Any Ideas on How I Can Update My Resume After Being a SAHM for 3 Years?

I write about job-hunting for a living, so I have a few ideas:

1. Highlight anything you've done as a SAHM that remotely connects to the business world. For instance, have you done any volunteering at schools, church, charities? Anything there is experience (even just the fact that you worked with diverse personalities is beneficial), so mention it on the resume.

2. Have you stayed involved in any professional groups or taken any classes? Again, those are worth mentioning.

3. Have you considered temporary work? This can be a super way to update your experience and get your foot in the door at potential employers. Many temporary-to-hire positions are out there, too.

Good luck!

Customize your resume to the company's needs. Always include a cover letter, no more than one page.

Look at this - common mistakes in an interview and what to avoid

http://blog.simplyhired.com/2011/10/interview-mistakes-to...

How long have you been looking? I was a stay at home Mom for 10 years; when I needed to go back to work it took 3 or 4 months to get much feed back. Then when it happened it was all at once. I received requests for interviews 6 months after I had a job.

I had to down play my degree to avoid being considered over qualified. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward. Get hired and move on from there!

Please don't get discouraged. It is a lot of work but customize your resume to fit the job. Use the same words they use. Develop a cover letter to tell them about accomplishments not on a resume include your short comings and how you over came them.

Can you imagine how many resumes people get for one opening? Have you tried to send a follow up card to the resume or a thank you card for the phone interview?

I did exactly what CAwritermom suggested and included all the volunteer work I had done (I was out of the workforce for 16 years!!) and boy it added up! Consider all the things you have contributed to in the 3 yrs you have been at home and I bet you will be impressed with yourself. Good luck!

It may not be the fault of your resume. I would also advise doing volunteer work in a related area, taking a class, whatever is needed to make yourself more relevant and give yourself recent experience in the area you desire.

I know I had a hard getting a job after 1 year at home. Thankfully, after about 6 mos of searching, I found a great job. Over 90% of jobs come through contacts, not just blind job applications, and that ended up being how I got my position. Work your contacts! Anyone you know, even if you're removed by a degree, let them know you're looking and what your qualifications are!

The best way to schedule an interview would be through someone you know. Make some phone calls and see if any of your friends anyone who is hiring.

As of SAHM on your resume, it's a great credential to have. When SAHM are ready for work, they make the best employees. Lots of luck!

Check out Tory Johnson...she is a women's career counselor of sorts and has been seen on all the morning talk shows. She has awesome advice on working women and moms. One of the best pieces of advice I've heard her give to sahm going back into the workforce is this...list everything you have done to show you haven't "sat around" like times you volunteered, even for an hour or two somewhere. And when questioned why you didn't "work" that whole time, reply with something like "Staying at home was what I decided to do from (insert year to year) and now I'm excited that I'll be going back into the workforce".

gl!