The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry

Episode 101 of The Comeback Career Podcast explores how a parent re-entered the workforce as a corporate recruiter after a seven-year gap. Lucas and Luna unpack the specific strategies this person used—from reframing volunteer coordination as hiring experience to leveraging a returnship program at a Fortune 500 company. We walk through how they rebuilt their professional network, tackled the 'interview the interviewer' approach, and turned a temporary contract into a full-time offer. The episode also touches on why recruiting is a surprisingly gap-friendly field and what listeners can learn from this comeback story. Plus, a brief note on how listener support keeps this show ad-free.

#CareerGap #StayAtHomeReentry #CorporateRecruiter #Returnship #JobSearch #Networking #ResumeTips #Interviewing #ParentReentry #Fortune500 #HumanResources #Recruitment #VolunteerWork #ContractToHire #ComebackCareer #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers

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In our 100th episode, Lucas and Luna examine the story of a former urban planner who returned after a 12-year gap raising twins. She started as a part-time permit reviewer for the city of Portland, Oregon, then used a mid-career fellowship to rebuild credentials and land a full-time senior planner role. Along the way, she overcame outdated software skills and a confidence gap by volunteering on a neighborhood transportation committee. The episode digs into the specific tactics she used to refresh her portfolio, network with city officials, and navigate the public sector hiring timeline. Lucas and Luna also discuss how the 2026 wave of federal infrastructure funding is creating new opportunities for stay-at-home parents re-entering planning and civil engineering fields. A practical guide for anyone wondering if their pre-gap career still has a path forward.

#Careers #CareerGap #ReturnToWork #CityPlanning #PublicSector #UrbanPlanning #Infrastructure #Portland #MidCareer #Fellowship #Volunteering #Portfolio #SoftwareSkills #Confidence #Parent #StayAtHome #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Episode 99 of The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo tells the story of Diane, a former stay-at-home parent who returned to the workforce as a commercial real estate analyst after an eight-year gap. Lucas and Luna walk through how Diane leveraged her prior background in accounting, took online courses in Argus and Excel, and networked her way into a junior analyst role at a mid-size CRE firm. They discuss the specific certification she earned, the salary negotiation she navigated, and the three-month freelance bridge she built before getting the full-time offer. This episode offers a concrete blueprint for parents with financial or analytical backgrounds considering a return to commercial real estate.

#CareerGap #StayAtHomeReEntry #CommercialRealEstate #CREAnalyst #ReturnToWork #Diane #Argus #Excel #Accounting #Networking #FreelanceBridge #SalaryNegotiation #Careers #ParentingAndCareer #Podcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ComebackCareer

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After a seven-year career gap following relocations as a military spouse, Anna Velez started a virtual assistance business that now serves 12 clients across three time zones. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the specific strategies Anna used to rebuild her professional network from scratch—including how she leveraged a free online directory for military spouses to land her first client, and why she recommends starting with a single service offering instead of a full menu. They discuss the emotional challenges of justifying a business launch during a partner's deployment and the practical steps Anna took to establish credibility without recent traditional employment. The conversation also explores how the military spouse community provides built-in mentorship and referrals, and why the Department of Defense's Military Spouse Employment Partnership program can be a hidden resource for returners. This is a focused look at one parent's path from gap to entrepreneurship, with actionable takeaways for anyone who feels their non-linear career story is a liability.

#CareerGap #MilitarySpouse #Entrepreneurship #VirtualAssistant #ReturnToWork #StayAtHomeMom #RemoteWork #Networking #SmallBusiness #Freelancing #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheComebackCareerPodcast #AnnaVelez #MSEP #MilitarySpouseEmployment #VeteranFamily

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how parents returning to the workforce after a career gap can rebuild confidence specifically for job interviews. They break down the psychological hurdle of the 'explain the gap' moment and share concrete techniques used by career coach Maya Chen, including the 30-second narrative framework, the power of reframing caregiving years as project management experience, and how to handle salary negotiation from a position of strength. Lucas cites research from a 2025 LinkedIn study showing that candidates who used a structured narrative were 40% more likely to advance past the first round. Luna shares a story of a friend who landed a senior analyst role by treating her career gap as a deliberate sabbatical for skill-building. The hosts also discuss role-playing with a partner, using the STAR method with gap-relevant examples, and why silence after an answer can be a power move. The episode closes with a warm reminder that listener support through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo keeps the show ad-free and focused on practical career advice.

#CareerGap #InterviewConfidence #ReturnToWork #JobInterviewTips #CareerPivot #ParentReEntry #ConfidenceBuilding #SalaryNegotiation #STARMethod #NarrativeFramework #MayaChen #LinkedInStudy #CaregivingAsExperience #SkillSabbatical #WorkforceReturn #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Episode 96 of The Comeback Career Podcast explores how a 7-year career gap led to a successful return as a financial planner. Lucas and Luna talk with Sarah, a former teacher who pivoted to finance after staying home with her kids. They break down her path to getting the CFP certification while still at home, networking through local mom groups, and landing a role at a boutique RIA that valued her life experience. Specific numbers: the 18-month CFP timeline, the 4,000-hour experience requirement, and the starting salary range of $65,000 to $85,000 in a mid-sized market. The episode also covers how she framed her gap in interviews and why one firm saw her teaching background as an asset for client education. No generic advice — just one real person's blueprint.

#CareerGap #StayAtHomeParent #ReturnToWork #FinancialPlanner #CFP #CareerChange #Finance #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheComebackCareerPodcast #Podcast #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #Networking #TeachingToFinance #RIA #ClientEducation

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Episode 95 of The Comeback Career Podcast: Lucas and Luna explore how a stay-at-home parent used her bilingual fluency to re-enter the workforce as a medical interpreter. They break down a real case: a former teacher who hadn't worked in 8 years, got certified in 3 months, and now earns $35-45 per hour on a flexible schedule. The hosts discuss the American Translators Association certification path, the shortage of medical interpreters in the US (only 1 per 1000 patients in some states), and why this role is especially parent-friendly. They also touch on how the interpretation industry is growing 19% through 2032, according to BLS data, and why video remote interpreting opens even more doors. No prior healthcare experience required. The episode closes with a candid look at the emotional side of medical interpretation and a gentle invitation to support the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo.

#MedicalInterpreter #CareerGap #StayAtHomeReturn #BilingualCareer #RemoteWork #ContractWork #Certification #ATA #FlexibleSchedule #Healthcare #Interpretation #ParentReEntry #WorkFromHome #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ComebackCareer #Episode95

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When Sarah Chen left her marketing manager role in 2018 to care for her twins, she assumed her career in brand strategy was over. Seven years later, she returned to the workforce not as a junior hire but as a senior brand strategist at a midsize agency. In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack Sarah's specific playbook: how she kept her strategic thinking sharp through a part-time consulting project, used a portfolio of pro-bono work to bridge the resume gap, and negotiated a return at a level higher than she left. They also discuss the 'brand strategy refresh' framework she created for herself, which included quarterly industry audits and a personal brand document. Plus, the hosts share why a gap can actually sharpen strategic skills, and how to frame it in interviews. Listeners will walk away with a concrete template for re-entering a creative strategy role after a multi-year break.

#BrandStrategy #CareerGap #ReturnToWork #ParentReEntry #Marketing #CareerPivot #StrategicThinking #PortfolioCareer #ProBonoWork #Negotiation #InterviewTips #CreativeCareers #WorkLifeBalance #Careers #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #Fexingo #TheComebackCareer

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how a decade-long career gap doesn't have to derail your creative ambitions. They share the story of Maria, a former graphic designer who stepped away to raise her kids and returned as a senior art director at a mid-sized ad agency. Lucas breaks down the three key strategies Maria used to rebuild her portfolio: undertaking pro bono projects for local nonprofits, enrolling in a focused continuing education course on Figma and design systems, and leveraging former colleagues to find contract work before a full-time offer. They discuss how she reframed her gap on her resume as 'strategic sabbatical for family management' and how she tackled the confidence gap by practicing her portfolio pitch with a coach. Luna contributes a data point: a recent LinkedIn survey found that 62% of hiring managers in creative fields are open to candidates with significant gaps if the portfolio is strong and up-to-date. They wrap up with tips on using online platforms to stay current and the importance of finding a mentor who has also returned from a gap. Perfect for parents, caregivers, or anyone re-entering a creative field after an extended break.

#CareerGap #CreativeCareer #ReturnToWork #PortfolioBuilding #ProBono #Figma #DesignSystems #ContinuingEducation #ConfidenceGap #Mentorship #LinkedInSurvey #StrategicSabbatical #ParentsInBusiness #FreelanceToFullTime #ArtDirector #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how a decade-long career gap doesn't have to derail a return to the workforce. They focus on the story of a former teacher who retrained as a mortgage loan officer and closed over $15 million in loans in her first year back. The hosts discuss the specific licensing requirements, the surprising overlap between teaching skills and loan origination, and how the 2025-2026 housing market created an unexpected opportunity for career changers. Lucas breaks down the numbers behind the $15 million milestone and what it meant for her income trajectory. Luna asks the practical questions about exam prep, networking, and managing the variable-income lifestyle. They also touch on how employers like Rocket Mortgage and local credit unions have started actively recruiting returners. If you've been out of the workforce for years and think finance is off-limits, this episode offers a concrete, data-backed path forward. No fluff, just a real strategy that worked.

#MortgageLoanOfficer #CareerGap #ReturnToWork #StayAtHomeParent #LoanOrigination #NMLSLicense #HousingMarket #TeachingSkills #FinanceCareers #ReEntry #RocketMortgage #CreditUnion #VariableIncome #LicensingExam #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheComebackCareerPodcast

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