When I first started working with Mums on their Careers, a common complaint amongst the participants was that employers would not recognise the skills they had gained during a parenting break.
I disagree! If you’ve had a significant break since your last paid employment, it can be vital to present the current skills you have obtained in a non-work context.
These are called transferrable skills – skills you’ve acquired in a different type of role, but that can be used to effectively carry out the position you’re going for.
To test whether employers would value these transferable skills, I wrote to recruiters, hiring managers, HR professionals and career practitioners to ask if these types of skills would present well on a resume and make them consider an applicant for a role. I received twenty responses.
Overwhelmingly, they said that presenting non-work achievements would be appropriate as long as they were relevant to the job on offer. One manager actually said that she would give extra credit to a candidate who included transferrable skills because it shows initiative and ‘out of the box’ thinking!
There are so many transferable skills we develop as mums. Here are six common ones that might apply to you:
Project management
Ever undertaken renovation works at your home, or worked as a volunteer managing a school fundraiser? Think about the skills you used to keep these projects on track.
Relationship building, communication and teamwork
Getting involved in local causes, working on committees, and even dealing with education or health practitioners to resolve an ongoing issue for your child (or an ageing parent) can all demonstrate your ability to build and maintain productive relationships with others. When have you successfully negotiated with people to get results? Can you cite instances where you have successfully dealt with a difficult person? Are there examples of when you have brought people together to achieve a desired outcome?
Budgeting
Often, community work can involve managing project budgets, and if you’ve volunteered as the kindy treasurer, this will stand you in good stead! Equally, we require financial and budgeting skills to manage the bottom line at home. Have you ever successfully negotiated a property purchase? Do you have experience using financial tracking software to manage budgets? Have you ever conducted an analysis to re-finance your mortgage or make large purchasing decisions?
Leadership
Don’t underestimate the leadership skills required to manage a household! You may have also held leadership positions in your school’s P and C, or perhaps you’ve managed your child’s sporting team. Are there examples of where you have instigated a project and worked with others to see it through?
Administration/organisation and time management
This is a big one for most mums. Think about examples of calendar management skills and the administrative tasks you perform. Could these be applicable to the advertised role? Have you ever managed a volunteer roster, or a sporting club game schedule? Perhaps you’ve maintained a community group mailing list. Think of instances where your organisational abilities have come to the fore.
Event management
If you’ve ever organised a school or charity fundraiser, you will know the time, effort and organisation involved. Be sure to list your achievements achieved, the funds raised, the audience reaction, and the type of event/s you organised. What tasks did you carry out to organise the event?
When you think about it, there are many more transferable skills that can apply to a whole range of paid positions. Sometimes it can help to brainstorm with your partner or a friend.
Join Career Smart Mums to learn about writing your achievements using the STAR method for your resume and at interviews.
From managing the lunchtime rush as a tuckshop volunteer, to caring for an elderly relative, it’s amazing how many of the skills you’ve learned during this time will prepare you for paid employment. Don’t hesitate to spell it out to a prospective employer!