The Caregiver Gap, and How To Handle It

Recently Britt Larsen from Livlyhood was interviewed by Desert News in Salt Lake City Utah.

Britt and other experts and contributors discussed the stigma of having a gap on your resume or LinkedIn after being the primary caregiver. Britt works with people every single day on how to gain career confidence and is a top career coach in 2024.

They tackled the traditional gender and parent roles, and the weight they play on career goals, especially for working mothers.

Recently this topic was brought to light again after Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave a commencement speech to Catholic school in Kansas, called Benedictine College. There has been a hot debate on whether or not Butker's comments were truly uplifting to women or not.

How can we uplift women, both who decide to work in the home, and those who work outside of the home?

Here are the key points from the article that the contributors suggested on how we can move forward in supporting primary caregivers should they choose to enter the workforce.

1. Use Honesty and Positivity: It's important to be honest about the gap and frame it positively, highlighting any relevant skills or experiences gained during the time away from the workforce. This can include volunteer work, managing household projects, or any informal education undertaken during the gap.

2. List Relevant Activities: Mothers are encouraged to include activities that demonstrate their continued professional development or contributions to the community, such as leading a PTA, organizing community events, or any other roles that involved management, coordination, and leadership.

3. How to Handle Your Resume and Cover Letter: When updating their resume, mothers should list the start and end dates of their employment and any gaps. They should also briefly mention the reason for the gap and any pertinent skills or experiences acquired during this period. In cover letters, they can provide a more detailed explanation and connect those experiences to the job they are applying for.

4. How to Interview Prep: Preparing to discuss the gap confidently in job interviews is crucial. Mothers should practice explaining the gap in a way that shows how it has prepared them for the role they are seeking. Using terms like "pause" instead of "break" can help frame the gap in a more positive light.

The caregiver gap can be tricky to navigate, but with these suggestions, and a workforce working toward better solutions as well, the future is bright for parents returning to work.

Britt from Livlyhood has several courses to help return to work parents find their career confidence!

Learn how to Smash Imposter Syndrome and Set Yourself Up for Success!