The military spouses resume Published June 24, 2011 By Karan R. Godette Airman and Family Readiness Center MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- In this economy a lot of our Air Force Global Strike Command military spouses are returning to the workforce after having stayed at home for several years. Many might have no idea how to write a resume, or more specifically, how to identify their homemaker status within their resume. Maybe you stayed home to care for children or elderly parents, or simply because of your sacrifice as a military spouse. Unfortunately, the longer you are out of the workforce, the more difficult it is to get back in. Many spouses feel that they are discriminated against for choosing to stay home for a while. The key is writing and acknowledging those skills from your year's at home within your resume. So how do you start? First, list your at-home years within your resume. Try to avoid hiding any gaps within your employment as it may be very obvious to an employer. Second, write out what skills you do have and have utilized throughout your at-home status. Remember to list only the skills you have done. Third, do not forget to add volunteer work accomplished throughout the at-home years. Below is a sample you can use for your resume. Remember to give yourself credit for all you have done. The Homemakers (Homemaker, Domestic Engineer, Housewife) Resume Bullets Managed schedules and logistics for family of five. Balanced priorities to create and implement budget. Negotiated with suppliers. Paid invoices. Collaborated with mate to manage investments. Motivated, coached and counseled children. Taught and modeled ethics. Worked with teachers to closely monitor academic performance of children. Planned, organized and co-supervised extracurricular school activities. Mediated disputes among family members and facilitated solutions. Shopped for clothing, food and necessary supplies. Prepared and served nutritious meals for five. Coordinated medical care appointments for all family members. Established clear rule requirements and discipline for children. Drove children to schools, team sports, music lessons and more. Reconciled accounts. Arranged for home and vehicle maintenance, and repairs. Maintained clean home and clean clothes for family. Planned and created dinners to entertain mate's employers, colleagues, clients and prospects. Summary of Skills *Effectively perform housekeeping and home management duties. *Over 10 year's child care experience. *Management, implementation, and coordination of multiple activities and schedules. *Ability to provide tension management strategies to meet psychological and emotional needs of family members. *Excellent problem-solving skills. RELEVANT SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS Domestic management skills Performed routine housekeeping duties such as washing dishes, making beds and changing sheets. Operated washing machines and dryers to clean shirts, sheets, blankets, towels and other garments and household articles. Cleaned, disinfected, and polished kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances. Swept, mopped, washed, waxed and polished floors. Dusted furniture and vacuumed carpeting. Picked up debris and emptied trash containers. Budget and financial management skills Conducted and coordinated frequent grocery shopping excursions. Maintained multiple schedules for appointments and activities. Budgeted for all household activities and purchases. Negotiated prices, discounts, credit terms, and transportation arrangements for purchase of household merchandise. Remember, don't sell yourself short. You did something valuable with your time. Spouses serve too!