No experience & No job history

[Laura_G_in_ID]

I am 39 years old, and I haven't worked outside my home for the last 21+ years. I've been a stay-at-home mother. I have been in school the last two years working on pre-reqs for the nursing program at a local community college, and this summer I am taking the CNA course. I'm getting divorced from my husband of 21+ years, my youngest child is only 3 months old, and I'm breastfeeding. I'm not sure how I'm going to get through clinicals with a nursing baby that won't take a bottle, plus the rest of my brood... I have eight children at home, thirteen children total. I plan to breastfeed until my baby is at least a year old, so I'm not really looking to work just yet. I think I can make ends meet with the child support I expect to receive at least until my baby is weaned, and my academic school schedule is doable with a young baby. My ultimate goal is to become a nurse-midwife, so being a CNA, and later a nurse, are steps towards that goal.

I decided to look at CNA job offerings to see what was available in my area, and every listing prefers or requires at least 6 months experience. How the heck will I ever get a job when every place wants experience? My resume has a whole lot of nothing on it, and so I'm worried that when I am ready to start working (probably next summer), I won't be able to find work. Here are the things I'm considering putting on my resume so far, but I feel like I don't really have anything substantial, since I haven't worked and every place wants experience.

Education:

7/2016 - Completed Certified Nursing Assistant training at College of Western Idaho, Nampa, ID.

Current until 7/2017 – CPR and AED Healthcare Provider Certification

Current until 8/2016 – Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Provider level IV Certification

6/2015 – Assistance with Medications for Unlicensed Personnel Certification

8/2014 – present – Pre-nursing major, 4.0 GPA student at College of Western Idaho, Nampa, ID.

Projected graduation with Associate of Science in Nursing is May 2019.

Working towardsBachelor of Science in Nursing with a Music Minor from Boise State University, Boise, ID.Ultimate goal is Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Midwifery from Frontier MidwiferySchool, Hyden, KY.

2001 – Bradley Method® Childbirth Educator Training, Seattle, WA.

1999 – La Leche League Leader Training, Boise, ID.

1998 – Birth doula training (DONA) – Doulas of North America, Boise, ID

Experience:

2003 – 2014 – Micro-dairy owner – family cow owner certified and inspected by the state tosell raw milk. Also sell farm fresh eggs.

2001 – 2011 – Childbirth Educator – Taught comprehensive 12-week birthing classes from myhome. Also gave continuing support to new parents after the birth, including phone calls, emailsand personal postpartum visits.

2000 – La Leche League Leader – Volunteered as a La Leche League Leader. Assisted newmothers with breastfeeding via phone, mail, personal visits, and monthly group meetings. 1999 - 2007 – Doula – Attended over 20 births as a doula. Assisted clients prenatally, duringparturition, and postpartum.

1997 – Volunteer at Birthright of Boise – Assisted women in crisis pregnancies.

1996 – 2014 – volunteer choir director at church

1995 – Wendy's crew member

1994 – 1996 – Waitress at Plush Pippin restaurant, and Shari's restaurant. Served customers,handled cash register, and did a lot of cleaning.

1992 – Receptionist at Illusions Salon. Handled telephone calls, making appointments forclients, cash register, washing towels, cleaning displays and waiting area.

1991-2016 – Personal birth experiences – have given birth to 13 children, in a variety of settings.

Honors, Awards, and Accomplishments:

2015 – Caused major changes at the College of Western Idaho regarding the recognition of TitleIX sexual discrimination in regards to the educational rights of pregnant students.2014-15 & 2015-16 – Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation Scholarship via College of WesternIdaho

2005 – Den Leader of the Year from Boy Scouts of America

1996 – Boise State University Department of Music Scholarship

1994 – Who's Who Among American High School Students

1993-94 – Received Meridian High School varsity letters for choir and orchestra

Hobbies/Interests:

2009 – present – running and triathlon – racing at the 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances inrunning. Sprint distance triathlons.

2004-06 – Den Leader for Boy Scouts of America.

1990 – present - Singing – participated in many choirs in school, church, and the community, aswell as private voice lessons. I have also volunteered as a director for my church choir.

1984 – present – playing viola – I have studied viola for over 30 years, with many bumps in theroad. Currently, I am taking private viola lessons and participate in a community orchestra.

Reading, writing, small-scale farming, and making YouTube long hair videos.

I could use feedback and guidance, since I haven't been in the job market for so long. Thanks in advance.

[hookyarnandblanket]

When writing a resume, only include information that pertains to the position you seek.

As far as experience? If it says preferred, it isn't mandatory. Apply anyway just to get a foot in the door.

Good luck.

[Galvingirl]

I think you have lots of experience. When writing your resume, I would most likely leave out singing, music, and your own personal birth experiences. While those births are valuable to shape you as a nurse they seem odd on a resume. Stress your birth education jobs and Fula experience. Maybe even look into seeing if a local birth center will hire you! I am a 23 year old mother, wanting to go into l&d and think your experience is inspiring!

[Livetoride]

I want to become a CNM myself. Currently, I work in LTC as a CNA. I got my first job in a facility that liked experienced CNAs but they hired after my state testing. My second job was similar to obtain. I find it real easy to obtain a CNA job, experience or no experience.

[CanadianAbroad]

May I ask why you are not trying to work as a Doula or Breastfeeding consultant with your education history? I don't quite understand why you are training to be a CNA with your history? Your resume seems geared towards assisting births and not nursing. I would contact your local birthing services, and see if you could work there. Good luck!

[emmjayy, BSN, RN]

Apply. Don't worry about your lack of experience. When I was hired at age 19 to work as a paralegal my only previous job experience was slinging pizzas. As long as you are smart and motivated and have a level of education/training (which you seem to be and have), you have something going for you.

I also want to extend my sympathy to your situation. During my years as a paralegal I saw your story play out over and over again in the lives of women who got married young, stayed at home raising kids, and then got a divorce as they hit middle age but were screwed in terms of the job market due to being out of the work force for so long. It absolutely sucks, but it can be overcome!

[belljar1995, PhD, RN]

I think your resume looks great and you do have experience and many excellent skills. It's hard to be a single mom and make it all work, but it can be done. It is crucial to have a support network. In my nursing school, many of us were/are single mothers, pregnant, or moms with newborns. We worked together to make things happen and to keep our sanity.

In terms of jobs, how about contacting some temp healthcare agencies? Some of them offer brief training for CNAs and new grads .

[Laura_G_in_ID]

The things I listed were exhaustive, and not geared towards any particular job. I wanted to have all these items compiled so I could draw on the ones I wanted for whatever job I was applying. I appreciate the feedback on what might be useful and what to discard.

I am applying as a CNA first, but my ultimate educational and career goal is to become a CNM. The nursing school to which I'm applying next spring gives an extra point towards their program if you are a CNA. If I have to work before I get through school, at least I'll be able to work for a little more than minimum wage. I'm not IBCLC certified, so I'm not qualified to be a lactation consultant. If a job at the local WIC office opens up for a breastfeeding counselor, I would absolutely apply. I have done doula work in the past, but it's a self-employed job, without a regular schedule, without regular pay. It doesn't really fit into my life at this time, while I'm still trying to get through school and have small children.

Also, MANY nurses have said the best start is to become a CNA first. My end goal isn't to be a nurse, but I think I'll enjoy it. I need to have a year of nursing experience before I apply to my master's program.

Being a midwife is the goal, and I chose nurse-midwifery over direct entry midwifery for a variety of reasons, after many years of debating in my mind. By the time I get through my master's degree, I will have older children and the erratic work times attending births won't be as much of an obstacle for me as they would be now.

It's fine to be in your late teens and have no job history yet, but it feels different to me as a middle-aged woman. I didn't just sit at home and eat bon-bons all these years. I just hope potential employers see the value of what I've done.

Thank you all for such great feedback. I really appreciate it.