References for SAHMs who returned to work after 5+ years

[Anonymous]

If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

I would be creative - even if you can track down former bosses.

Something like:

Experience:

Jones & Jones 1998-Present

Worked for Messers Jones and Jones almost exclusively for the past 10 years. I was a diligent and devoted worker - often spending around the clock at the office. Responsibilities initially included birthing, burping and feeding; but as I gained experience I was promoted to cook, chief bedtime story reader, and Executive VP of Bumps and Bruises. In my last few years, I have been counselor, bus driver and cheerleader and also the bank. The Jones' love me.


Or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

I would be creative - even if you can track down former bosses.

Something like:

Experience:

Jones & Jones 1998-Present

Worked for Messers Jones and Jones almost exclusively for the past 10 years. I was a diligent and devoted worker - often spending around the clock at the office. Responsibilities initially included birthing, burping and feeding; but as I gained experience I was promoted to cook, chief bedtime story reader, and Executive VP of Bumps and Bruises. In my last few years, I have been counselor, bus driver and cheerleader and also the bank. The Jones' love me.



Or something like that.

Um, fuck no, don't do that.

[Anonymous]

Get on linked in and find former bosses and co workers. Do NOT use personal references for a professional position.

[Anonymous]

I've hired SAHM's entering the workforce. Generally, they anticipated the job hunt, and took on a volunteer role, or went to networking events for their field, or registered for a course, or found some side work that generated some resume items and a reference or two. Something that would result in someone in the field being able to vouch for them.

And whatever you do, please don't put your time SAH on your resume as a job, especially in the silly manner done above. One thing I need to see is that you can separate your personal from your professional life. A resume with time gaps, accompanied by a cover letter that simply says that you took time away because of family responsibilities, and that you're eager to get back is fine.

Finally, when you do interview, if you're feeling sadness or having mixed feelings about returning to work, or if there are aspects of returning to work you haven't figured out don't tell me about them. I'm a mom, and I'm happy to have a "one thing I worry about is snow days. What do you do with your kid when that happens, can you bring them in?" conversation with you 2 minutes after I made a job offer, but asking me that in an interview is entirely inappropriate, and tells me you have no boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

I would be creative - even if you can track down former bosses.

Something like:

Experience:

Jones & Jones 1998-Present

Worked for Messers Jones and Jones almost exclusively for the past 10 years. I was a diligent and devoted worker - often spending around the clock at the office. Responsibilities initially included birthing, burping and feeding; but as I gained experience I was promoted to cook, chief bedtime story reader, and Executive VP of Bumps and Bruises. In my last few years, I have been counselor, bus driver and cheerleader and also the bank. The Jones' love me.


Or something like that.

OMG no. Just no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

I would be creative - even if you can track down former bosses.

Something like:

Experience:

Jones & Jones 1998-Present

Worked for Messers Jones and Jones almost exclusively for the past 10 years. I was a diligent and devoted worker - often spending around the clock at the office. Responsibilities initially included birthing, burping and feeding; but as I gained experience I was promoted to cook, chief bedtime story reader, and Executive VP of Bumps and Bruises. In my last few years, I have been counselor, bus driver and cheerleader and also the bank. The Jones' love me.


Or something like that.

I do hope you're kidding. I would immediately put that resume in the "NO" pile. It screams "THE JOB WILL NOT BE MY FOCUS. MY FAMILY WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY FOCUS EVEN WHEN I AM WORKING AT MY JOB."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

I would be creative - even if you can track down former bosses.

Something like:

Experience:

Jones & Jones 1998-Present

Worked for Messers Jones and Jones almost exclusively for the past 10 years. I was a diligent and devoted worker - often spending around the clock at the office. Responsibilities initially included birthing, burping and feeding; but as I gained experience I was promoted to cook, chief bedtime story reader, and Executive VP of Bumps and Bruises. In my last few years, I have been counselor, bus driver and cheerleader and also the bank. The Jones' love me.


Or something like that.

I do hope you're kidding. I would immediately put that resume in the "NO" pile. It screams "THE JOB WILL NOT BE MY FOCUS. MY FAMILY WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY FOCUS EVEN WHEN I AM WORKING AT MY JOB."

If OP is serious, this has to qualify as the Worst Piece of Advice Ever Rendered on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

I would be creative - even if you can track down former bosses.

Something like:

Experience:

Jones & Jones 1998-Present

Worked for Messers Jones and Jones almost exclusively for the past 10 years. I was a diligent and devoted worker - often spending around the clock at the office. Responsibilities initially included birthing, burping and feeding; but as I gained experience I was promoted to cook, chief bedtime story reader, and Executive VP of Bumps and Bruises. In my last few years, I have been counselor, bus driver and cheerleader and also the bank. The Jones' love me.


Or something like that.

Worst. Advice. EVER.

[Anonymous]

New poster, but here's why I would be tempted to get creative as above and write resume style about my experiences managing the household. I do think that I have exercized skills that I hadn't used much in my professional life before that would be transferrable to a working for pay environment. Managing projects, using patience and the like. Also, stepping outside my comfort zone (I don't like to use the phone) and doing what needs to be done to get the job done. And so on....

I wouldn't, but would be so very tempted to do so in an interview. Perhaps after getting a vibe on the interviewer. Because while not completely relevant, my experiences have helped me grow and use my skills in different ways and made me more ready to go back to work, when the time comes.

I guess the question will be how to convince an employer of that with the rather large gap... I do have passions and interests and hope to follow through with those in some kind of volunteer capacity... maybe those will lead to a paying something. In the meantime, I'm still accomplishing alot at home and making my family work better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

I would be creative - even if you can track down former bosses.

Something like:

Experience:

Jones & Jones 1998-Present

Worked for Messers Jones and Jones almost exclusively for the past 10 years. I was a diligent and devoted worker - often spending around the clock at the office. Responsibilities initially included birthing, burping and feeding; but as I gained experience I was promoted to cook, chief bedtime story reader, and Executive VP of Bumps and Bruises. In my last few years, I have been counselor, bus driver and cheerleader and also the bank. The Jones' love me.


Or something like that.

I'm the author of this "stupid" post. I'm also a present CEO and President. I have run 5 companies over the past 15 years, my last company I worked with was sold for almost $1 billion. I understand what makes up a good staff, and Board. In a sense, I "hire" for a living.

Here's why I think humour would benefit the OP. If I read something like that (and all SAHM's could do the same thing) here is what I see:

1) someone who is confident.
2) someone who is motivated to do something different - and positive.
3) someone who has humility - and empathy for others.
4) someone who can lead.
5) someone who obviously is a team player
6) someone who can handle stress; is great with logistics; and is battle scarred and can deal with pressure
7) someone who probably helped others to become their best - who put others needs before her own.
8) someone who can not just spot a problem - but has 10 years of finding solutions.
9) someone who is probably very positive - not negative (read a lot of these comments).
10) SOMEONE THAT I OUGHT TO INTERVIEW and I won't be bored.


If she's as good as she seems - I'm hiring her. But the humour turns something that is "blah" into something that is "wow" and MEANINGFUL to my business. I need people with the traits that I listed...and good parents (like many of you here on DCUMD) make GREAT employees. IMO. To many of you negative posters - my guess is that your view of the OP's situation is myopic. Sorry I disagree.

The truth of the matter is that the OP has been out of the workforce - and her strategy is rely on stale recommendations. That is going to make for a horribly boring resume...and you can't hide that you've been out of the workplace for that long. Business in general has changed. You're a relic and a dinosaur. Even the "resume" is going out of fashion.


A company is going to tend to value you at the same value you place on yourself. So set it high. Translate your skills in to things that make sense to a business.


Just my 2 cents. Good luck OP....but don't lead with "stale" skills and references. That's a first class ticket to the circular file.

Be proud of what you've done - and translate that into what I need for my business - and you're hired!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm the author of this "stupid" post. I'm also a present CEO and President. I have run 5 companies over the past 15 years, my last company I worked with was sold for almost $1 billion. I understand what makes up a good staff, and Board. In a sense, I "hire" for a living.

I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that a CEO and President of a company is wasting time in the middle of a work day drafting long-winded posts on DCUM. Are you the same SAHM pep talker from the other thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you returned to work after being at home for several years--5, 7, 10 years, who did you use as a reference for your new job?

Previous supervisors move companies and can be hard to track down; people retire. Did you use neighbors or people you worked with in volunteer situations?

What, you didn't stay in touch with your references while you SAH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster, but here's why I would be tempted to get creative as above and write resume style about my experiences managing the household. I do think that I have exercized skills that I hadn't used much in my professional life before that would be transferrable to a working for pay environment. Managing projects, using patience and the like. Also, stepping outside my comfort zone (I don't like to use the phone) and doing what needs to be done to get the job done. And so on....

I wouldn't, but would be so very tempted to do so in an interview. Perhaps after getting a vibe on the interviewer. Because while not completely relevant, my experiences have helped me grow and use my skills in different ways and made me more ready to go back to work, when the time comes.

I guess the question will be how to convince an employer of that with the rather large gap... I do have passions and interests and hope to follow through with those in some kind of volunteer capacity... maybe those will lead to a paying something. In the meantime, I'm still accomplishing alot at home and making my family work better.

I don't care about all this stuff. All I care about is whether you can do the work and will be here like clockwork every weekday between 8 and 5. Of course, I hire for positions that are full of pressure and deadlines and pay well. Creativity not required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm the author of this "stupid" post. I'm also a present CEO and President. I have run 5 companies over the past 15 years, my last company I worked with was sold for almost $1 billion. I understand what makes up a good staff, and Board. In a sense, I "hire" for a living.

I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that a CEO and President of a company is wasting time in the middle of a work day drafting long-winded posts on DCUM. Are you the same SAHM pep talker from the other thread?

Sorry to offend - with all due respect - I am on travel. It's not the middle of the day everywhere....particularly in Asia. It's night time/early morning "tomorrow" (13-14 hours ahead of DC) where I am. I read DCUM now b/c I have insomnia. I read DCUM as a way of keeping in touch with our community.


I'm trying to help the OP - from the perspective of someone who reads resumes and hires people. Just trying to help the OP make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear".

How would YOU suggest the SAHM dress up her experience? Do you think that 5+ year old references are relevant? If so - we disagree. But I respect your right to post something different.

The point is to provide help to the OP. Right?