
How to Start a CV—20+ Examples and Tips
False starts, knuckle-cracking, hair-pulling, and groaning are no way to spend an afternoon. Learn how to start a CV so you feel good, finish fast, and land the interview.
You don’t want the world. You just want to ditch the commute and be around your kids a little. But you have to convince them to hire you. Use this stay at home mum CV sample.
Here’s your problem:
You don’t need 60 hours a week. Just 20 would do it.
You know you’re skilled. And there are people out there who need you.
But—
How can you get noticed?
It starts with a CV that proves you can do remote work.
In this guide:
Save hours of work and get a CV like this. Pick a template, fill it in. Quick and easy. Choose from 21 CV templates and download your CV now.
What users say about Resumelab:
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your CV.”
Patrick
I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
Dylan
My previous CV was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
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Lots of stay-at-home mums switch careers. If that’s you, see our guide: Career Change CV Sample—25+ Examples and Writing Tips. You may also find useful to read How to Write a CV When You Have Employment Gaps.
Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Professional CV Examples.
Sarah Adwani, AATQB
Remote Bookkeeper
070 7184 9273
sarahadwani@email.com
linkedin.com/in/sarahadwani
twitter.com/sarahadwani
Summary
Licenced Bookkeeper with 6+ years of experience. Seeking to boost efficiency as a remote employee at Red Sky Construction. At Atkins Building Supply, cut AR from £175,000 to £20K with new electronic payments system. Tracked £350,000 in annual revenue with QuickBooks. Member of Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. Highly self-motivated.
Certifications
Experience
Bookkeeper
Atkins Building Supply, Ltd., Elton
December 2014–November 2019
Receptionist
Ervin Medical Clinic, Birmingham
April 2010–September 2013
Education
BSc Accounting and Finance, University of Birmingham
2009–2013
Additional Activities
Hard Skills: AR, AP, Quickbooks, payroll accounting
Soft Skills: communication, attention to detail, self-motivation, interpersonal skills
See that?
That sample SAHM CV does two important things:
Now here’s how to write a stay at home mum CV that works:
This is vital:
Most CVs for stay at home mums get ignored.
Why?
They don’t use the right format for CVs.
The right format conveys professionalism in an eye-blink.
Use these tips:
Expert Hint: Most of getting hired with a stay-at-home mum CV is networking. If employers know and like you, they’re more inclined to hire you. Tap into your network!
Let’s be honest.
Would you read a stack of CVs?
Most employers don’t.
They skim, then spend time with the ones they like.
Be in that second group.
To do it, write a career summary a summary of qualifications or a CV objective.
Use:
These stay at home mum CV examples lay the ground rules:
Licenced Bookkeeper with 6+ years of experience. Seeking to boost efficiency as a remote employee at Red Sky Construction. At Atkins Building Supply, cut AR from £175,000 to £20K with new electronic payments system. Tracked £350,000 in annual revenue with QuickBooks. Member of Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. Highly self-motivated.
Experienced bookkeeper, highly self-motivated and looking for work as a stay at home mum. Skilled in QuickBooks, month-end entries, accounts receivable, payroll, and accounts payable. Easygoing and hard-working, with a keen eye for detail.
Now:
Pretend you’re hiring. Which do you like best?
Numbers and details make it sing.
But—
What if your experience is still in onesies?
Some SAHM’s need to switch careers. Will you try your hand at bookkeeping? Start a new copywriting career?
In a CV for stay at home mums with no work experience, your achievements should:
These SAHM CV examples show how:
Self-motivated remote bookkeeper. Seeking to save money for Atkins Building Supply. As receptionist at Ervin Medical Clinic, facilitated QuickBooks accounting and payroll processing. Worked with customers on past-due accounts to save £20,000 yearly.
Hard-working stay-at-home mum seeks position as bookkeeper, working remotely. I’m a good listener, quick to understand the job and a very self-motivated individual. I’ve never yet worked as a bookkeeper but I’m looking for a company that will take a chance on me.
The first of those stay at home mum CV examples works the details.
That also works for a stay at home mum returning to work.
Finally, write your summary last. You’ll nip writer’s block in the bud.
Expert Hint: It’s easier to get hired with a SAHM CV than even 5 years ago. Google “work from home jobs” + [your title]. Then click the blue “jobs” bar for lots of openings.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.
Here’s your wakeup call.
It’s hard to get hired as a stay at home mum.
You’ll need to prove competence and work ethic.
How?
That comes down to writing a tightly tailored CV.
So—look for the right CV skills in the hiring ad.
Then use them as CV keywords in your job description.
These stay at home mum CV samples show how:
The job wants these skills: working from home, AR, AP, Quickbooks, payroll, Excel.
Experience
Bookkeeper
Atkins Building Supply, Ltd., Elton
December 2014–November 2019
The takeaway:
The first of those stay at home mum CV examples is a dream come true. She can work from home, do AR, AP, QuickBooks, payroll, and Excel.
Plus, the numbers show she aces all of them.
The second is like all the rest. Why risk hiring him?
Now let’s look at an entry-level CV:
The job wants these skills: payroll, QuickBooks, month-end-close, negotiating.
Receptionist
Ervin Medical Clinic, Birmingham
April 2010–September 2013
Receptionist
Ervin Medical Clinic, Birmingham
April 2010–September 2013
Oh oh.
The second of those stay at home mum CV examples might work for a receptionist.
But you want to be a bookkeeper.
Fit your achievements to the new job, no matter what your past job was.
Here’s something special:
You can prove soft skills like negotiating or communication with almost any work history.
Here are some of the most valued skills on the planet:
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
Computer Programming | Interpersonal Skills |
MS Office | Collaboration |
QuickBooks | Communication |
Spreadsheets | Critical Thinking |
Writing | Efficiency |
Graphical Software | Problem Solving |
Enterprise Systems | Organisation |
Research | Attention to Detail |
Planning | Troubleshooting |
Project Management | Presentation |
Expert Hint: Find stay-at-home mum jobs with Google search, Indeed, or LinkedIn. But—apply in person or on the company’s website. You’ll vastly increase your chances!
You must show education.
But—
Will you waste it?
Most CV education sections stop at “degree, school, dates, grade.”
Go the extra mile like this stay at home mum CV sample:
Education
BSc Accounting and Finance, University of Birmingham
2009–2013
Perfect.
If the job needs Quickbooks, payroll, AP, and AR, you’re set.
Expert Hint: Don’t have a strong network? Join a professional association that fits your career. Also—find regular meetups and networking events near you.
“She’s a go-getter.”
Your CV should signal that.
So—
Paste in a couple of these bonus sections:
Nail it like these stay at home mum CV examples:
Certifications
Additional Activities
Additional Activities
Notice anything?
The first of those stay at home mum CV examples shows a great employee.
Expert Hint: Your cover letter will be a critical addition to your CV for stay at home mums. You’ll need to convince them you can make the shift to remote work smoothly.
Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.
For a stay at home mum CV that wakes them up:
Got questions on how to write a great CV for stay at home mum jobs? Not sure how to put stay at home mum on a CV? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
False starts, knuckle-cracking, hair-pulling, and groaning are no way to spend an afternoon. Learn how to start a CV so you feel good, finish fast, and land the interview.
If there’s one thing that never goes out of fashion, it’s simplicity. With this timeless list of the best simple CV templates, you will have to look no further. Ever again.
When writing a CV, it’s easy to forget about some important details or include something you’re not supposed to. But that won’t happen to you ever again—if you read this study.