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School holidays are winding down, and between Lego marathons and snack negotiations, I decided to road test ChatGPT — but not for writing resumes this time. I used it to psychoanalyse me. (Well, kind of.) See, I’m often too close to my own story to see what actually makes me stand out — and so are most of my clients. So I threw something different at it: my old Vedic Astrology chart (circa 2005 — when flip phones were a thing) and my Human Design profile. Then I asked ChatGPT what it saw as my unique talents, abilities, and “silent strengths.” Basically, I wanted an AI-powered mirror to tell me: why should someone hire me? And… it reflected things I already knew deep down but couldn’t quite articulate. For example:
Now, I can use that insight and wording in so many ways — in job applications, interviews, website marketing, even how I show up on LinkedIn or in the workplace. But here’s the part that matters for you: Most people are terrible at identifying their own strengths. You’re too close to the details. You can’t read the label when you’re inside the jar. That’s where AI can help. Here’s a few ways you can use it to uncover what makes you stand out:
AI won’t replace your voice — but it will help you hear it more clearly. So if you’ve been struggling to explain what makes you different (or worth that next pay rise), maybe it’s time to let a robot hold up the mirror. Have you tried using AI to uncover your own uniqueness? Hit reply and tell me what you’ve discovered — bonus points if it’s weirder than my astrology experiment. ~Lisa Your Q&AHow do I explain a career break after having a baby? Hi Lisa, I’ve been looking for a job in the tech sector. I was made redundant when I was pregnant and have not worked for about a year and three months. I’ve not taken any classes, earned certifications, or completed professional activities, basically, I’ve been a full-time mother. I have an interview this week and wondered what I should say about my employment “gap.” I am inclined to say I was laid off and had a baby. I do have my child in child care and am ready and eager to go back to work. I’m really stuck on how to approach this, so I welcome your thoughts. Ann Hi Ann, Here’s the short version: keep it simple, keep it confident, and don’t apologise for being a human being with a baby. Try something like: “My role was restructured, so I decided to take that opportunity to complete my maternity leave before returning to the workforce.”
Then immediately steer the conversation back to your skills, your readiness, and what you bring to the table. Because honestly? Tech hiring managers care more about whether you can solve today’s problems than what you were doing 14 months ago. You had a baby — not a brain transplant. And let’s be real: if a company sees your parental status as a liability, that’s a pretty good preview of their “flexible work” policy (aka: none). Those aren’t your people. That said, if you’d prefer to skip the “baby” part altogether, you could go with something like: “Like many in tech last year, I was affected by a redundancy. Since then, I’ve taken some time to reset, and now I’m recharged, focused, and ready to bring my skills back into a dynamic team.”
Or, “After being laid off during a company restructure, I took a short pause to reassess what I want from my next role. I’m ready to contribute to a team that values innovation and collaboration.”
Either way, the message is the same: the break was your choice — not a year-long job hunt that went nowhere. Workplaces are finally waking up to the fact that life doesn’t stop at the office door. The good ones will see that raising a small human actually adds to your skill set (project management, crisis response, sleep-deprivation endurance — all highly transferable). So walk in, own your story, and remember: taking time out to have a baby isn’t a “gap” — it’s a chapter. Thanks for writing in. ~Lisa |
