Another Resume ? - would you put down that you homeschooled?

[awanama]

I posted before that we have decided to put our children in ps next year and I am planning to starting working again. My mom and I are debating if I should put down my experience homeschooling my children. I say no because I feel some people will take that wrong especially if an opening comes up in the ps for an Associate. She says that I should put it down because it is experience working with kids and curriculum. I'm thinking maybe I should just leave it as being a full time parent during that time.

What would you do? I'm not looking at getting any exceptional job. I'm trying to find something local that I can do while my children are in school because my dh works nights and I need to be home then. So, it would either be hotel work, working at the public school, or maybe in the local gas station or grocery store.

[WTMindy]

I posted before that we have decided to put our children in ps next year and I am planning to starting working again. My mom and I are debating if I should put down my experience homeschooling my children. I say no because I feel some people will take that wrong especially if an opening comes up in the ps for an Associate. She says that I should put it down because it is experience working with kids and curriculum. I'm thinking maybe I should just leave it as being a full time parent during that time.

What would you do? I'm not looking at getting any exceptional job. I'm trying to find something local that I can do while my children are in school because my dh works nights and I need to be home then. So, it would either be hotel work, working at the public school, or maybe in the local gas station or grocery store.

Absolutely I would put it down. I think it will be a great lead in to tell any potential employees the skills you have learned from doing that. It shows that you can manage many things, be organized, planned lessons and curriculum, enjoy children, etc. It is something to be proud of.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

I posted before that we have decided to put our children in ps next year and I am planning to starting working again. My mom and I are debating if I should put down my experience homeschooling my children. I say no because I feel some people will take that wrong especially if an opening comes up in the ps for an Associate. She says that I should put it down because it is experience working with kids and curriculum. I'm thinking maybe I should just leave it as being a full time parent during that time.

What would you do? I'm not looking at getting any exceptional job. I'm trying to find something local that I can do while my children are in school because my dh works nights and I need to be home then. So, it would either be hotel work, working at the public school, or maybe in the local gas station or grocery store.

I highly prize the quality of the work I did as a homeschool mom, but I think it would be equivalent to putting down the work of meal planning, shopping, and cooking. It's unpaid work. Certainly worth a mention if it comes up in the interview process, though, as long as you're CERTAIN it won't come back to bite you on the behind. Easier to judge face to face than when sending a resume out to be read by who knows who. Too many stereotypes floating around to take the chance, IMO.

[KristineIN]

Yes, because I would want people to know why I've been out of the workforce for a long time and I think what I've learned is valuable.

Kristine

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

Absolutely I would put it down. I think it will be a great lead in to tell any potential employees the skills you have learned from doing that. It shows that you can manage many things, be organized, planned lessons and curriculum, enjoy children, etc. It is something to be proud of.

We.... gasp... disagree??

No. It can't happen. It's like a rip in the space-time continuum. :svengo:

[Tracey in TX]

If you are seeking employment where children are concerned (ie school, daycare), definitely include homeschool experience. Otherwise it has no place in a resume and will probably not be taken as a serious applicant.

[JudoMom]

If you are seeking employment where children are concerned (ie school, daycare), definitely include homeschool experience. Otherwise it has no place in a resume and will probably not be taken as a serious applicant.

I'll place my vote here with the middle ground :iagree:.

[Eliana]

I think, in most cases, this information would belong in a cover letter not on a resume.

I don't think the issues is paid vs unpaid - volunteer positions *if the skills are relevant to the job being applied for* belong on a resume, the work we do at home for ourselves does not.

For example: If I were applying for an education-related position, I would include my time on the Board of Directors for a small private school and my curriculum development work for them, but not my work homeschooling - though the latter is more extensive. I *would* refer to the skills I developed as a homeschooler in my cover letter... and how it matches the experience/skill set they are seeking.

[Janet in WA]

I did. I included the information that I educated our sons through high school, which led to my being able to inform those who interviewed me that those sons are now college students. Worked for me.

And I agree with your mother about the job at the school. I knew that the gap in my work history would be interpreted as SAHM. But I wanted to put a finer point on that and emphasize that I'd done something exceptional with my mind and talents during that time.

On my resume, I included this information under "Other Experience", along with things like volunteer work, leadership positions in the community and my church, etc. (including serving on the board of our homeschool support group).

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

Regardless of whether you decide to put homeschooling on your resume or in the cover letter, consider calling yourself a home educator rather than a homeschooler or a homeschooling mom. I think it has a more professional ring to it.

Barb

[Janet in WA]

Regardless of whether you decide to put homeschooling on your resume or in the cover letter, consider calling yourself a home educator rather than a homeschooler or a homeschooling mom. I think it has a more professional ring to it.

BarbI termed it "Homeschool Educator".

[awanama]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I'm going to think on this for awhile and then decide. I know if I apply for a job at the school that most likely they will know anyway. My kids have attended the public school and I'm sure as small of a community that we live in, the superintendent would recognize our name as being homeschoolers.

[Diana in OR]

Yes, because I would want people to know why I've been out of the workforce for a long time and I think what I've learned is valuable.

Kristine

I agree with this. And it's definitely a plus if you would be trying to get a job in the ps. While I know there are certain people within the ps system who are down on hsing, at least in my area, I have only gotten positive comments from ps teachers/employees regarding homeschooling. I have experience as a former teacher, and now parent of a ps student, and I've noticed that most ps teachers and administrators really have a desire to see students be successful, and not much interested in pushing a certain worldview or political agenda.

[mooooom]

I had a whole section for volunteer work (which basically showed that I had been pretty busy since my kids were born) (google different kinds of resumes to find examples). I spent about 4 years doing newsletters for various organizations, ran a dog rescue for a few years and homeschooled throughout the whole thing. I got interviews and one woman was so enthusiastic about it (she said it was the same thing as being an entrepreneur with a successful business - research skills, drive, endurance, dedication....) And these were jobs in the business world - nothing to do with children. I got the third job I interviewed for. Couldn't tell you if there were jobs I missed out on because it was on there.

[WTMindy]

We.... gasp... disagree??

No. It can't happen. It's like a rip in the space-time continuum. :svengo:

LOL! The funny thing is that when I read your post it made me question my own opinion!! And, then I read this post!!

But, my thought is more if she is interested in working in education at all that it wouldn't be frowned on. I do think it is a step beyond homemaker/mother (and I wish we lived in a society where that would be a badge of honor also!)

Not enough time has passed before I can rep you again, but I'm sure checking regularly!!!