My CV shows I mommy tracked it

[Anonymous]

Over the past 10 years I have mommy tracked my career. I am ready to take on more responsibility and will start looking for new opportunities soon. Question: when interviewing and a question comes up asking why I did not grow much over the past decade, do I be honest about stepping back for my kids? Or should I come up with a more creative answer?

[Anonymous]

Be open, you still worked. Tell them you are looking for more responsibility, as you have more time and energy to devote to your career. We love hiring smart, established women who are past the baby and childcare years. They work hard, are used to being busy and taking care of responsibilities.

[Anonymous]

You did not step back. You stepped it up by maintaining your career and raising children and managing a household.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's detrimental. You stayed current and were part of the field, and you still had responsibilities and achievements you can talk about. I think it's only detrimental when someone is out of the workforce entirely for 10 years and doesn't do something to stay current on the field.

[Anonymous]

Focus on what you DID do. Write down a list of all your responsibilities and projects. What were the outcomes?

Also you have a great reason for leaving your former job which will play well in an interview. I’m a hard worker who wants more of a challenge.

[Anonymous]

Never mention kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't think anyone who has any real world experience will look at your CV and not figure it out, and I don't think it's a detriment. 10:53 has good advice.

[Anonymous]

Is that really even a legit concern? If the step down bothers them that much they probably won't even give you an interview and if they do give you an interview they probably like what they see on paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never mention kids.

Never acknowledge that you have a family or life outside of work. We don't care.
Focus on what you have done and what you will do.

[Anonymous]

I don't think people will ask you why did't you grow more. I disagree with other posters that growing more in terms of professional responsibilities-- all else equal (and I am NOT saying beat yourself up) wouldn't be better.

I don't think you won't get a job. It wouldn't be as high as it would otherwise be, but who knows what would have happened otherwise.

My personal question is, how much are you, overall, losing in your growth trajectory by it not being linearly accelerated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You did not step back. You stepped it up by maintaining your career and raising children and managing a household.

I like you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be open, you still worked. Tell them you are looking for more responsibility, as you have more time and energy to devote to your career. We love hiring smart, established women who are past the baby and childcare years. They work hard, are used to being busy and taking care of responsibilities.

Your love is a Title VII lawsuit waiting to happen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be open, you still worked. Tell them you are looking for more responsibility, as you have more time and energy to devote to your career. We love hiring smart, established women who are past the baby and childcare years. They work hard, are used to being busy and taking care of responsibilities.

Your love is a Title VII lawsuit waiting to happen!

+1 It's not just a woman thing anyway. I was just about to say my DH is in the same boat. He stepped back to be more available to the kids and now want to ramp back up but is getting questions about why now and why not sooner, and there is a bias/presumption that is was because he was passed over when actually he turned down the opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be open, you still worked. Tell them you are looking for more responsibility, as you have more time and energy to devote to your career. We love hiring smart, established women who are past the baby and childcare years. They work hard, are used to being busy and taking care of responsibilities.

Your love is a Title VII lawsuit waiting to happen!

And yet nearly impossible to prove.