Resume Tips & Tricks for Single Parents
Job hunting is not easy, especially for single parents balancing school, work, and family responsibilities; it can feel like an uphill battle with no end in sight. But a polished resume is exactly what you need to do your best on your job applications.
When creating your resume, keep these things in mind:
- It’s normal to have a few versions of your resume tailored to different types of positions.
- Most recruiters will spend less than a minute looking at your resume. So be sure not to waste space on fluff.
- Your resume should tell the story of you. Feel empowered to include untraditional work like caretaking, babysitting, volunteering, and more.
Let’s break down a sample resume. Your resume should include:
- A header section
- An education section
- An experience section
- A skills section
- An optional volunteer section.
HEADER SECTION
At the top of your resume, your header should include your name and contact information.
Jane Doe
emailaddress@gmail.com | (501) 555-555
EDUCATION SECTION
In your education section, be sure to include any degrees or certifications and where you earned them.
EDUCATION:
High School Diploma – Little Rock Central High School, 2015
Associate of Arts – UA-Pulaski Technical College, 2020
First Aid & CPR Certification – Red Cross, 2020
EXPERIENCE SECTION
Your experience section is where most recruiters will spend the majority of their time. Each descriptor under your experience should begin with a verb. Verbs like oversaw, led, or facilitated are much stronger than worked. By starting with a verb, you’re emphasizing what you did in this role and what skills you’ll bring to your next. Include no more than three descriptors each.
When listing your experiences, list the most recent experiences first. For each experience, be sure to include your job title, the company, the location, the dates you worked there, and a short description of the work you did.
As a single parent, there may be gaps in your school or work timeline. For many single parents, time away from school or work wasn’t a pause; it was a period of responsibility, problem-solving, and survival.
The goal isn’t to hide gaps. It’s to frame them confidently so employers understand your path without judging it. One example of this is to say: “Full-time caregiver while raising children.” This is clear, confident, and direct.
EXPERIENCES:
Server at Jennifer’s Diner from Aug. 2022 – Sept. 2023
– Received and delivered customer orders with accuracy and efficiency.
– Maintained a clean work space and followed food safety protocols.
Teaching Assistant at Little Lamb Daycare from Aug. 2020 – Aug. 2022
– Compassionately cared for 10-12 children at a time, ranging from ages 2-3.
– Facilitated lessons to promote cognitive development through individual
and collaborative activities.
SKILLS SECTION
Next comes your skills section. This is your chance to show what you’re good at and highlight the skills that match the job you’re applying for. Skip vague phrases like “hardworking” and instead focus on concrete abilities and technologies.
SKILLS:
Customer Service | Cash Handling | Lesson Planning | Time Management | Google Suite | Team Collaboration | Point of Sales
If you’re applying for different types of jobs, it’s totally okay to swap out this section depending on the role. A communications job and a child care job should not have the same skills list.
OPTIONAL SECTIONS
Finally, you can include optional sections like ‘Certifications,’ ‘Volunteer Experience,’ or ‘Leadership’ if they strengthen your application.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:
Community Food Pantry Volunteer for Neighbors Food Pantry from Sept. 2020 to Present.
- Sorted and distributed food to 50+ families per shift.
- Provided friendly and respectful service to community members.
Other useful resume tips include:
- Save your files as “FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf” and “FirstName_LastName_CoverLetter.pdf.”
- If a job feels slightly out of reach, apply anyway. Growth happens in the stretch.
- Send a quick email to a contact at the organization after applying to express the sincerity of your interest. This can go a long way!
Job hunting can be exhausting, discouraging, and way more emotional than people admit. But every resume you edit, every cover letter you send, and every rejection you survive is proof that you’re showing up for yourself and your family.
