In America, stay-at-home moms doubled from 15% in 2022 to 25% in 2023. To counter that, a survey from CNBC showed that 70% of Americans are financially stressed. Combine the two stats, and you no doubt get many stay-at-home moms looking to join the workforce or return to work.
If this is you, then it’s crucial to know to write a stay at home mom cover letter. You want to make sure that you stand out, despite the employment gap. I’m here to help you with that.
I’ll go over what a stay-at-home parent or mom cover letter should include and what format to use. I’ll also give you a few cover letter samples. So let’s dive right in!
What a Stay at Home Mom Cover Letter Should Include
To write a stay-at-home mom cover letter, you should include the following:
- Strong introduction
- Employment gap explanation
- Transferable skills
- What you can bring to the table
- Passion for the industry
- Confidence
- Education and/or training
1. Strong introduction
Get this: A recruiter or hiring manager takes only 20 seconds to review a cover letter. So your introduction needs to grab attention.
You can do that by showing that you have what it takes to re-enter the workforce. More specifically, you have the skill set for the specific job you’re applying for.
It’s a good idea to provide your accomplishments, too. This way, the recruiter or hiring manager will be able to see your value as an employee. You might also want to hint about your employment gap and how you’re enthusiastic to get back to work.
Read More: How to Write a Resume: Stay at Home Mom Edition (With Sample)
2. Employment gap explanation
It’s good to explain the employment gap straight away. Megan Crawford, a career coach, says:
“It’s always better to call the gap out, rather than wait for someone to read it on a resume and ask about it. The recruiter or hiring manager will relate more if the person is direct about it in the letter.”
For this section, you can explain what you did during the gap. Make sure that you tie it to the industry or field that you’re applying for. Explain how you improved certain skills that will make you a good candidate for the job.
3. Transferable skills
If you’ve been a stay-at-home mom for quite some time, you know that it’s a very demanding job. No doubt you’ve acquired some soft skills that can be transferred to the workforce. For example, your time management or organizational skills might have improved greatly when dealing with your children.
Besides that, you can also choose to mention other experiences, such as joining a fundraiser or local charity. You can list the experience you’ve gained during those times. However, make sure it relates to the field you want to work in. Remember, you don’t want to add any irrelevant skills to your cover letter.
Read More: How To List Skills That I Taught Myself On Resume.
4. What you can bring to the table
What if you need to write a cover letter for stay-at home mom with no work experience? This is when you need to highlight what you can bring to the table, even with no experience.
Charlotte Grainger from resume.io puts it this way:
“The fact that you lack experience needn’t hold you back. Keep in mind that everybody has to start somewhere — even you! Write a compelling cover letter that shows some enthusiasm for the position and explains why you could be the right fit for the job role.”
If you can convince that you’re up for the challenge and will be able to keep up, then experience won’t matter so much.
5. Passion for the industry
Passion is the most crucial credential. Employers prefer to have a passionate worker than one with lots of experience but no passion. This is because, if you’re passionate about your work, you’ll put in the extra effort to succeed.
So even a cover letter from a housewife returning to work with lots of passion for the industry can be a stand-out job seeker. Always emphasize your passion for the industry and job.
6. Confidence
Throughout your cover letter for stay-at-home mom, you need to sound confident. Don’t make your letter apologetic, as if you’re embarrassed that you took the time to stay at home and take care of your children. The career coach Megan Crawford says:
“You should be proud of the fact that you took care of your kids. If that confidence comes through in your cover letter, it’s going to come through in your interview, and the more success you’re going to have.”
So skip the long paragraphs where you explain why you chose to be a stay at home parent. Something as simple as “For the past five years, I’ve dedicated my time to raising my children, and now I am enthusiastic about becoming a part of a new organization” will do the trick. From there, you can go on to talk about your skills and experience.
7. Education and/or training
Here’s another great no experience stay at home mom cover letter inclusion. Instead of listing your job experience, you can go ahead and list the education and training you acquired while at home. Again, it’s important that the education and training are related to the job field.
Best Stay at Home Mom Cover Letter Template
To help you get started, I’m going to give you the best stay at home mom cover letter template. This way, it’ll be a lot easier to craft your own cover letter for stay at home mom returning to work.
- Header. This section should include your contact details, such as your name, phone number, and email address. Make it have a clear and big font so the hiring manager can spot it right away. Since this is highly important to get contacted, it’s best to place it at the top of your letter.
- Greeting/salutation. For better impact, it’s always good to include the hiring manager’s name. You can do some research on this. If you can’t find the name, it’s okay to put hiring manager or ___ team. Also, you will want to sound professional, so avoid using “Hi”, “Hello”, “Hey!”, etc. Instead, use the salutation “Dear”.
- Introduction. One common mistake is starting the introduction with “as a stay-at-home mom”. Yes, it’s important to mention that but don’t make it the main focus. Instead, begin your cover letter by explaining who you are, what you can offer, and why they should give you attention. If you have the right skills and experience, expand on that.
- Body. The body of your cover letter is where you can get creative. Go into detail about your previous work experience, training, or education. After that, you can include your “mom experiences” that are related to the field. Don’t forget to highlight your transferable skills. Whatever an employer is looking for, make sure to give relevant details.
- Conclusion. Hiring managers pay more attention to the start and end of a cover letter. So don’t think that this is an unimportant section. You need to add one more lasting impression. You can do that by reaffirming why you’re the best candidate and your passion for the company or industry.
- Call to action. Before you sign off the letter, it’s wise to put a call to action (CTA). This means that you encourage the recruiter to reach out to you. You can say that if they have any questions about your application, they can contact you.
- Complimentary close. You can choose whatever complimentary close you want. This can include “Best Regards”, “Sincerely”, “Yours Truly”, “Respectfully”, etc.
- Signature. To end everything, you put your name below the complimentary close.
And there you have it. That is the best cover letter template to use when you’re a stay-at-home mom going back into the workforce.
Read More: What Are the Best Stay at Home Mom Job Titles for a Resume?
3 Stay-at Home Cover Letter Samples
Need an example cover letter for stay-at-home mom returning to work? I’m going to give you 3 stay-at-home mom cover letter samples below.
Sample 1:
[Your Name]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. As a highly motivated and skilled individual, I am confident in my ability to contribute positively to your team.
During my time as a stay-at-home mom, I honed valuable skills such as time management and organizational efficiency. These skills, coupled with my passion for [Industry], make me an ideal candidate for the position. I am eager to bring my unique experiences and dedication to excel in a professional setting.
I am particularly drawn to [Company Name] because of its commitment to [specific aspect of the industry] and your reputation for fostering a collaborative work environment. I am excited about the prospect of contributing to your team and am confident in my ability to quickly adapt to new challenges.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences align with the needs of [Company Name]. You can contact me if you have any further questions.
Best Regards,
[Your Name]
Read More: Will I Regret Quitting My Job to Be a Stay-At-Home Mom? The Pros and Cons
Sample 2:
[Your Name]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. With a strong background in [relevant skills], I am confident in my ability to make a valuable contribution to your team.
While my recent years have been dedicated to raising my children, I have actively enhanced my skills, particularly in [mention skills relevant to the job]. My experiences in [mention any relevant experiences. It can be from volunteering or project involvement] have further equipped me with the ability to excel in a dynamic work environment.
I am excited about the opportunity to leverage my skills and passion for [Industry] at [Company Name]. Your commitment to [mention something specific about the company] aligns with my professional values, and I am eager to contribute to your continued success.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my skills and experiences match the needs of [Company Name]. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sample 3:
[Your Name]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
Dear Hiring Manager,
I saw the job opening you posted for [Job Title] at [Company Name]. I knew right away that I was the perfect fit for the job. This is because I have the skills and experience you’re looking for. [Include a section where you discuss your relevant skills and experiences].
Even as a stay-at-home parent, I used my free time to hone [mention specific skill], as well as gain relevant experience through the fundraisers and charity work I did. [Talk about the experiences that are relevant to the job opening].
Finally, I am highly proactive and adaptive. I’m known for suggesting improvements, as well as adapting to whatever is required of me. I am more than ready to work with and for the team.
Thank you for your consideration. I’m available to start as soon as possible. You may contact me via email or phone [include email address and phone number again]. I look forward to discussing with you about my application.
Warm Regards,
[Your Name]
Final Words
Are you a mom ready to get back to work? If so, you need to write the perfect stay at home mom cover letter. To do that, you must follow the 7 inclusions that I talked about here, including:
- Have a strong introduction
- Explain your employment gap
- Highlight transferable skills
- Show what you can bring to the table
- Be passionate about the industry or company
- Always be confident
- Mention the relevant education and/or training you acquired
From there, you can follow the template or check out the 3 samples I gave. Best of luck to you!
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