LinkedIn: "Voluntary departure due to motherhood"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, to the PPS who dislike "voluntary departure due to motherhood" -- what phrasing do you suggest?

No phrase, just your job title. If you do side consulting work, I'd start my own LLC. Then you'd have something to list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an aquaintance who decided to quit working after having her first baby.

On LinkedIn, her profile is still active but she listed under her most recent job "Voluntary departure due to motherhood."

Guess she isn't planning on going back (which jives with what I know of her, very "being a wife and mother is everything"). Why not just deactivate your profile?

If you think fulltime childcare isn't work, you've never done it.

She changed her work, to something much more important than a stack of papers on a desk.

The merits of full-time childcare don't matter in this case. The only thing that matters is the perception of the hiring manager.
I'm both a mother of 4 and a hiring manager, and I think "Voluntary departure due to motherhood." sounds completely lame, and I bet most of the male hiring managers agree. Too wordy. maybe try "family hiatus" "sabbatical" "child-rearing" or nothing. you just don't want to overemphasize it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an aquaintance who decided to quit working after having her first baby.

On LinkedIn, her profile is still active but she listed under her most recent job "Voluntary departure due to motherhood."

Guess she isn't planning on going back (which jives with what I know of her, very "being a wife and mother is everything"). Why not just deactivate your profile?

If you think fulltime childcare isn't work, you've never done it.

She changed her work, to something much more important than a stack of papers on a desk.

The merits of full-time childcare don't matter in this case. The only thing that matters is the perception of the hiring manager.
I'm both a mother of 4 and a hiring manager, and I think "Voluntary departure due to motherhood." sounds completely lame, and I bet most of the male hiring managers agree. Too wordy. maybe try "family hiatus" "sabbatical" "child-rearing" or nothing. you just don't want to overemphasize it.

What's the most time you took off work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an aquaintance who decided to quit working after having her first baby.

On LinkedIn, her profile is still active but she listed under her most recent job "Voluntary departure due to motherhood."

Guess she isn't planning on going back (which jives with what I know of her, very "being a wife and mother is everything"). Why not just deactivate your profile?

If you think fulltime childcare isn't work, you've never done it.

She changed her work, to something much more important than a stack of papers on a desk.

Oh, it's you, commas-in-strange-places poster!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an aquaintance who decided to quit working after having her first baby.

On LinkedIn, her profile is still active but she listed under her most recent job "Voluntary departure due to motherhood."

Guess she isn't planning on going back (which jives with what I know of her, very "being a wife and mother is everything"). Why not just deactivate your profile?

If you think fulltime childcare isn't work, you've never done it.

She changed her work, to something much more important than a stack of papers on a desk.

The merits of full-time childcare don't matter in this case. The only thing that matters is the perception of the hiring manager.
I'm both a mother of 4 and a hiring manager, and I think "Voluntary departure due to motherhood." sounds completely lame, and I bet most of the male hiring managers agree. Too wordy. maybe try "family hiatus" "sabbatical" "child-rearing" or nothing. you just don't want to overemphasize it.

Good that she's not ashamed of doing the hardest work.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP that said, while Parenting is work, it's not necessarily the kind of work that translates to the workplace. You get hired based on your past job and educational background, which is why taking time off to raise kids doesn't normally count as "work", even though it's work.

Now, I know people who are SAHPs that totally do things that should classify as "work" through various volunteer activities (not all of them charitable.....like Meetup) and I think they'd make fantastic employees using the same skills. Like, if you built a 600 member Meetup group and then ran that group over a period of several years, that's translatable to a workplace because it involves scheduling, event management, interpersonal skills, site content. It's really amazing how some people do this. But you'd have to sell it and then have a hiring manager who gets what that means. And you'd have to be applying for a job for which it was appropriate experience. You can't just list "Meetup Group Coordinator". But, maybe you should.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a similar position as your friend (quit to SAH), and I struggle with "explaining" this on my resume. I'm still active in my field, although not fully employed, and I do periodic consulting or short-term PT work from time to time.

My resume looks sort of sketchy because I had very "regular" FT, high-profile positions, followed by leaving, having a gap in employment, and then working freelance, low-key jobs. I could easily see someone wondering why, and so I see the appeal of listing something like this on my resume. I haven't done so, but I can see why a person would do it.

I wish there was a standard way for people to explain and list a period of SAH. I don't think it's something people should be "ashamed" of or try to hide, but it also feels like you have to explain yourself. I'm not intending to apply for FT positions like I used to have -- I now work some very PT, mostly-from-home consulting-type positions. But I often feel I want to explain my change in interest from FT, high-powered work to this, and there isn't a reasonable way to do so that doesn't sound defensive or like I'm providing too much personal info.

+1
I'm in a similar situation. Also, I don't understand something a PP said - that saying you left to care for an ill/elderly family member is somehow more acceptable than saying you left to care for your children. That makes no sense to me.

Having been in both worlds, raising kids is MUCH easier than dealing with an ailing parent. People and parent and work at the same time. no biggie

Working, however, with a sick parent means that you're either outsourcing by hiring help or you're traveling back and forth to the parent's home. Furthermore, the doctors' visits are enough to kill you - not to the mention the emotional impact it has on you and other loved ones.

raising kids?
ha!

piece of cake! (as long as your kids are healthy, that is - I'll add that.)

[Anonymous]

meant to say - People CAN parent and work . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a similar position as your friend (quit to SAH), and I struggle with "explaining" this on my resume. I'm still active in my field, although not fully employed, and I do periodic consulting or short-term PT work from time to time.

My resume looks sort of sketchy because I had very "regular" FT, high-profile positions, followed by leaving, having a gap in employment, and then working freelance, low-key jobs. I could easily see someone wondering why, and so I see the appeal of listing something like this on my resume. I haven't done so, but I can see why a person would do it.

I wish there was a standard way for people to explain and list a period of SAH. I don't think it's something people should be "ashamed" of or try to hide, but it also feels like you have to explain yourself. I'm not intending to apply for FT positions like I used to have -- I now work some very PT, mostly-from-home consulting-type positions. But I often feel I want to explain my change in interest from FT, high-powered work to this, and there isn't a reasonable way to do so that doesn't sound defensive or like I'm providing too much personal info.

+1
I'm in a similar situation. Also, I don't understand something a PP said - that saying you left to care for an ill/elderly family member is somehow more acceptable than saying you left to care for your children. That makes no sense to me.

Having been in both worlds, raising kids is MUCH easier than dealing with an ailing parent. People and parent and work at the same time. no biggie

Working, however, with a sick parent means that you're either outsourcing by hiring help or you're traveling back and forth to the parent's home. Furthermore, the doctors' visits are enough to kill you - not to the mention the emotional impact it has on you and other loved ones.

raising kids?
ha!

piece of cake! (as long as your kids are healthy, that is - I'll add that.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an aquaintance who decided to quit working after having her first baby.

On LinkedIn, her profile is still active but she listed under her most recent job "Voluntary departure due to motherhood."

Guess she isn't planning on going back (which jives with what I know of her, very "being a wife and mother is everything"). Why not just deactivate your profile?

If you think fulltime childcare isn't work, you've never done it.

She changed her work, to something much more important than a stack of papers on a desk.

Linkedin is to connect with people about the type of work that involves a stack of papers on a desk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an aquaintance who decided to quit working after having her first baby.

On LinkedIn, her profile is still active but she listed under her most recent job "Voluntary departure due to motherhood."

Guess she isn't planning on going back (which jives with what I know of her, very "being a wife and mother is everything"). Why not just deactivate your profile?

If you think fulltime childcare isn't work, you've never done it.

She changed her work, to something much more important than a stack of papers on a desk.

Linkedin is to connect with people about the type of work that involves a stack of papers on a desk.

That's what most people use it for, but certainly not everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a similar position as your friend (quit to SAH), and I struggle with "explaining" this on my resume. I'm still active in my field, although not fully employed, and I do periodic consulting or short-term PT work from time to time.

My resume looks sort of sketchy because I had very "regular" FT, high-profile positions, followed by leaving, having a gap in employment, and then working freelance, low-key jobs. I could easily see someone wondering why, and so I see the appeal of listing something like this on my resume. I haven't done so, but I can see why a person would do it.

I wish there was a standard way for people to explain and list a period of SAH. I don't think it's something people should be "ashamed" of or try to hide, but it also feels like you have to explain yourself. I'm not intending to apply for FT positions like I used to have -- I now work some very PT, mostly-from-home consulting-type positions. But I often feel I want to explain my change in interest from FT, high-powered work to this, and there isn't a reasonable way to do so that doesn't sound defensive or like I'm providing too much personal info.

+1
I'm in a similar situation. Also, I don't understand something a PP said - that saying you left to care for an ill/elderly family member is somehow more acceptable than saying you left to care for your children. That makes no sense to me.

Having been in both worlds, raising kids is MUCH easier than dealing with an ailing parent. People and parent and work at the same time. no biggie

Working, however, with a sick parent means that you're either outsourcing by hiring help or you're traveling back and forth to the parent's home. Furthermore, the doctors' visits are enough to kill you - not to the mention the emotional impact it has on you and other loved ones.

raising kids?
ha!

piece of cake! (as long as your kids are healthy, that is - I'll add that.)

I completely disagree - yes, working while caring for a sick parent is very stressful. But so is trying to do a good job raising children while working. The stresses of competing schedules and childcare providers... there's nothing "piece of cake" about it. Trying to have enough actual time with my kids while simultaneously holding down a job is the hardest thing I've ever had to do... and I feel like they're always getting the short end of the stick.

Not that any of this has to do with what to put on a resume or LinkedIn, but it's still worth noting on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a similar position as your friend (quit to SAH), and I struggle with "explaining" this on my resume. I'm still active in my field, although not fully employed, and I do periodic consulting or short-term PT work from time to time.

My resume looks sort of sketchy because I had very "regular" FT, high-profile positions, followed by leaving, having a gap in employment, and then working freelance, low-key jobs. I could easily see someone wondering why, and so I see the appeal of listing something like this on my resume. I haven't done so, but I can see why a person would do it.

I wish there was a standard way for people to explain and list a period of SAH. I don't think it's something people should be "ashamed" of or try to hide, but it also feels like you have to explain yourself. I'm not intending to apply for FT positions like I used to have -- I now work some very PT, mostly-from-home consulting-type positions. But I often feel I want to explain my change in interest from FT, high-powered work to this, and there isn't a reasonable way to do so that doesn't sound defensive or like I'm providing too much personal info.

+1
I'm in a similar situation. Also, I don't understand something a PP said - that saying you left to care for an ill/elderly family member is somehow more acceptable than saying you left to care for your children. That makes no sense to me.

Having been in both worlds, raising kids is MUCH easier than dealing with an ailing parent. People and parent and work at the same time. no biggie

Working, however, with a sick parent means that you're either outsourcing by hiring help or you're traveling back and forth to the parent's home. Furthermore, the doctors' visits are enough to kill you - not to the mention the emotional impact it has on you and other loved ones.

raising kids?
ha!

piece of cake! (as long as your kids are healthy, that is - I'll add that.)

I completely disagree - yes, working while caring for a sick parent is very stressful. But so is trying to do a good job raising children while working. The stresses of competing schedules and childcare providers... there's nothing "piece of cake" about it. Trying to have enough actual time with my kids while simultaneously holding down a job is the hardest thing I've ever had to do... and I feel like they're always getting the short end of the stick.

Not that any of this has to do with what to put on a resume or LinkedIn, but it's still worth noting on this thread.

I'm sorry - but unless you have dealt with a sick parent, I don't know if your advice is sound.

Remember that I've been in both situations. I worked FT with both kids while my father slowly died from Parkinson's over a 6-year period.

Employers are much more open to that than they are to the "woes" of working parents. Furthermore, everyone has parents (good or bad relationships), but not every employer has kids.

[Anonymous]

Why do you care?? You don't have to go all the way to being supportive, but why tear down?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a similar position as your friend (quit to SAH), and I struggle with "explaining" this on my resume. I'm still active in my field, although not fully employed, and I do periodic consulting or short-term PT work from time to time.

My resume looks sort of sketchy because I had very "regular" FT, high-profile positions, followed by leaving, having a gap in employment, and then working freelance, low-key jobs. I could easily see someone wondering why, and so I see the appeal of listing something like this on my resume. I haven't done so, but I can see why a person would do it.

I wish there was a standard way for people to explain and list a period of SAH. I don't think it's something people should be "ashamed" of or try to hide, but it also feels like you have to explain yourself. I'm not intending to apply for FT positions like I used to have -- I now work some very PT, mostly-from-home consulting-type positions. But I often feel I want to explain my change in interest from FT, high-powered work to this, and there isn't a reasonable way to do so that doesn't sound defensive or like I'm providing too much personal info.

+1
I'm in a similar situation. Also, I don't understand something a PP said - that saying you left to care for an ill/elderly family member is somehow more acceptable than saying you left to care for your children. That makes no sense to me.

Having been in both worlds, raising kids is MUCH easier than dealing with an ailing parent. People and parent and work at the same time. no biggie

Working, however, with a sick parent means that you're either outsourcing by hiring help or you're traveling back and forth to the parent's home. Furthermore, the doctors' visits are enough to kill you - not to the mention the emotional impact it has on you and other loved ones.

raising kids?
ha!

piece of cake! (as long as your kids are healthy, that is - I'll add that.)

I completely disagree - yes, working while caring for a sick parent is very stressful. But so is trying to do a good job raising children while working. The stresses of competing schedules and childcare providers... there's nothing "piece of cake" about it. Trying to have enough actual time with my kids while simultaneously holding down a job is the hardest thing I've ever had to do... and I feel like they're always getting the short end of the stick.

Not that any of this has to do with what to put on a resume or LinkedIn, but it's still worth noting on this thread.

I'm sorry - but unless you have dealt with a sick parent, I don't know if your advice is sound.

Remember that I've been in both situations. I worked FT with both kids while my father slowly died from Parkinson's over a 6-year period.

Employers are much more open to that than they are to the "woes" of working parents. Furthermore, everyone has parents (good or bad relationships), but not every employer has kids.

I agree with this. There is no comparison between the day to day of dealing with raising (healthy - yes that's a caveat) kids and dealing with a terminally ill parent. The latter is MUCH more difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it allows people to still contact her. She's not working; she hasn't vanished from the grid.

+1

Agree. I don't get what is obnoxious about this.

+3
I think it's worded in an adult manner.

It sounds like she is planning to go back at some point and is explaining why she is not currently employed.

+1

If I saw this on a LinkedIN profile of an applicant, even years later, I wouldn't consider them. Sounds ridiculous and self-important.

And you sound like you have a chip on your shoulder, simply because this woman stated the reason she left. If she hadn't stated this, and then years later re-entered the workforce, a hiring manager would have to ask about the gap on her resume. This way, she doesn't have to explain. She owns it and good for her.

If you think that, fine. Many hiring managers on here (I'm a new one) think saying this is a mistake.

Okay, so help us out. What should we say? I've left my LinkedIn at a standstill for two years because nothing sounds right. I'm very careful about putting out the right impression and this one has had me stumped since my child was born.