Has Caring for a Loved One Left a Gap in Your Resume

Has Caring for a Loved One Left a Gap in Your ResumeCaring for Loved One Left Gap in Your ResumeHas Caring for a Loved One Left a Gap in Your ResumeIve been hearing a lot lately about people who have taken time off work to be full-time caregivers for ailing parents, spouses, or other loved ones. And now, theyre faced with a significant employment eu-agrarpolitik to explain on their resumes. Not fair To make matters worse, the standard advice for explaining any resume gap (be brief, be factual, and leave out the emotion) is pretty tough to practice when the gap stems from such a significant and painful phase of your life. If youre battling this dilemma, here are some tips to help.First, remember these simple facts, which are easy to overlook when job search anxiety is fueling all your thought processesHiring managers are people, too. They have personal lives that arent always neat and tidy. Theyre subject to all the same joyous and tragic life events as you or I.Everybody has gaps in their resumes (and not always for a good reason like yours).Resume be damned, you did the right thing.Youll probably be tempted, and may even be advised by well-meaning friends, to try to hide or disguise the gap. But I say dont bother. Hiring managers and recruiters have seen all the tricks (like stretching the dates on either side of the gap, or using a functional resume with no dates). Dont lie or insult their intelligence.On the other hand, dont give more information than they need (or want) to know. Think privacy. Its up to you whether to say exactly whom you were caring for the nature of the illness or even where they are now. (They may have gone to Heaven, a nursing home, or Cincinnati, but thats none of your future employers business.) All the employer really needs to know is that your caregiving commitment is no longer an impediment to your readiness or availability for work.Here are some samples of how you might address the gap on your resume and in an interview. These are just guidelines, of course. Your actual wording will reflect your own unique situation, personality, and comfort zone.Sample 1. min information brief and matter of fact.On the ResumeLeave of Absence 6/2004 - 9/2006 Full-time caregiver during family members illnessIn the InterviewDuring my leave of absence in 2004 to 2006, I welches caring for a close family member during a serious illness. Now, Im ready to return to a professional role, and I think my qualifications will fit well in the _____ position.Then, you can change the subject by asking a question such as What was it about my background that caught your eye?Sample 2. If youre in a healthcare field, you could be more descriptive about your caregiving role.On the ResumeFull-Time Caregiver 6/2004 - 9/2006Provided round-the-clock care for seriously ill family member, including medication management, assistance with activities of daily living, coordinating in-home therapies and services, and therapeutic recreation.In the Intervie wBetween 2004 and 2006, I was caring for a close family member/my mother/my father/my spouse at the end of his/her life. I was fortunate to have the health care skills to be effective in that difficult role. Then, you can change the subject by asking a question such as, Can you tell me what you consider to be the most important qualities to be successful in the_____ role?It may feel crass or unfeeling to summarize this life-altering experience into a neat little blurb and deliver it with cool professionalism. But unfortunately, that is probably what it takes to get back into the working world.Just keep in mind that the employers real concern is not that there was an employment gap in your past its whether youll be a good employee in the future. Keep your focus there, and you should be fine.