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Homemaker - How to explain employment gaps on job resume? (AT&T Call center)?

I've been a "homemaker" (no children, engaged - not yet married) for the past 8 years, and I am 27 years old. Before which, I held a job at a restaurant for a couple of months when I was 19. Since, I have worked occasionally - worked for a research company call center in 2003 for a month or so, until relocating across the country. Then, in 2006 I had a temporary position at Walmart on a remodel crew for 2 months. And, worked for a convenience store as a cashier for 2 months. In between, i've been a "Homemaker" and did occasional housecleaning and childcare work (self employed, didn't make enough to file taxes). Will my lack of steady employment create a problem as far as obtaining employment? I have applied with AT&T/Cingular wireless, for the Customer Service/Call center position. I have an appointment this week to do a formal application, and hoping to get an interview. I would like to bring a resume with me, but am not sure how to explain my lapse in employment? Friends who have worked at AT&T have told me so long as I have customer service experience, I will have no problem getting a job there. But? Oh, and a note, I am not planning to stay for 2 months and then leave, this one is a job I would like to have for a long while. =) SAMANTHA: I do NOT need to explain my life to you. You sounds angry and bitter that you HAVE to work. I am so sorry you hate your life so badly, dear. My fiance prefers that I NOT work, and with certain cirumstances, it would have been VERY difficult for us to both have held jobs - thankfully, the situation has changed now. I am in college pursuing a degree, so I DO want something out of life and have plans, not that it is in your business. You really need to get off your high worse before someone knocks you down girl. Whatever is going on in YOUR life, DEAL with IT. Noone is here for you to take your problems out on. Shut your mouth, get a life! Have a great day! SAMANTHA: Don't worry hun, read your questions and I seen the one about not getting enough sex from your husband. It ALL makes sense to me now!! Don't worry, tone down your bitter, childish attitude and MAYBE you can get a little from the hubby. But hun, your FRUSTRATIONS are NO excuse for going on the attack on others. My life is great, I have a fiance who loves me, i'm a fulltime student working torward my lifelong dream, and I am now deciding to take on an outside job since circumstances will NOW allow it. I will have children when I feel I am in the "right" phase in my life. Until then, I am enjoying my life, and living.. So sorry your life turned out the way it did. =/ Get some help, maybe a professional could help you move past the issues, and become a better person. Good luck Sam! ML and Sheila, thanks for the advice.. =) Lina Blue, thanks so much, great advice! Callawak.. Thanks for your answer and advice. Yes, I have special circumstances that would have made it very, very difficult for my fiance and I to have both held jobs at the same time. I will explain the situation at the interview. I do see your point, take care! Violet Pearl.. Good point, good advice. =) SAMANTHA: To reply one more time to your whiny ramblings.. You suggested that I feel like a "useless loser" for being "unemployed for so long". lol OMG get real. I have been occupied with other things during this time, and as stated before, my fiance PREFERS that I stay home while HE works. He spoils me. =) As far as being "too lazy to contribute to society". I volunteer, do you? I care for an aging mother, do you? I rescue feral cats, do you? I'm in college pursuing my DREAM, how about you sweetie? No? Oh, i'm sorry.. =/ That "amazing" life you refer to making you an angry, sad person isn't it? lol You accused that i'm "jealous of what you have". What DO you have? You have nothing to be envied, that *I* know of. Maybe i'm missing something? If you can come up with somethin to envy, run in by me, and we'll see.. But I don't see THAT happening! rofl If you had such an amazing life, you would get on here attacking others' lives. Now WOULD you? lol Wow.... Samantha, part 2: Oh.. And.. rofl.. You said that I "pulled it out of my a*s" that you said you are having a dry spell with your husband? You posted a question to see if you two were "normal". But, ummm, ironically..... lol Reading one of your answers, I think it's your HUSBAND who may need something PULLED out of his a*s (referencing the strap on YOU said you use on him) *LMAS* Wow hun, thanks for the laugh.. Gotta get going.. I have something called a life. You might remember it? Or, did you have experience one? lol Take care darlin', must be on my way! (Hope life gets better for ya. Will keep you in our prayers) Everyone: I want to thank you all for your answers. Some have been very helpful, and I appreciate it! =) <3 And then, I have to thank Samantha for the laugh! rofl I find it so incredibly humorous that she (same woman who posts a question to see if she's normal because she wants more sex than hubby's willing to give, answers a question, stating that she gives it to her husband up the a*s with a strap on to get him off, and that he has to do her up the a*s to get off, because she is so loose that vaginal intercourse doesn't get the job done - don't believe me? Read her Q's & As!!) would come on here and attack someone who is ready and wanting to get a job outside the home (now that the timing is right), and calling ME the loser?! That's just TOO much!! rofl Wow... But again, thank you to everyone who answered. Best wishes to ALL! =_ Ooops, skipped you Dave. lol You don't have to be married, or have kids, to take care of your home, do all the cooking, cleaning, shopping, gardening, errands, bill paying, and such. =)

Public Comments

1. i think they would see your dedication to your family and taking care of it if you emphasise on that it might work for you, just be honest!!!
2. Explain that you had pursued a chance to be in business for your self in the home making and child care line as you knew it will benefit you in the future. They will be impressed that you look into your future. Good Luck
3. with gaps say you were caring for family or were in school or traveled. tell them you have many interests and feel you have finally narrowed it down to customer service, then tie in the position with your love of customer service. just sell yourself- all your great qaulities and why you will add value to their company. in the long run, employment gaps will look unsteady but for now say you are ready for a career and you finally have time in your life to concentrate on you since you have always had to put yourself on hold for others. good luck and i hope you get the job!
4. You say that you have been a homemaker for the periods when you were not working. When my wife and I were separated she lived with my step-daughter. She provided live-in child care to our grand-daughter. That is the way to approach this. What did you contribute in other than monetary means to your partners success in lieu of working. I think that you have a very high hurdle to get over because to most people you had no rational reason to stay home as long as you were an able bodied person. Some people will conclude that you are lazy and will dump this job once you either get bored or you boyfriend has something come up. You are a risk most employers are not willing to take based on past history of not working, unless you can present a good reason for staying home.
5. No kids and no husband isn't really going to define you as a "homemake"- it sounds more like just unemployed. You should say you were self-employed as a Home Services Worker
6. Sarah... How to put this... Wow, you have been unemployed for 8 years. You have yet to tell all of us why you decided to be a "stay at home...something". You have yet to tell us why all of the jobs that you decided to take lasted only a few months...if that. You have yet to tell us anything. Do you want an honest answer? Were I the manager of a company where you had applied, and I saw a resume pass my desk showing what yours will...I would file it under "G" (that means garbage in case you didn't know...is a work thing...you'll get it). More than that, if you by some miracle land an actual interview, what will you say? "I've been unemployed for the last 8 years doing...um...well...does being "spoiled" count as work"? So you're a full time student? A full time student for 8 years? Wow, I hope that this degree leads to many promising...um...child care, or elderly care, or cat rescuing endevors? I see by your profile that you have posted this question in pretty much every catagory that you could...what are you looking for? Someone to tell you that it's alright? How great all your lack of work has been? How much sitting at home watching whatever TV series has your intrest for the moment impresses them? Do you understand yet, or do I need to keep going? Let's get this clear. You are bashing me for the lack of borders that I have in the bedroom, and yet you are telling me that the fact that you do nothing is impressive to your fiancee? I work because I'm a proud independant woman...somthing that countries fight for. I work because I like to think that I contribute to this family. I like to work because it gives me the right to feel self respected. So here you are telling us that you do all these "other" things (this is in reference to "Gotta get going...some of us have a thing we like to call a life"), but what are they? "I eat chocolate all day to make sure that there isn't too much in the world", "I watch soap operas to make sure that they don't make mistakes by accidentally saying that Billy was married to Marissa when we all know that he wasn't", "To be sure that I pick up the latest and greatest Ophra recommened book". I'm done with you. Get a life. As contrite as it might sound...get a job too. Oh, and leave the insults to people that know how to give them. Good luck getting yourself an under paying, self defacing, meaningless job. Later :)
7. Why in the heck would u be a homemaker.....with no kids and only engaged?