Long-time manager here. 1. Leave it blank on your CV. In discussion, say, "Then I took a break to help family during covid." That's all you need. Resist the

Long-time manager here. 1. Leave it blank on your CV. In discussion, say, "Then I took a break to help family during covid." That's all you need. Resist the urge to try to explain or justify it. 2. Explain what you did to "stay sharp": played with a side project, read a book, took a course, etc. Be prepared to answer questions on it just like you would if it were a job. If you didn't do squat, at least say "I kept up on the literature" and be prepared to cite some blogs or essays you found informative. 3. The reference from your last job is absolutely critical, make sure you have good ones lined up. Contact them to ask if they would be a good reference and remind them who you are and of good stuff you did, and then ping them again to say, "You should be getting a reference check from ABCorp soon, please emphasize my skills with [leadership, architecture, whatever]". Good luck!