Posted by Wendy on October 12, 19100 at 05:06:23:
In Reply to: Back to work! posted by Jill on October 04, 19100 at 11:49:27:
Hi, Jill,
In regard to the coverletter, it should basically support your resume, emphasizing those skills the employer says he/she wants. For example, if an advertisement says they want someone with "strong computer skills," I will say in my cover letter that I have "13 years of computer experience...." That information is also on my resume in my Summary of Qualifications section.
When you write your resume, since you've been out of the work force for such an extended period of time, you might consider doing a Hybrid or Functional resume instead of the typical Chronological resume. One of the former resume types will highlight your skillset rather than the number and types of jobs you've had. The link above explains and gives examples of the different types.
In addition, if you use one of those two types, you can also include skills you may have gained from volunteer work you completed while in your SAHM career. For example, did you provide phone coverage for an abuse hotline? Did you format and type a school newspaper for your kids? Did you organize a play group or a Mother's group? Don't discount any skills you may have obtained during your time at-home just because they weren't paid gigs. Chances are you weren't just sitting on the couch watching Soap Operas and eating Bon-Bons, and those skills could be valuable to a potential employer.
Good luck! Job hunting is a daunting chore for anyone. Hang in there and rest assured that you'll find a job you like.