Motherhood as a Professional Identity: Crafting a Resume that Honors Your Role

In today's professional landscape, many individuals are increasingly viewing motherhood as a career. While traditional roles often overlook the professional credentials and skills mothers develop, it is crucial to accurately represent these experiences in a career-oriented document such as a resume or CV. This article provides guidance on how to phrase and articulate your role as a mother in a professional manner, ensuring it resonates with employers and highlights the valuable skills you bring to any career path.

The Nature of Motherhood as a Career

While it is true that society is slowly recognizing motherhood as a career, it is essential to clarify that motherhood is still primarily viewed as a familial role, albeit one that involves significant work and effort. Most people understand that being a mother or father involves a lot of responsibilities but do not necessarily consider it a traditional job or career. However, acknowledging this premise is helpful for the purpose of this discussion.

Accepting that motherhood can be seen as a career for the sake of argument, a resume would take the career title of “Mother” and outline the specific responsibilities and results achieved during this time. The following are some of the key responsibilities that could be included:

Key Responsibilities

Budget Management: Effective budgeting and financial planning to ensure resources are used efficiently. Time Management: Efficient allocation of time to ensure all duties are fulfilled without compromising on quality. Logistics and Coordination: Managing schedules and coordinating tasks to meet multiple demands without stress. Training and Education: Fostering your children's educational development and supporting their learning. Leadership and Management: Leading by example and managing a household system effectively. Infrastructure Maintenance and Management: Ensuring the physical and emotional well-being of the household.

These responsibilities are not just a matter of personal fulfillment but also involve a high level of skill and dedication. However, it is important to recognize that mothers and fathers do not have accountability to a superior or subject to correction, management, or oversight. There are no externally-set goals or milestones, and success or failure is often assessed subjectively and on a personal level.

Professional Representation on a Resume

When including your time as a mother in a professional resume, it is crucial to present this information in a way that adds value without overstating the case. Simply stating the years during which you raised your children can serve to acknowledge the significant time commitment and effort that goes into this role. For example:

2007–2017: Raised my children

This statement is clear and concise, and it reflects the mutual understanding that raising children is a vital contribution to society that does come at a personal cost. If there are directly transferable skills from this time, such as leadership or time management, it is appropriate to highlight these specifically. For example, if you developed strong leadership skills, you might include:

Leadership Skills: Enhanced through raising my children

However, it is essential to avoid using overly romantic or cliché language that could detract from the professional presentation of your skills. Terms like “domestic manager” or “household engineer” are both inaccurate and unprofessional and could make you appear less serious about your career progression.

Conclusion

Integrating the experiences and skills gained from being a mother into a professional resume is a valuable practice. It showcases the multifaceted nature of your work and the significant contributions you make to society. By framing these experiences accurately, you can present a well-rounded and professional representation of yourself, which can benefit your career and personal brand.