Help Settle Estate
Question:
I have been helping my mom sell her house after my father passed away and I was wondering how I would go about putting this on my resume because there will be a large gap on my resume. Your advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Linda.
Answer:
First of all, let me say I am very sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is never an easy thing. This very question came up for a client of mine recently, and I think we handled it pretty well. First, because you can put more context in a letter than in a resume, I advised him to make reference specifically to what had happened in the past year, as in “The past year has been a challenging one for me, losing my mother and taking primary responsibility for settling my parents’ estate; as often happens in life, it has also helped me gain clearer focus on my goals and values. My family obligations having now been met, I am rested and re-energized in my career and eager to begin a relationship with a quality company which will allow me to use my X and Y skills. I am thus very interested in ABC company because this opportunity will allow me to…” and so on. Switch the focus away from the loss you suffered and on to the value you will bring.
On the resume itself, I’ve had good results with wording like “Estate Settlement” in the job title area and either “Private” or “Family” where the employer information would go, with the dates.
Know that most employers are inclined to be pretty compassionate and open as long as they have the information they need to make a thorough assessment of your situation.
Minto Roy
President
CareersToday Canada
www.careerstodaycanada.com
www.mintoroy.net