THE PARENTING-GAP-TRAP: How to Address a Parenting Gap in your Resume

If you’re a parent who has taken time off to raise your family, you’ll know what this means. The parenting gap is an obvious gap in your work history that could (before you work with us, of course) read – “raising children for X amount of years”. The trap, however, is feeling like you have to hide or overcompensate for this in your resume or application.
 
Before we address the ‘parent gap’, please remember this – you do not have to justify your reasons for being a parent! Your objective, when re-entering the job market and applying for jobs, is to anticipate and simply address any questions the recruiter might have.  All you need to do is simply showcase your relevancy, skills and knowledge directly relating to the position – regardless of the gap.
 
Having a fresh, professional set of eyes on your resume can be the confidence booster you need to get out of the trap, but if nothing else – there is one clear benefit of engaging a professional resume writer. We see the things people miss.
 
Where you might shrug off tuckshop volunteer or playgroup leader, we see cash handling, leadership, forecasting needs, and communication.
 
Where you might see answering the phone or doing the books for your family business as ‘nothing’, we see customer service, bookkeeping, and administration experience.

Have you led a Scout troop, taught local parents to babywear, or joined the Parents and Friends Association?
 
Have you coached a soccer team, babysat or nannied regularly for local families, or helped other families with advice to navigate school applications or medical specialist appointments?
 
Are you: a) selling yourself short, or b) not able to qualify your day-to-day because it seems ‘normal’ or ‘insignificant’?
 
Well, good news! At Simply Careers we regularly work with clients to draw out what they deem ‘not important’, and finesse what’s relevant and current to your resume and application. It’s our job to expand on these recent experiences, and pre-empt any questions a recruiter may have about your work history and timeline.
 
When you break a job down into the skills that go into it, you can build a bridge almost anywhere. The same can be said for the skills you hone when raising children, caring for a loved one, or taking a career break. Our job is to build that bridge and help you get where you want to go.
 
How to identify and showcase the skills you've developed during parental leave
 

1. Reflect on what you HAVE done, not what you HAVEN’T:
   Take some time to think about the skills you've developed during your parental leave. Consider the tasks you've performed, the challenges you've faced, and the successes you've achieved.
2. Look beyond traditional work experience:
   Don't limit yourself when identifying your skills. Consider everything that happens throughout your day to day, when looking to capture this time. You can even look at the parenting tasks you've performed to pull out skills like time management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
3. Use specific examples:
   When describing your skills, use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities. For instance, if you volunteered at the school fete or with the mother’s day stall preparation, explain what you did, how you contributed, and what outcomes there were.
4. Customise your resume:
   Customise your resume to highlight your skills and experiences that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Try to incorporate keywords and phrases from the job posting to make your resume stand out.

 
Helpful Hints

1. Don't sell yourself short.
   Don't underestimate the skills you've developed during your parental leave. Anyone who’s ever negotiated with a four year old knows that parenting requires a wide range of skills that are transferable to the workplace.
2. Prioritise networking.
   Networking is crucial for job seekers no matter where they’re up to in their career. Jump onto LinkedIn, reach out to former colleagues, and join online groups to expand your network.
3. Consider using a skills-based resume format.
   A skills-based resume format emphasizes your skills and achievements rather than your work experience. This format is particularly useful for returning parents who may have gaps in their work history.
4. Consider volunteering.
   Volunteering can be a great way to develop new skills, meet new people, and gain experience that can be relevant to your job search.
5. Take advantage of online resources.
   ​There are many online resources available for job seekers, including free online courses (LinkedIn Learning or Udemy are great stops!) and career advice blogs.

 
While sometimes, it can feel like an enormous challenge, addressing a parenting gap in your resume is nothing to fear. The ‘trap’ part only happens when you start trying to hide or ignore the time. You don’t need to explain why you’ve taken the time to raise your family, but you do need to show up with your best foot forward.
 
Take the next step
 
I hope you’ve found this useful! If you need a little extra help to address your parenting gap and get you out of the trap, we’d love to help you create a fantastic resume and cover letter! Alternatively, you join our mailing list or connect with us on LinkedIn or Facebook where we post regular tips and tricks to help you successfully negotiate your return to work.
 
Our whole job is your next job. With a bit of polish on your resume and interview skills, you’ll stand a cut above the rest.
 
Simply Careers is a small resume writing and career development service. We have close ties throughout the Mid North Coast, Cairns, and Canberra, and believe in creating flexible working opportunities for incredible writers. You might work with the owner Adriana, or one of our fabulous team members. Regardless, you’ll be in safe hands and connected with someone who wants to understand your needs, and equip you with the tools you need.