Will employers understand a work gap because of COVID?

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

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Dear Nurse Beth,

I have been a LPN since 2014, and was a CNA before that from 2009. My clinic that I was at for three years closed at the end of September of last year, and I dedicated my life to schooling my kids through the pandemic. Now my kids will be going to in person school in about a month, and I don't know where to begin when it comes to being marketable. I don't even remember how to interview! Will my career gap of almost a year look indicative of not caring about my career, or is that to be expected of moms of school aged children during a pandemic?

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Don't Know Where to Begin,

Your relatively short career gap of less than a year due to homeschooling your kids during COVID and the clinic closing down will not be looked at as not caring about your career. 

Employers understand this is something we have never before experienced, and plenty of parents had to scramble to home school their kids.

It's natural to feel a little nervous about going through the job-seeking process, and feeling prepared helps. Expect to be asked "What's your greatest strength?" and What's your greatest weakness?" "What made you choose our facility?" and "Give us an example of a time you disagreed with a co-worker/manager/patient (conflict question)?"

Best wishes!

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