The Essential Guide to the SAHM Resume for the 100% Inexperienced

Your resume is the first communication between you and prospective employers. Everyone knows it has to impress. But what if your previous experience is as a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM)? What if this is your first job ever? You can still write a great CV sure to land you an interview.

Divide the page. A resume using graphic, bold division will literally cut the white space in half or quarters. Stick with black, grey, and white color blocking to keep the resume professional. A nice headshot will also let your personality take center stage. Try Canva templates.

Every resume is going to have the same overall layout: name, contact information, a 3-4 sentence profile, education, certifications/coursework, experience, and skills. Each of these can be done in a way that minimizes white space and makes your resume seem full.

Make sure your contact information sounds professional. If you had a cutesy email, make a new one. Your photo should be a simple headshot looking straight on with a smile. Avoid heavy makeup, filters or party pics. DIY with your iphone timer and the golden hour.

Include a short note about you. Outgoing or quiet, lean into it here. Take this time to emphasize what you'd bring to the employer. SAHMs are great at working effectively in the midst of chaos. They're experts at bringing order. It's ok to include a little humor.

Education may seem straightforward, if you've been out of school a few years, try taking an online course to brush up. A marketing degree that's collected dust for 6 years might benefit from a Udemy on the latest tactics. Including high school will date you. Keep it basic.

No college degree? Try looking for job specific courses. Include it in an Additional Coursework section of your resume. Looking to work at a daycare? Try Red Cross CPR certification or child development classes. Crate&Barrel? A $20 class on interior design shows you're serious.

Don't discount your experience. As a SAHM, you were tasked with making small humans into productive members of society. And they don't make it easy. Plus, you likely worked that job while pulling a "second shift" doing other household tasks. Those tasks are transferable.

In a skills section, bullet out all of the things in your toolbox you've had to wield to get through the day: time management, de-escalation techniques, communication, and more. These are all great if you might work with customers who can be just as petulant as your toddler.

Some days it might seem like you've just been running around all day to the soundtrack of Elmo. But when you see a finished resume in action, it'll make it clear how hard you work as a SAHM and how lucky employers would be to have you.