How do I get back into work after a long time. I took time to take care of the kids.

Reframe what you actually have

Caregiving is not a gap. It is a masterclass in negotiation, crisis management, logistics, budget control and keeping multiple humans alive on no sleep. The mistake most people make is leaving it off the resume or apologizing for it. Don't. Write it plainly: what you managed, what you organized, what you decided. Those are transferable skills, and a hiring manager who reads carefully will see them.

Get current, fast

Pick one area where you want to work and spend 30 to 60 days getting current in it. The place to do it is CEEK Learning, where you can refresh your skills and catch up on what has changed in your field. If your field has changed a lot, a short certificate course signals to employers that you are already moving, not waiting to be invited back.

Update your LinkedIn profile before you do anything else. Most hiring today runs through it. A current photo, a clear headline and a summary that names your skills, including the ones from caregiving, gets you visible immediately.

Go back through people, not postings

Cold applications into a job board are slow and demoralizing. Your fastest route back is through people who already know you. Reach out to former colleagues, old managers, people you knew in your industry. Tell them plainly what you are looking for. Most people want to help when asked directly, and a warm introduction skips the stack of anonymous resumes entirely.

Professional associations in your field often have returnship programs or mentorship networks specifically for people coming back after a career break. Search for them.

Consider a returnship

Many large companies now run formal returnship programs, structured re-entry programs designed for people who have been out of the workforce for two or more years. Amazon, Goldman Sachs, IBM and others run them. They pay, they come with mentorship, and they often convert to full-time roles. Search your target company's careers page with the word "returnship" or "return to work."

Start smaller if you need to

Freelance work, part-time roles and contract positions are not consolation prizes. They are a way to rebuild your resume in real time, collect recent references and remind yourself, and the market, what you are capable of. One good project leads to the next.

The gap is not the obstacle. Treating it like one is.