Louise wrote:

"I've been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years. I don't really have real work experience. How can I approach this at an interview?"

Hi Louise. In one sense, your question is similar to one that a student might have coming out of college with regard to having little to no "real work" experience. We coach students to draw stories from school projects, summer employment / internships, and volunteer work in their communities. All experience can be relevant to the opportunity if the candidate can succinctly and effectively communicate it to the hiring manager. The key is to tell stories that highlight the goals you set, the actions you took, and the results you achieved.

Since you have been a dedicated stay-at-home mom for 10 years, you do indeed have real work experience. Think about the amazing accomplishments you have had in the areas of leadership, time management, creativity, managing a budget, problem solving, and crisis management (just to name a few :-). Be prepared to share some great stories during the interview and stay focused on the needs of the hiring manager. For example, you can ask "What situations require immediate attention?". We're cheering for you.

You'll do great!

By Brent Peterson, founder of Interview Angel

Article courtesy of WorkBloom, an employment blog incorporating a comprehensive career resources section, including the largest database of professionally written resume and cover letter samples on the Web.