Creating a blockbuster resume is essential to landing the right job, continuing or progressing a career and/or working for a desired company.  Resumes are an OPPORTUNITY for women to not only highlight their past accomplishments, but signal to potential employers how they might fit into their organization.

When returning to the workforce, with a gap to explain, resumes feel like an insurmountable obstacle.  They aren't.  Resumes say "this is what I have done" and "this is what I am prepared to do for you."  Yet there are common issues people strive to avoid when developing a resume.

When developing a resume, there are two common concerns people express when writing job summaries:

1. Giving the wrong idea

2. Misrepresenting myself

Here's how to address both concerns and still create a blockbuster resume and get the role you want.

Avoid "Giving the Wrong Idea" and Still Create A Blockbuster Resume

Job seekers actively seek to avoid giving the wrong idea in their resumes.  In other words, they don't want to convey to potential employers that they can do something they can't.  They don't want to suggest they can effectively manage a 20+ person department when they really haven't the foggiest idea how to do that.  This is especially true for working mothers who have been out of the workforce - they fear the dreaded "catch up" or "getting up to speed" time.  

Makes sense.

But this concern can get overextended - To the point that it signals a severe lack of confidence.  For example, some people don't want to write they were in charge of something if they didn't do it for the entire length of time they were in the role.  Jobs are fluid. Responsibilities grow during a role.  Remember that you list accomplishments under a role too.  Not all accomplishments occurred during the entire length of time you were in the role.  Some happened at the beginning and others at the end.  When interviewing, you can discuss how the company recognized your capabilities and allocated more and more responsibility to you during that time period and then provide the example.

Most importantly, don't begin answering the question by "I don't want to give you the wrong idea".  Then it does sound like you have been lying but it also shows that you lack confidence.  You aren't lying.  You did it.  Be proud.

2. Avoid "Misrepresenting Yourself" and Still Get the Role You Want

This one is interesting.  Please let me clear that I in no way advocate lying about your role or your accomplishments.  Ever.  But I do advocate, well, advocating for yourself.

When working mothers are constantly concerned about misrepresenting themselves, it suggests they need to spend more time outlining their future career objectives.  It also suggests they take time to evaluate their past career progression.  Most of the time, when I hear this, there has been a slower career progression.  These women are anxious to only take on new roles once they know for sure, 100%, without a doubt, they can be successful at a new role.

That means they were getting paid less while they performed more senior responsibilities.  In other words, these people acted like managers, while still lead contributors and got paid as lead contributors.  They didn't want or seek the manager title until they knew they were 100% ready.  Then, when these women reenter the workforce, this fear DOUBLES.  They think they will need YEARS to get acclimated again.  

Not.

Now it is important to realize what you are capable of.  It is also important to realize that just because you haven't faced and conquered every issue possible, it doesn't mean you CAN'T.  You may not have done EVERYTHING, but you probably did SOMETHING that was similar.  The concern extends to the interview.  These people are very nervous they will be asked if they did something that they never did.  Then the answer begins with "I don't want to misrepresent myself."

This shows a lack of confidence.

The interview answer should be "At this particular role and for this employer, we did not faced that issue.  However, we faced similarly complex issues and this is how I handled them.  This is how I evaluated the situation, the steps I took, and what I learned."

If you want to get to the next step, you may not have done everything and you shouldn't suggest you are a jack of all trades on your resume.  Don't lie on your resume.  But DO be prepared to answer questions and apply your experiences to different situations.  You can only do this if you know where you want to go.