Resumes for returning to the workplace

How to you write your resume if you're returning to the workplace after, say, being at home for some years raising a family?

There are two things to do.

Firstly, under the list of your previous employment, list "Worked from home raising family" and the dates, just as you would for any other job.

If you took courses, voluteered or did anything other than raise your children during this time, make sure these are highlighted in the appropriate places on your resume.

Then think of exactly what raising your children entailed. Write down all the skills and use them in your skills based resume.

For example:
Demonstrated excellent organizational and time management skills ensuring each of 3 children arrived on time for various extra curricular activities, complete with the necessary supplies, picking them up again on time to prevent the anxiety of having to wait for their ride.

That's what you did, but let's see if we can make it sound more "businesslike."

Demonstrated excellent organizational and time management skilsl in creating and regularly maintaining complex schedule involving 4 people, in spite of delays and unexpected events.

So now we've taken out the "kids" in name, but the skill is still there.

Employers often don't think of what you do around the home and with the family as employable skills, so it's up to you to put it into words that they can relate to.

So write down what you did, then reword it in "employese" and use it to write yourself a great skills based resume.