Re:Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around
by heleninboodler on Tuesday May 31, 2022 @05:18AM
(#31567470)
Yeah, all you have to do is say "I took a year off to tend to personal family matters," and they should hear "none of your damn business" loud and clear or they don't understand boundaries, in which case they're disqualified from employing you.
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Re:Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around
by dogline on Tuesday May 31, 2022 @08:17AM
(#31568663)
You have to be careful with this one. "Family matters" can raise a flag if it's an ongoing issue. You're trying not to look like you're going to be a problem employee, as much as that should or shouldn't be a thing.
I think the proper answer is "I just took some time off between jobs." Sounds fine, sounds like you took advantage of an opportunity, and doesn't sound like you're somebody that had a hard time finding a job.
Re:Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around
by heleninboodler on Wednesday June 01, 2022 @11:31AM
(#31583349)
To be frank, if they infer "ongoing problem" out of a single data point like that, they fall into the "not qualified to employ me" bucket. One instance of "tending to family matters" doesn't really say anything beyond, "I have a family."