Going back to work after years as a stay-at-home mum
Going back to work after years as a stay-at-home mum (mom in the US) is very doable: name the gap honestly in one line on your résumé/CV, refresh one or two skills, and use programs built for returners, like Parent Pathways and Free TAFE in Australia or returnships in the US. Expect it to take a few months of steady effort, not a few days. Remote sales is one route that doesn’t need a degree and can be done from home. She Sells, with a team in Australia and the US, trains women in closing and appointment setting and, for She Soars graduates, helps them land a role.
The short plan: five steps back to work
| Step | What to do | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Decide what “work” means | Hours, location, pay floor, childcare. Write it down. | A week |
| 2. Explain the gap | One honest line on your résumé/CV and LinkedIn, plus a 20-second answer for interviews | An afternoon |
| 3. Refresh skills | One short course or program tied to the jobs you want | Weeks to a few months |
| 4. Use returner support | Parent Pathways or Free TAFE (AU), returnships (US), or a training program with placement help | Ongoing |
| 5. Apply and practise | Targeted applications, mock interviews, follow-ups | Usually a few months |
This isn’t the same as coming back from maternity leave. After a long break there’s no job waiting for you, your references may be old, and the tools have changed. That’s why the gap, the skills and the confidence each need their own plan. If you’re coming back from a shorter leave, read returning to work after maternity leave remotely instead.
How to explain a career gap on your résumé/CV
A gap is only a problem when it looks hidden. Name it, keep it short and move on to what you can do now.
- Add it as a dated line. For example: “2019 to 2025: Full-time parent. Career break to raise three children.” No apology, no essay.
- Include anything real you did. School committee treasurer, volunteer coordinator, a small online shop, casual work. Only list what you actually did.
- Put skills near the top. A short summary and skills section helps a recruiter see what you offer before they reach the dates.
- Use LinkedIn’s feature. LinkedIn lets you add a Career Break to the Experience section of your profile, with a type and a description.
Your 20-second interview answer
Have a short answer ready that covers three things: why you took the break, what you’ve done to get ready, and why this role. Something like: “I stepped back for six years to raise my kids. This year I completed training in remote sales and I’ve been practising weekly calls. I’m ready for a role where I can use that.” Then stop talking. You don’t need to justify being a parent.
Returner support in Australia and the US
Australia
- Parent Pathways. Services Australia describes it as a free, voluntary service for parents or carers of a child under 6 who aren’t in paid work and live in an area with a provider. You usually need to be getting Parenting Payment, Carer Payment or Special Benefit, though some parents without a payment may be eligible. A mentor can help with things like training costs, a computer, childcare help and career guidance.
- Free TAFE. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations says Free TAFE is now ongoing, with places prioritised for groups including unpaid carers, people out of work or on income support, and women facing economic insecurity. Course details vary by state, so check your state’s TAFE site.
United States
- Returnships. Path Forward, a nonprofit, describes returnships as paid programs for mid-career professionals coming back after a break. It says employers usually want at least a 2-year gap and about 5 years of professional experience, most programs run 3 to 4 months, and the vast majority are full time. Its Returnship Matcher lists US programs, and its resources are free.
- If you don’t fit a returnship. Many returnships suit corporate careers. If you didn’t have one before kids, or you want part-time or from-home work, skill-based training and entry roles may suit you better.
You’re also far from alone in juggling work and family. The ABS found that in June 2025, almost three-quarters (73%) of Australian couple families with children aged 0 to 14 had two employed parents.
Wondering if remote sales could be your way back? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
Refreshing your skills after years away
You don’t need to relearn everything. Pick the skills your target jobs mention most, and refresh those.
- Digital basics. Video calls, shared documents, a CRM (customer database), messaging tools like Slack. Most are free to try.
- One job-specific skill. Bookkeeping software for admin roles, a sales framework for sales roles, and so on.
- Proof. A certificate, a portfolio, recorded practice calls or a reference from a course coach gives an employer something recent to look at.
Look at what you already do well, too. Running a household means scheduling, negotiating, budgeting and staying calm under pressure. Those are real skills. Just describe them in work language, and don’t overstate them.
Rebuilding confidence (it comes after action)
Most mums wait to feel confident before they start. It usually works the other way round: confidence comes from small wins.
- Start with one tiny commitment. One course module, one coffee with an old colleague, one application.
- Practise out loud. Say your gap answer to a friend until it sounds normal to you.
- Find your people. A community of women doing the same thing makes the hard weeks easier. She Sells runs a free community for that reason.
- Expect some rejection. A “no” after years away is information, not a verdict on you.
Remote sales as one route back
Remote sales suits some returning mums because many entry roles don’t need a degree, the work can be done from home, and the skills are learnable. Appointment setters message and call leads to book sales calls; closers run those calls. Public pay data gives a rough guide only: in Australia, SEEK lists a typical advertised range of $65,000 to $85,000 a year for full-time appointment setter roles, and in the US, Payscale shows a median of $16.08 an hour with total pay of $28K to $47K (based on 76 profiles). Pay varies a lot by role and employer.
The honest bit: many remote sales roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, and results take time. Avoid anything that asks you to pay to join or recruit friends. Our guides to remote sales jobs with no experience and appointment setter jobs from home go deeper.
Where She Sells fits
She Launches is the foundation program: live coaching, role play and frameworks. It doesn’t include direct placement. She Soars is the career program through the She Sells “Cert III in Remote Sales” certificate, with placement facilitation: once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back. I started as a primary school teacher in a small town, and my first month in remote sales in 2020 brought in $440. That’s not typical, and it shows a start can be small. See our programs.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
Ready to plan your return to work? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
Frequently asked questions
How do I explain being a stay-at-home mum on my résumé?
Add a dated line such as “Full-time parent, career break to raise children” and keep it to one line. Include any real volunteer, committee or casual work from that time. Put a skills summary near the top so recruiters see what you can do now.
Is it hard to go back to work after 5 or 10 years at home?
It can take longer than you’d like, especially at first, but plenty of women do it. A recent course, a clear gap answer and support from a returner program or training provider make it much easier. Plan for a few months of steady effort.
What jobs can a stay-at-home mum go back to with no recent experience?
Common options include admin and customer service roles, entry-level sales such as appointment setting, and roles linked to a short course like bookkeeping. If you had a corporate career before kids, returnships in the US are worth a look.
Are there government programs for mums returning to work in Australia?
Yes. Parent Pathways is a free, voluntary service for eligible parents of children under 6, and Free TAFE prioritises groups including unpaid carers and women facing economic insecurity. Eligibility rules apply, so check Services Australia and your state’s TAFE.
Can I go back to work from home?
Yes, many roles can be done remotely, including remote sales, admin and customer support. Be wary of anything that asks you to pay to join or recruit friends. Real employers explain the role, the pay structure and who pays you.
