This afternoon I finally did it. I dug my decrepit resume from the bowels of my computer hard drive. Thank God I remembered to transfer it from the floppy disc it once nearly filled several generations of computers ago. But I think it belongs in those long ago days. It is ugly. It is barren. It has a great big seven year hole glaring out for all to see.
How do I escape from the SAHM black hole?
With half of Hubby’s office about to get the ax and the survivors hoping to cope with pay and benefit cuts, I decided it might be time to test out the waters. I don’t know if anyone will think I am qualified to hold any position. I keep reading horror stories of how college-educated SAHMs can’t even score an interview yet kids with the ink still wet on their high school diplomas get the job. And I suck at rejection.
After I nearly cried in desperation, I edited some of the job description/accomplishments/bragging passages. Honestly, they were written so long ago I have no idea what “increased sales by 70%” even means. Was it $20,000? $100,000? $1,000,000? “I cannot recall,” would not be a suitable answer in an interview.
I am also a career changer. I do not want to go back to the retail 60-hour workweeks and insane customers unless my house is on the line. My last employer, the wonderful State of Florida, is currently laying off a significant portion of its dedicated and experienced staff (a.k.a. possibly the Hubby) so there are no opportunities there. What’s a girl to do?
My main concern now is the black hole. Do I fill it with one of the snarky “SAHM & Domestic Goddess Engineer” job descriptions? It’s not as if I have spent the last seven years on the couch eating Thin Mint cookies while watching HGTV (just a teeny tiny bit when Kiddo was just an infant and napping). I’ve raised an intelligent, independent, well-adjusted kid. I’ve budgeted obsessively and kept us afloat on a single, pitiful government employee salary. I taught myself new skills as I remodeled my house, doing most of the labor myself. I helped run a popular Moms’ Group, been paid to eat popcorn and have interesting Japanese product engineers take samples of my hair. I write and take photos for a blog (although I never made any money from it) and I’m so close to finishing the first draft of my novel (which I may now never finish).
But does any of that count on a resume?
To anyone out there in the real world I’m just a simple Stay At Home Mom.
Really sorry to hear about the cuts being made at your hubby’s workplace.
Raising a child/running a home is not a “black hole.”Plus, being a blogger and a writer are legitimate and valuable jobs as well. You can certainly update your resume with pride and honesty, my friend 🙂
I agree with Samantha. You should proudly boast about all your accomplishments as a SAHM. I’d mention the Mom’s Group & any other volunteer work plus the writing and blogging. Good luck!
I am a SAHHM. A Stay At Home Home Schooling Mom. I was very surprised when filling out my childrens’ high school transcripts how much they have accomplished through volunteering and community service. You’d be surprised when you list all that you’ve done in the past 10 years, and being a writer, you’ll be able to make the most of these accomplishments with lovely details.
Nothing to feel inferior about. Hold your head with pride in being a sahm. Put in there all you’ve done and learned during this time – just as you did in your post. Be funny, yet honest. The list you wrote shows how adaptive and creative you are.
Cheers,
Tracy All Thumbs Crafts
Sorry to hear about your hubby. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Faced with the same problem, I set up my own business 4 years ago. I never looked back. It doesn’t need to be the business of the century, just something that works for you. You have brought up a kid. From what I read, you are adaptable. You will find something! Keep us posted.
“Just” a stay at home mom? preposterous! I’ve been a live-in nanny, which is like half of a stay at home mom, and that shit counts as work!
Stopping in from the LBS tea party.
I am sorry to hear of your potential struggle with cut backs…we just went through a similar situation at my husband’s job. He was lucky enough to keep his but so many other did not. I say you put all of your credentials in especially the ones regarding your accomplishement as a SAHM. Don’t give up on the writing!
Being a stay at home mum makes you over qualified for most jobs!! Before I jacked in my job to be a mum the company I worked for used to actively seek them out as 99% of the time they would get 2 peoples jobs done in half the time! lol
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