They tell you to be honest when addressing gaps in your resume. Specific to caregiving, explain to the hiring manager why you made the decision, and assure them that the necessity has ended.
People are confused by caregiving. They see it as a noble effort; they respect you for the decision. They even admire the character that drove you to such selflessness. Sadly, many people still see themselves placing their parents in senior-living homes because the responsibility seems just too impossible.
In the end however, most hiring managers still see the justifiable gap in your work history as a negative. Being out the workforce for a long period has resulted in irrelevance, even if you’ve maintained certifications, taken courses and worked to stay abreast on industry news. It’s as if people see the caregiving experience as inconsequential.
It’s clear there is a general ignorance surrounding the work and skills involved in caregiving.
* Scheduling (multiple doctors, PT & OT, medicine)
* Biohazard clean-up and control
* Insurance negotiation
* Accounting
* Research
* Advocacy
* Professional corresponeance and reporting
These are transferable skills that are fundamental to any number of jobs and careers. So many people don’t seem to understand it goes beyond holding hands and providing emotional support, though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit this was the most meaningful aspect for me.
I can talk about the experience and the skills I developed during my time as a caregiver. I can use them in my day-to-day life; I can advise others. I can feel confident that I have grown and developed both personally and professionally. I can also watch people sit with eyes wide in shock and horror as I detail the battles, celebrate victories and acknowledge lessons learned. None of that matters as much to me as the memory of my mother’s hand caressing my cheek and thanking me for loving her so much.
I became long-term unemployed during my time as a caregiver. I have been penalized ever since.
The prejudice and stereotype surrounding the long-term unemployed is humiliating. It undermines who you are, diminishes your value and significance, and attempts to discredit the very real and valid experiences that brought you to this place. The real shame is on a system that places more importance on a resume timeline above character, a professional title above heart and perseverance, and experience at a corporate task above experience on the front lines of a battlefield. And make no mistake, caregiving and patient advocacy is a war. I hope you are never drafted.
by G. Anne Bassett 