Comeback Careerists
That title is for John Sumser - one more colloquialism for the recruiting world. The Wall Street Journal offers up this article to discuss mothers re-entering the workforce after taking extended time off (years) to raise their family.
I have a soft spot in my heart for this topic since my wife recently reentered the workforce after taking 8 years off. It took her some time, but she landed an ideal position at a medical clinic. That isn’t always the case:
Though 74% do find work, only 40% say they are gainfully employed in full-time, mainstream jobs. “There is still a tremendous amount of stigma and suspension when employers see a hole in a resume,” says Ms. Hewlett.
I would hope that hiring managers do not equate being a full-time mom with being unemployed. I would argue that being a mom does not constitute a hole in one’s resume (but I am not objective on this topic).
And, to facilitate that transition, a whole new industry of coaching and staffing firms as well as corporate and educational programs have popped up. “This talent pool is more and more necessary” and there is a growing recruiting effort to target parents returning to work, says Meryle Mahrer Kaplan, vice president of advisory services at Catalyst.
This is a great talent pool that should be tapped as the boomers retire. Finally, one piece of advice from the article that worked well for my wife:
In your resume and—and later in interviews—be sure to take the mystery out of the time away from work. If you’ve taken on projects at schools and charities and used some of the skills from your career, highlight those volunteer experiences and any bottom-line or eye-catching results from the projects.
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Posted By Derrick Moe | Generations, Trends | |
I really appreciate what you stated in the final quote. Although my work centered on school leavers looking for that first big career break, I was often stupified at the number of people who told me about doing quite exciting/enriching/worthwhile things during the interview they had never thought to include in their resumes! If it wasn’t directly related to the position they were seeking, they often felt it wasn’t relevant. I can’t speak for all HR people, but I was more interested in having a person with some depth and substance joining the organization, and not just a neat or impressive document. That’s why encouraged people (even those I didn’t hire) to analyze the skills they acquired or applied in these other endeavours and identify just how they would be a boon for the position they were seeking. It not only gives your interviewer a better picture of what you’re all about. Seeing yourself as a more well-rounded professional boosts self-confidence, too.
Trina - thank you for your comment and I couldn’t agree more. My wife was incredibly active during the 8 years we were starting our family. The skills and experience were directly transferrable to her current job.
There seems to be this unwritten law about what can and can’t be in a resume. Hogwash, I say. I agree with you, I am more interested in people with some depth - especially successes earned in unexpected roles.
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