Discuss how you address and explain employment gaps during interviews. See an article at https://resources.get.it/interview-preparation-strategies-for-different-employment-scenarios/ that dicusses this specific issue of gaps in your employment history.
The resume that I sent does have gaps but I have a brand new one that I have made but some of the gaps was that my mother was very sick and I became her caregiver I gave up my phlebotomy job for a while to take care of my mother until the day she passed the gap in my resume is because I had to take care of my mother but I do have another one that doesn’t have the jobs and I will bring that along if I get the interview
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@michelebaker6969 Thank you for sharing your story—it sounds like you made an incredibly selfless decision to care for your mother during such a difficult time. When it comes to explaining gaps in employment, being honest and transparent, just as you’ve done, is really important. Employers often appreciate when candidates provide context for those gaps, especially for personal reasons like caregiving. It can also be helpful to highlight any skills or lessons learned during that time that might be relevant to the job you’re applying for. Important skills, like organization, time management, and even resilience, can be gained outside of a formal job setting. Bringing along your updated resume is a great idea, and if you get the interview, I’m sure your dedication, both professionally and personally, will stand out.
You explain them. How is this a question?
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Yes they are questions @jackiteeter 
Hiya! I do understand that these are questions. The cognitive dissonance comes with the level of the questions. Perhaps the dissonance is amplified by being 54 and having had the opportunity to be fully independent since the age of 14.
It’s incredibly disconcerting to see basic life skill questions as being necessary prompts in an actual interview. OTOH, it does explain the exhaustion I feel from working with a crew of folks half my age who feel like showing up for work or remaining for the full shift is a heroic act. On time? Pshshsh! Staying off your phone at work as customers are waiting? Who are you kidding?
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@jackiteeter I can definitely see how that would be frustrating for you. After years of developing your own independence and work ethic, it must be challenging to deal with situations where basic job responsibilities feel like a big ask for some. It’s got to be draining when those kinds of issues come up regularly.
Maybe it’s worth exploring how we can help younger employees grow into the role. Engaging in a conversation here about how to motivate them and help them ‘adult’ into the job could be valuable. Finding ways to nurture their development so they gain confidence and meet expectations might benefit both them and the company in the long run. What do you think?
I truly appreciate your recognition of frustration vs condescension. Your suggestions are apt and are also quite useful in sparking dialogue. This is and long has been my approach on the daily with my younger colleagues.
Here, I think I was looking for some deeper insights - hence the clearly expressed frustration - but I am happy to offer real life advice as time dictates. Remaining committed to a full time job while considering the job search to be the second priority job does not leave much time for quality mentorship, which is a personal and professional nourishment that everyone deserves.
That said, when I do have the bandwidth, I would love to be a contributing member of the professional growth community.
TYSVM, again, for your kind and gracious responses. They are deeply appreciated!
Kind regards,
Jacki
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@jackiteeter We certainly understand the bandwidth issue and wish you all the best. Not to drag this out but you can absolutely post a question of your own as a topic to get feedback. We also have several useful blog posts in our career section https://resources.get.it/
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