There is a lot of content out there about how to justify a gap in your CV. Here at What Gap?, we don’t think this is necessary because we don’t believe the gap should be there in the first place. 

Instead, we want parents to include their parenting experience under their professional employment. Why? Because parenting is bloody hard work and it deserves to be recognised as just that.

Understandably, it can be daunting to include ‘Parent’ on your CV. It is not the done thing and there is no guarantee your employer will take it seriously. Plus, stereotypes around parents being less competent or less committed persist, so emphasisng the fact that you are a parent may make you less attractive as a candidate. 

But, the only way to move mountains is to start with small changes. So, put ‘Parent’ on your CV and then use these tips to show your potential employer why that makes you so valuable.

We have outstanding work ethics

Parents don’t have the luxury of throwing in the towel when the going gets tough. Instead, we adapt, we overcome, and we find creative solutions to problems. Plus, we are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When it comes to dedication to a role, parenting is the ultimate commitment. 

We can defuse a stressful situation

Anyone who has gone through the toddler years will have built a powerful arsenal of skills to help them defuse situations. Not only are we able to calm our raging toddlers down, but we can do so without losing our cool. In a fast-paced corporate environment, being the calm in the storm is a highly valuable trait.

We are highly productive

Remember at uni when it would take you all day just to write the title of an essay? Well those days are long gone. No-one is more productive than a parent who knows they only have a two hour nap window to cross everything off their appalling long to-do list.

We are empathetic

It’s no secret that the best managers are the ones who treat their team with empathy and patience. As a parent we have ample experience coaxing unwilling colleagues (AKA our children) into doing what we want them to do. We are also great at listening to their problems and responding with kindness and understanding. 

We are the Queens and Kings of multi-tasking

Having children means regularly doing multiple tasks at once while creating a to-do list of what comes next in your head. It takes top-tier organisational skills to make sure each child has everything they need for the day, the kitchen is restocked, food makes it to the table in a timely fashion – and so on, every single day.