can help give you more recent positions to list. Generally, you don’t need to worry too much about time gaps in your resume, as these can be explained in the cover letter and interview.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Associate
Germaine and Associates, San Diego, CA | 2009 – 2015
- Represented clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, custody, paternity, child support, alimony, and distribution of assets and debts
- Drafted and reviewed all pleadings, briefs, and oral arguments, performed comprehensive legal research, and oversaw discovery motions for pending litigations
- Provided legal support for mediations, negotiations, and litigations in over 500 legal cases and communicated empathetically with clients during divorce trials
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Volunteer
Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Durham, NC | 2016 – present
- Served as a volunteer for a state-wide environmental campaign for a conservation nonprofit, which included supporting initiatives to expand education and grow awareness of environmental issues across communities, schools, and local governments
- Supported lobbying efforts to garner support from local politicians for environmental legislation, attended public hearings, and performed grassroots campaigning
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Your resume should always include any certificates or academic degrees relevant to the position. Still, it’s also a good idea to add your educational background, even if it’s not a direct fit for the job. Some employers require specific academic qualifications, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree, regardless of the field of study. If you took classes as electives or completed any special projects relevant to the industry, you can also list these.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO – May 2008
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
4. List pertinent key skills
When a hiring manager creates a job description, they generally list the needed skills and responsibilities. Use this to your advantage by including a key skills and proficiencies list on your resume. Add any qualities you possess in the job posting and anything else that might be relevant. Keep in mind being a stay-at-home parent gives you a unique set of skills that can be valuable to an employer. Here are some qualities you may be able to use on your resume.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Budgeting | Communication |
| Computer literacy | Creativity |
| Decision-making | Emotional intelligence |
| Flexibility | Leadership |
| Multitasking | Negotiation |
| Organization | Patience |
| Problem-solving | Project management |
| Teamwork | Time management |
How To Pick the Best Stay-at-Home Parent Resume Template
Most professional resumes should be formatted in a way that is clean and easy to read. The main exceptions to this rule are creative positions, such as graphic design, or a job that requires a more personal connection, such as a nanny. When looking for a resume template, consider the industry you’re applying for and whether you want to use a reverse chronological or functional resume.
Stay-at-Home Parent Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Christine Marvel
(482) 889-2457
[email protected]
1430 Gulf Boulevard, Sand Key, FL 33767
Profile
An Environmental Science Expert with an advanced knowledge of land management policies, habitat conservation, and community outreach. A proven track record of collaborating with naturalists, planners, and conservationists to address local and state issues facing communities in the state of Florida.
Professional Experience
Land Conservancy of Florida, Orlando, FL
July 2010 to April 2013
- Coordinated with planners, naturalists, and conservations to examine opportunities for land preservation and stewardship
- Developed critical habitat conservation and management plan for threatened and endangered species, including green sea turtles and American alligators
- Completed trail designs for small community parks
- Developed stream restoration project to protect drinking water supply
- Delivered recommendations to stakeholders using various design and presentation tools to maximize accessibility for the public and government leaders
Volunteer, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Durham, NC
2016 to Present
- Served as a volunteer for a state-wide environmental campaign for a conservation non-profit, which included supporting initiatives to expand education and grow awareness of environmental issues across communities, schools, and local governments
- Supported lobbying efforts to garner support from local politicians for environmental legislation, attended public hearings, and performed grassroots campaigning
Key Skills
- Collaboration
- Planning and research
- Problem solving
- Report production
- Presentation and communication of complex ideas
- Analysis
- Design support
- Expertise in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Education
MBA 2008 – 2010
THE WHARTON SCHOOL, Philadelphia, PA 2008 – 2010
Bachelor of Science, Environmental Sciences & Policy
NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT, DUKE UNIVERSITY, Durham, NC 2004 – 2008
Erica Foley
(423) 892-1149
[email protected]
#8 The Parkway, Boulder, CO 80301
Profile
A Certified Medical Coder with seven years of progressive experience assigning ICD and CPT codes to patient medical records. A proven track record of coordinating with diverse teams and identifying opportunities to improve accuracy, production, and operational workflows.
Professional Experience
Supervisor, Medical Coding – Boulder Emergency Care, Boulder, Colorado
June 2011 – July 2014
- Managed a five-person team performing coding for medical records and documentation related to diseases, symptoms, diagnoses, and patient history for emergency services
- Created a new peer review process for medical records to reduce coding errors, which improved department accuracy from 91% to 97%
- Identified opportunities to enhance operational workflows and improve team performance, which improved production from 260 reviews to 300+ per day
Medical Coder/HCC Coding – Boulder Family Practice, Boulder, Colorado
November 2008 — June 2011
- Reviewed patient medical records to verify and ensure appropriate and accurate diagnoses and procedural data in compliance with CMS and state specific guidelines
- Utilized all correct coding initiatives for each and every insurance policy as well as state law requirements
- Reviewed EOBs for patient insurance carriers and completed appropriate paperwork to appeal denials
Volunteerism Experience
Boulder Literacy Center, Volunteer, Boulder, Colorado
October 2015 — Present
- Provided education services to improve literacy and reading comprehension for children, adults, and ESL students
- Taught a basic Excel course each summer to three classes of over 20 students, which included creating lesson plans and providing tutoring services
Education
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Littleton, CO 2006-2008
Key Skills
- Medical Terminology
- Data Entry
- Speed Typing
- Medical Coding
- Process Improvement
Certifications
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
Stacy Richman
(442) 782-3508
[email protected]
223 Beagle Court, San Diego, CA 92107
Profile
A compassionate, empathetic attorney with 10+ years of experience in family law. A proven track record of managing complex negotiations and litigations for over 500+ legal cases. Adept at identifying peaceful resolutions to preserve family relationships and secure fair compensation for clients.
Professional Experience
Associate, Germaine and Associates, San Diego, CA
2009 to 2015
- Represented clients in all areas of family law including divorce, custody, paternity, child support, alimony, and distribution of assets and debts
- Drafted and reviewed all pleadings, briefs, and oral arguments, performed comprehensive legal research, and oversaw discovery motions for pending litigations
- Provided legal support for mediations, negotiations, and litigations in over 500+ legal cases, and communicated empathetically with clients during divorce trials
Family Law Attorney, Harris, Bogart and Smith, Encino, CA
2004 to 2009
- Drafted discovery motions, briefs, pleas, and oral arguments for complex family law cases, conducted legal research, and ensured fair treatment and compensation for clients
- Represented clients in negotiations, court hearings, and trials, and identified peaceful resolutions to mediate conflicts and preserve relationships for families
Education
Juris Doctor
PEPPERDINE CARUSO SCHOOL OF LAW, Malibu, CA 2001-2004
Bachelor of Arts, English
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY, Williamsburg, VA 1997-2001
Key Skills
- Family Law
- Legal Research
- Client Relations
- Negotiation
- Mediation
Certifications
- California Bar
Frequently Asked Questions: Stay-at-Home Parent Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for stay-at-home parent resumes?+
Writing the professional experience section of your resume is as simple as breaking your job duties down into bullets and starting each one with a strong action verb. But creating a unique verb for each bullet isn’t always easy. If you need some ideas to get you started, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs that should fit most stay-at-home parent resumes below.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapted | Balanced |
| Budgeted | Collaborated |
| Coordinated | Created |
| De-escalated | Facilitated |
| Implemented | Managed |
| Monitored | Negotiated |
| Nurtured | Organized |
| Planned | Prioritized |
| Researched | Resolved |
| Supervised | Supported |
How do you align your stay-at-home parent resume with a job description?+
If you’re ready to re-enter the workforce, it may help to look for a job in an industry projected to experience above-average growth. Often there are more open positions, and you may face less competition from other applicants. Ensuring your resume is targeted to each role can also give you an edge over other candidates and increase the chances that your resume makes it in front of a human reviewer.
What is the best stay-at-home parent resume format?+
Avoid the traditional reverse chronological format if your resume has a significant time gap. Instead, consider a functional or combination resume. A functional resume focuses on your skills and qualifications so the hiring manager gets a chance to see what a great candidate you are before noting that you have gaps in your work history. A combination resume is the best of both worlds, letting you organize key skills like managing a home or volunteering while still showing you have traditional work experience.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Your resume and cover letter are a team. The resume lets a hiring manager know who you are and what your skills are quickly, and the cover letter provides context for your professional achievements and gives you a chance to explain why you’re interested in the position. When writing a cover letter, it’s up to you whether you want to explain any gaps in your resume or why you’re re-entering the workforce but keep it to just a sentence or two if you do. The focus of your application, including your resume and cover letter, should be on what you can do for the employer now.
