How do I explain my decision to switch into an operations based role (server) from being in the software engineering industry? I needed flexibility to work 3 days while being available for a loved one with cancer. Nervous about transitioning back into the industry and if I’ll get any questions about skill gaps
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Sounds like you're well-rounded and can see more sides of the business. You have more experience to understand product decisions that inform the software requirements. That can be attractive to a prospective employer. Find the positive and focus on that. Reasoning can be anything. I wanted to see another side of the business but now I'm doubling down on software. Something like that. I'd advise against talking about personal events.
Like1On the contrary (to SSE1’s advice), sharing your personal reason is exactly what you should do. Hiring teams can sense when you’re hiding something. They won’t press you to answer but you not being upfront will only raise red flags that you present a risk. So they will move on. There’s more to the actual hiring process than what most people know. This is why I went into career coaching. I’ve helped good competent people go from being dismissed and ignored in the job market to consistently landing offers…even after they landed their ideal roles. You are making a noble decision to care for a loved one going through a difficult health condition. You are not alone in this endeavor.
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