Okay I have been a stay at home mom for the last 6 yrs. I'm ready to go back to work full time and find a good career for myself. My job experience is limited and inconsistant. I've had a few jobs but the longest I've worked at one place is a year. How do I make my resume look good with such inconsistant work history? Is there anywhere I can go to get help with this or a website I can check out? Any suggestions or advice would help lots. Thanks.
I know the Army has people working at Army Community Service with the Family Member Employment Program. They are there to do exactly what you need, help you learn how to write a resume and send you in the right direction to get a job. They do resume writing classes, interview technique classes, and others. If you are close to an Army post, you may want to try there. I have no idea about any of the other branches.
When I went back to work full time in 2005, I had the same issue, had been a stay at home mom, with a few small jobs thrown in, since 1999. However, I did a LOT of volunteer work for the installation I am at, and that filled in the gaps. If you have any type of volunteer work, put it in there.
Now that I am in a position to look over resumes to determine if they are right for the job I have to offer, I do look at the work history, volunteer work (if there is any), but more I look at WHAT they did, and speak to their references to see HOW they did. It's tough out there, but I think you can make it happen! Good luck!
Instead of worrying about gaps in time, do a functional resume. It is the better choice for someone in your situation than a standard chronological resume.
The family center should have someone that can help you create one. They let me use the book they give out in the Transition Assistance Program to write a resume.
Although services like this ARE offered there can be limitations. I tried this service through the Navy at the Fleet & Family Support Center. I had to make an appointment to speak to someone who then advised me to look through their records to find samples of resumes as well as job listings. I was told to spend as much time as I needed and was left alone.
About a half hour later a woman approached me and in a very disciplining voice told me I couldn't use the copier anymore or spend any more time in their office. I told her I was specifically welcomed to spend as much time as I needed. I questioned that if this was some sort of "rule", why I was welcome to stay since this was contradictory. She raised her voice to me and asked me to leave. I haven't been back after that scenario. This option really wasn't helpful to me since I was left alone to read through their materials and not given any advice or actual "assistance".
No matter where we've lived, I've found that the community is hesitant to hire you once they hear your family is military. For example, I have over 15 years of administrative/management experience, including Office Management, but yet couldn't get hired for entry level Receptionist positions. I've had to suck it up and take part time retail positions since they were the only ones willing to hire me. I hope no one else has had or goes through the same experience. I wish you the best of luck!
I told her I was specifically welcomed to spend as much time as I needed. I questioned that if this was some sort of "rule", why I was welcome to stay since this was contradictory. She raised her voice to me and asked me to leave. I haven't been back after that scenario. This option really wasn't helpful to me since I was left alone to read through their materials and not given any advice or actual "assistance".
I wish you the best of luck! 
