Careers with Hart with Jay Hart

While sifting through the curricula vitae of many applicants, I have noticed something unique about those belonging to Mums: Gaps.

Big, lengthy gaps were prevalent in the career histories of Mums. Some women input dates to reflect the obvious gaps with explanations like 'Mum”. Immediately, thoughts of feeding babies and changing nappies came to mind. But is that really all they did? Is that really all I did while I 'stayed at home” with my babies? Certainly not.

We all have skills and unique qualities that make up part of who and how we are. These things about us don't disappear when we have kids. In fact, it is during this very busy season in our lives, when the majority of our time is devoted to our precious babies, that we may find out what really matters to us, because we will still make time for the things that are most integral to who we are. And this is exactly what we ought to be conveying in our curricula vitae.

Take the time to consider what else you did during those wonderful few years where you were over-worked and under-paid. Start making a list and begin compiling it into text that reflects your skills and strengths. Then put it onto your cv. It may or may not be paid work. But it will help the potential employer sifting through too many applicants have a better idea as to who you are and what you might contribute.

A Mum I recently career-coached initially struggled to think of anything. As we brainstormed together and formed our list, she suddenly remembered that she managed a rental property during that time. 'Does that count?” she wondered. Absolutely!

And ultimately, don't shy away from writing job titles such as 'Manager” or 'Personal Assistant” and pointing out that you 'managed the diary”, 'coordinated events”, 'mediated disputes”, 'organised meals”, 'provided emotional support to family members”, etc. Then you can state your employer as 'At Home Mum”, so that you're being clear with your potential employer about your role during those years. You're also teaching them to value your very real contribution to the world as much as you do.

For more advice and support on your career path, contact Jay @ www.facebook.com/careerswithhart