What am I going to put on a resume?

This is the number one question women who have been out of the workforce for awhile ask us.

"It's been ten years since my last paying job so what can I possibly put on a resume?"

We say plenty.

Women tend to craft their resume around their last paying job rather than the real experience and strengths they have. So many of us have done non-paying, but important, skill-building volunteer work. Just because you didn't get paid, doesn't mean that the skills you developed aren't valuable AND marketable.

Take Joan for instance. She told us that in the five years she's been out of the job market, she's only changed diapers and did some volunteer work for her church. But, when we dug a little deeper into her volunteer work, we learned that she organized a huge Hurricane Katrina relief effort - coordinating labor, supplies, shipping and distribution of goods - all marketable skills that she could put on her resume.

And what about Cheryl? She came to us when her husband lost his job and she needed to jump back into the job market after 12 years at home raising her sons. However, Cheryl DID manage her son's hockey team which involved managing the budget, fundraising, keeping player statistics, coordinating travel and lodging for 20 families for out-of-state tournaments as well as organizing the many details of hosting a large hockey banquet for over 200 attendees. Based upon her volunteer experience, Cheryl was able highlight "event planning" as a key experience on her resume.

Don't know what to put on your own resume?

Here is a strategy for thinking about skills you have been developing since your last paying job -

Apart from the work you do for your family, what is the single most significant activity that you have engaged in, in the last few years? It doesn't matter how big or how small.

Be honest.

What activity have you engaged in that you are truly proud of?


Readers, we would love to hear from you! Share some of your own proud accomplishments. We want to know!