Question:
I have lurked for a while. I am about to finish up at Andrews and
wondered if you might have some suggestions for me for my resume.
My problem is that I have been a SAHM since 1986. Previous to that, I worked
continuously since high school graduation in 1971 at various secretarial/clerk
jobs, but not very long at any one job. I also have a vo-tech diploma in
accounting.
My grades at Andrews have been excellent on my final assessment in each
specialty: three 97%, one 98%, three 99%, and one 100%.
Should I put my grades on my resume?
Should I mention being a SAHM for the last 16 years?
Should I even have a section for work history?
Answer:
I wouldn't put the grades on there, but if your GPA is 3.5 or above, you
definitely want to put it on there--or at least that you graduated in the
top-whatever percent, if you're close to the top.
It's only really desired if you have work history in the field in which you're
applying. Used to be we'd list every bit of employment we'd ever had, but,
nowadays, they only expect you to go back the last ten years (unless you have
experience in the field in which you're applying). If you don't have the work
history pertinent to the field you're trying to enter, you want to lead with
the education and highlight those accomplishments.
A good book to get would be Yana Parker's *Blue Collar & Beyond*. It's more
than likely in your free public library.
