Stay-at-Home Mom or Dad Resume: Writing Tips and Example

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated June 23, 2022 | Published February 4, 2020

Updated June 23, 2022

Published February 4, 2020

Related: Job Cast: Job Search Tips for Parents and Caregivers Returning to the Workforce

Tune in for this virtual workshop to learn how to lean into your caregiving with pride and present yourself as the leader that you are in order to continue your career.

If you're re-entering the workforce after some time as a stay-at-home mom or dad, you may be wondering how to update your resume. While you haven't been in a regular corporate position, you’ve been developing other skills as a caregiver, including organization and home management. Understanding how to outline your time away from work on your resume can help you communicate your professional history and your skills to a prospective employer.

In this article, we discuss tips for creating a stay-at-home mom or dad resume and explain how to write one, and we include a template and an example for guidance.

Tips for a stay-at-home mom or dad resume

For any amount of time you've been a stay-at-home parent, you've been working on skills that apply to many other positions. Here are some things you can consider including as you begin outlining your document:

Relevant previous experience: You can use the job description to determine how your previous experience matches up with this potential position. Try to use similar language when presenting your previous experience when possible, as this can help a hiring manager quickly gauge your relevant abilities.
Volunteer positions: During your time as a stay-at-home parent, you may have had a little time to volunteer. Some of your duties as a volunteer may be relatable to the position you are applying for, so having these positions and responsibilities will help show your diverse experience.
Freelance work: Some stay-at-home parents take freelance work when they have time, including tasks that are similar to their previous work experience. This experience is applicable work that you can add to your resume.
Stay-at-home experience: There’s debate as to whether this experience should be on your resume as part of your work history, and it might depend on whether your caregiving duties have a clear relationship to the job. Either way, it’s good information to put in your cover letter at least to address any gap in your employment.

Related: How to Explain Career Gaps In an Interview AND On Your Resume

In our latest career tips video, Sinead will guide you on how to explain career gaps during an interview. In this step-by-step tutorial, you can rest assured that will offer some great ways to tackle interview questions related to this.

How to write a stay-at-home mom or dad resume

Follow these steps when updating your resume after a career break to raise your children:

1. Start with your contact information

The top portion of your resume includes your full name, phone number, city and state of residence and professional email address. This makes it so the hiring manager can easily contact you if they wish to schedule an interview. Depending on your industry, you may also have a professional profile or portfolio website. Including this brief link in your resume reader gives the hiring manager a chance to view and assess your prior industry experience, which can be especially useful if you’ve taken a break from working.

2. Write a professional summary

Start the body of your resume with a one-to-three sentence summary of your previous work experience and your professional goals. For example, if you were a graphic designer before becoming a stay-at-home parent and want to return to this type of work, you could talk about how many years you were in that role and some unique achievements. You can also mention your most relevant or notable skills and how you hope to contribute to the organization to which you’re applying.

3. Use reverse chronological order for experience

If you'd like to include your stay-at-home parenting experience on your resume, use a job title like homemaker, house manager or caregiver. From there, add several bullet points that describe your primary caregiving responsibilities, then list your previous work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the last role before you became a stay-at-home parent. Check the job description of the role you are applying for to gauge how you can describe your past experiences to indicate your ability to fulfill the new role.

4. Include a skills section

While your skills section may include traits you developed in previous positions, you can also list the skills you have developed while at home. For example, you may have managed schedules and created a daily routine for your family. These skills could read as “Schedule management” or “Organization.”

5. Add your education

Your education section includes any degrees or diplomas you hold and the institution from which you graduated. If you graduated more than three years ago, you can leave out your date of graduation. If you took any extra courses or workshops during your time at home, you can list those as well, alongside the institution through which you completed the course.

Stay-at-home mom or dad resume template

Here’s a template you can use to help create your new resume:

[Full name]
[Phone number] | [City, state] | [Professional email address] | [Professional website or portfolio link if applicable]

Professional summary

[One to three sentences describing your previous roles and experiences and how they apply to the new position]

Work experience

[Job title], [Start date-end date]

[Company name], [Location]

[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]
[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]
[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]
[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]
[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

[Job title], [Start date-end date]

[Company name], [Location]

[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]
[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]
[Strong verb] + [job duty] + [impact]

Skills

[Relevant skill] | [Relevant skill] | [Relevant skill] | [Relevant skill]

Education

[Degree or diploma earned]

[Institution name], [Graduation date if within last three years]

Related: Resume Formatting Best Practices

In this career advice video, Sinead explains how to format a perfect resume including margins, font types and sizes and tips for passing an applicant tracking system (ATS).

Stay-at-home mom or dad resume example

Here’s an example of a stay-at-home parent resume that you can use as inspiration for your own:

Sam Madera
572-291-0194 | Williamsburg, VA | sam.madera@email.com | smadera.artfolios.com

Professional summary

Graphic designer with 10+ years of experience looking for an opportunity to contribute to exciting design campaigns for business clients. Seeking a role that utilizes my project management, organizational and creative skills.

Work experience
Caregiver, September 2021-Current
Madera Household, Williamsburg, VA

Manage multiple schedules for a household of two adults and twin children
Create daily routines with built-in flexibility
Establish budgets for utilities, food, necessities and leisure activities
Coordinate medical appointments for all family members and follow-up with health care providers
Balance caregiving duties with freelance work

Freelance Graphic Designer, July 2021-Current
Various private clients, Williamsburg, VA

Work on short-term graphic design projects for individuals and small businesses
Create logos, posters, flyers, product labels and advertisements
Communicate with clients about project goals, timelines and budgets
Design mock-ups for client feedback and implement changes as needed
Participate in self-paced learning regarding graphic design software and trends

Senior Graphic Designer, August 2012 - August 2021
Hero Graphic Agency, Newport News, VA

Created graphics for simultaneous client campaigns
Collaborated with other design teams to develop strategies for each campaign
Provided quality assurance and training for junior graphic design staff