My resume has been dusted off and polished up. This I found to be a very interesting process. Because my resume said everything and nothing about me all at once. The language used to describe what I did before children sounds, well, not like me. I would love to write a letter to one of the companies hiring that goes like this.
Dear XXXX,
I am very interested in the job you have listed. I will attach a copy of my resume for you to read but really this is where you are going to learn the most about me. Here is what you should know. I am an intelligent, well spoken, College educated, computer savvy, resourceful, creative, seriously organized, dependable, efficient, self motivated women. What I don't know I can figure out in a hurry.
I have an entire background that basically comes down to manager and customer service expert. I have had some crazy customers in my past but by far my toughest customers have been the three I am raising. I know how to talk to people without putting them on the defensive or sending them into a melt down. Not an insignificant skill.
I know the value of a dollar and have figured out how to get the greatest bang for my buck. I have made discount and bargain shopping an Olympic sport in which I hold the gold medal for. I mention this only because I want you to know that I won't waste your time or money.
To say I can multitask is an understatement. I balance the needs of an 11 year old, 8 year old and 3 year old daily. The interesting thing with children is that they always have emergencies at exactly the same time. So I am quick and clever about handling it. I manage them, have a clean organized house, and dinner on the table every night.
For additional information please go ahead and read my resume for the details on my job experience.
Bottom line, if you hire me you will not be disappointed.
Thanks for you time, Melanie Strout
I think it would be great to be able to cut through the bullshit of resumes and cover letters and just get right to the point. What would your letter say?
Mel - that's great! I think you should send out this letter anyway -- it can't hurt! Someone who would hire you based on your honesty is most likely someone who you'd do well working for. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the timely blob post, too. I'm updating my resume and as you perfectly describe, mine says everything and nothing about me.
I would hire you! Being a stay at home mother and raising three children is an incredible challenge. It takes patience, persistence, dedication and complete selflessness. My sister is a stay at home mother of four. I can't imagine doing her job every day which is probably why I returned to work after a year off with my first child. I wish you the best in your search and hope that you find a company who is willing to cut through the b.s. that so many employees put on their resumes to see that value you have to offer.
ReplyDeleteI love this Melanie! My mom also stopped working when she had her first child (my oldest sister). We’re now 26, 27, and 28 years old and live in 3 different cities, yet this STILL doesn't stop her from working hard... and she does it all to make our lives easier. Being a stay at home mom is by far the biggest "promotion" anyone could take on. Being the semi grown up woman I am (haha), I look back on everything my mom did to make our lives happy and abundant, and I feel so blessed. Ya'll (moms like you) literally do it all! I think that any employer who values family and home life will agree that the job you take on when having children is one that could never be put on paper and still give motherhood the justice it deserves. So with that being said, here’s my idea. In emailing your resume to an employer, have two links in the email.... one for those who want the “Melanie, raw and uncut” version (aka this blog post you wrote) and the other for those who prefer looking at pretty words on paper (aka boring resume). That way, they have a choice between the two. AND you can know which employers to eliminate as well! Hehe. Great post :)
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