what to put on resume for maternity leave

[~kellie~]

Was just after peoples thoughts on what you would put on your resume to cover the time away from the workplace while on maternity leave? Particularly if you left your job prior to having bubs rather than just having leave?

[alioops]

I have had Maternity Leave on there, and put something about multi tasking, child care, and all the other nitty gritty things that we have to do

[ubba82]

I have never put maternity leave on my resume. Sometimes employers get put off if they know you have children so I choose not to put it on. If the ask then I will tell them, otherwise I let it go. I have never not got a job because of this.

[alioops]

In having it on ther i have been asked about childcare and congingency plans for when they are sick, and have not been rejected for a job because of it. When we have finished our family it also becomes a selling point in that I am unlikely to need maternity leave during my time there. DH being posted again would be more of a turn off than having a family for me.

[~kellie~]

thanks Ladies, I can see both of your points. As I've been off work for 17 months now, I feel like I have to put something. I'm only applying for contract jobs so prospective employers shouldnt be too worried (I hope!)

[danniellabella]

I put Maternity Leave. Legally they cannot discriminate because you have a family, though it would be hard to prove. I have been told by recruitment agencies that it's better to have something like Maternity Leave or Study instead of nothing at all.

[smiles4u]

I sadly worked for a very successful company (came under medical clinic) that wouldn't give an interview to anyone not even a Temp position mentioning maternity leave on their resume ... or if they lived more than 40mins by car away from work ... Yes, sad BUT true ... but it still does happen BUT then i guess WHO would want to work for a company that has a Director that thinks like that (... i'm sure glad i'm out of there) !!

[BhoysGirl]

Smiles - that's outrageous, and it's so sad to think that there are people out there who are like that. They're the ones missing out though.

I put my Maternity leave on my resume, and have had the opposite experience to the one described by Smiles - I've just started working for a company that openly admits that they want to employ mums in their part time positions. In our team of approx 15, there are 3 of us mums in part time roles, and not in dumbed down jobs, but full on, have to use our brains kind of roles, so there are some good places out there.

If I was rejected for a role on the basis that I am a mum, then I'd be relieved, as that's not the kind of company that I want to work for.

[BhoysGirl]

Also, there are a small number of recruitment agencies that specialise in part-time work & getting Mum's back into the workforce, if this is what you're after. If you google Mums at work, it should bring up a useful website, even if you're not just after part time stuff.

[smiles4u]

Bhoysgirl i could tell you some stories about this company that would make anyones head spin ... and to think they have clinics in almost every state here in Aus ... and now overseas too

[misskate]

hey kellie
i recently did up my resume for a federal govt job(which i got ) and i put my reason for leaving my last job was 'to have a baby' didnt even use the term maternity leave. i guess it all comes down to what you feel comfortable with. i wrote that because i am proud of having lachlan and i guess if they aren't happy about that then screw them :P

[Tobily]

I have always been completely open about my maternity leave - I took 6 months with my daughter and a full year with my son. It's never affected my job applications - I've never had a problem getting a job whenever I've wanted one.

I'm not interested in working for anyone who views maternity leave as bludging, or as a reason to question my commitment. It makes me question their capacity to value their employees as human beings with lives and priorities outside the workplace. That is a completely outdated notion that belongs in the 80's and if they operate like that I would rather know before I commit to a position with them.

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt. And they can kiss my you-know-what

[danniellabella]

I sadly worked for a very successful company (came under medical clinic) that wouldn't give an interview to anyone not even a Temp position mentioning maternity leave on their resume ... or if they lived more than 40mins by car away from work ... Yes, sad BUT true ... but it still does happen BUT then i guess WHO would want to work for a company that has a Director that thinks like that (... i'm sure glad i'm out of there) !!

If there is complete proof of this then that is grounds to report them under the Equal Opportunity act. That behaviour is illegal.

[sushee]

I was away for 2 years on maternity leave, and have never mentioned it on my resume. It's not anyone's business, to be honest, why you weren't working at that time.