Career gap is not a crime.

💔 “She took a break. Now no one calls back.” 🧳

She chose to pause her professional work to provide care for her elderly parents. She spent six months away from her work duties which included deadlines and continuous emails and phone calls.

No regrets.

She decided to return to work but recruiters asked her the same question repeatedly.

👉 “What did you do during the entire time you were away from work?”

She explained. They nodded.
And never called back.
That’s Career Gap Stigma.

The practice of viewing family care and health needs and mental wellness breaks as professional misconduct exists as Career Gap Stigma.

I met her for an interview several months after our first encounter.
She maintained a composed demeanor while showing exceptional mental clarity.
She performed outstandingly throughout all assessment stages including strategy and communication and leadership tests.
We extended an immediate job offer to her during the interview process. She expressed her gratitude to me through words that I will always remember.

“Your organization recognized my abilities beyond my temporary absence from work.”

Women who take career breaks remain as ambitious as ever.
The time away from work enables women to develop stronger self-knowledge and better work-life equilibrium and increased personal strength.
We must end the practice of penalizing women who select personal life over their professional online presence.

At 𝗥𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 we are creating a new narrative which supports women who have paused their careers to help them restart their professional journey with confidence. 🌸

Time does not diminish someone's natural ability to perform.
A person requires someone to restore their faith in themselves. 💪✨

Every hiring manager should change their interview approach by asking “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳?” instead of “𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸?” 🤔

#CareerGap #WomenAtWork #InclusiveHiring #CareerRestart #EmpathyInHiring #HiringWithHeart #TalentHasNoGap #WorkplaceEmpathy #SupportJobSeekers #BreakTheBias #WomenLeadership #SecondChances #HRLeadership #RealStories #PeopleFirst #RecruitmentWithPurpose #WorkplaceBias #RealTalk