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

Episode 81 of The Comeback Career Podcast explores how Melissa Chen, a former IT project manager, parlayed her six-year career gap into a federal contracting role with a mid-tier defense firm. Lucas and Luna break down the specific certification she earned (Security+), the networking strategy that got her foot in the door, and why the federal government's push for qualified candidates made her gap an asset, not a liability. They also discuss the growing trend of 'returnships' in the public sector and how parents can navigate security clearance timelines. If you've been out of the workforce and think government work is out of reach, this episode offers a concrete roadmap.

#CareerGap #StayAtHomeParent #FederalContractor #Returnship #SecurityClearance #ITProjectManager #MelissaChen #DepartmentOfDefense #CompTIA #SecurityPlus #GovernmentJobs #WorkforceReEntry #CareerPivot #Networking #SkillsBasedHiring #PublicSector #FexingoBusiness #CareersPodcast

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a stay-at-home parent used a five-year career gap to transition into recruiting, a field that values empathy and people skills. They dive into the story of Megan Torres, who after a decade in marketing and a five-year gap, landed a role as a talent acquisition specialist at a mid-sized tech firm. Lucas explains how Megan reframed her gap as a strength—building her network through volunteer hiring committees and leveraging her ability to assess candidates' soft skills. Luna questions whether recruiters really value non-traditional backgrounds, leading to a discussion of data showing that 78% of HR managers consider career gaps acceptable in recruiting hires. The episode covers practical steps, including how to use gap time to learn applicant tracking systems and how to address gaps in interviews. The hosts close with the idea that recruiting is one of the few fields where a gap can be a genuine asset, not a hurdle.

#CareerGap #StayAtHomeParent #Recruiter #TalentAcquisition #MeganTorres #ReturnToWork #Recruiting #CareerTransition #Empathy #SoftSkills #ATS #VolunteerWork #Hiring #HumanResources #Careers #ComebackCareer #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Episode 79 of The Comeback Career Podcast explores how a marketing manager turned stay-at-home parent rebuilt her career by freelancing on Upwork. Lucas and Luna break down the strategy of starting with low-paying gigs to build a profile, then gradually raising rates. They discuss how she landed her first client, the importance of a niche, and how she transitioned from $15 articles to $150/hour consulting. The hosts also touch on the psychology of returning after a gap and the practical steps to overcome imposter syndrome. This episode is a must-listen for parents considering freelancing as a re-entry path.

#FreelanceWriting #Upwork #CareerGap #StayAtHomeMom #Freelancing #MarketingManager #ImposterSyndrome #FreelanceTips #RemoteWork #CareerReEntry #ContentWriting #SideHustle #ParentingAndCareer #CareerChange #SkillsPortfolio #Business #Careers #FexingoBusiness

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how a stay-at-home parent leveraged a career gap to transition into UX research. They focus on the story of Maria Chen, who after five years out of the workforce, completed a part-time UX research certificate through Google's Career Certificates program while volunteering as a user testing coordinator for a local nonprofit. Maria's approach—framing her gap as a period of deep user empathy development—helped her land a junior UX researcher role at a mid-sized health tech company. Lucas breaks down how she structured her portfolio around the gap, Luna discusses the power of framing 'domestic user research' as transferable skills, and they both share practical tips for making a career pivot from any background. Listeners will learn one concrete strategy for repositioning their career gap as an asset in user-centered fields.

#CareerGap #UXResearch #StayAtHomeMom #GoogleCareerCertificates #UserTesting #HealthTech #PortfolioBuilding #EmpathySkills #CareerPivot #TransferableSkills #Returnship #NonprofitVolunteering #MariaChen #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers #ComebackCareer #ReEntry

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Episode 77 of The Comeback Career Podcast explores a less glamorous but effective re-entry path: temporary staffing. Lucas and Luna share the story of Maria, a former marketing director who returned to work through a temp agency after a six-year career break. They discuss how temp work rebuilt her confidence, updated her skills, and led to a permanent role within nine months. Listeners learn practical tips on choosing the right agency, framing a gap on a resume, and turning a short-term assignment into a full-time offer. Specific data: 76% of temp workers in a 2025 Robert Half survey said their assignment led to a permanent job offer; temporary employment grew 4.2% year-over-year in Q1 2026. No fluff, no sugarcoating—just a real path back.

#TempWork #CareerGap #StayAtHomeMom #ReEntry #StaffingAgency #MarketingDirector #RobertHalf #CareerPivot #ConfidenceBuilding #ResumeGap #Networking #Returnship #ContractWork #PermanentHire #FlexibleWork #CareersPodcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how a career gap can become a launchpad for a leadership coaching practice. They focus on the story of Maya, a former marketing director who took a six-year break to raise her children and returned to start a coaching firm focused on helping mid-career professionals navigate internal promotions. The hosts unpack the specific steps Maya took: how she used her gap to earn an ICF accreditation, built a client base through former colleagues, and structured her practice around a niche she discovered during her time away. Lucas and Luna discuss the surprising advantage of a gap in building credibility as a coach, the financial runway Maya created, and the one skill she says she could only have developed outside the corporate ladder. They also touch on the broader trend of career gaps feeding into coaching — and why that makes sense. A segment on supporting the ad-free mission of the podcast is included.

#LeadershipCoach #CareerGap #StayAtHomeParent #ICFAccreditation #CoachingPractice #CareerReEntry #MayaStory #MarketingDirector #MidCareerProfessionals #InternalPromotions #CoachingNiche #FinancialRunway #SkillBuilding #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #CareersPodcast #ComebackCareer #LucasAndLuna

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For parents returning after a career gap, project management is a surprisingly accessible field — it values transferable skills like scheduling, budgeting, and stakeholder communication over specific industry experience. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the story of Maya, a former marketing coordinator who spent six years at home before landing a project manager role at a mid-sized logistics firm. They break down how Maya reframed volunteer PTA work as a 'portfolio of projects,' used the PMP certification prep course as a structured re-entry timeline, and pitched herself as a 'cross-functional coordinator' rather than a 'stay-at-home parent.' Along the way, Lucas shares data on the 25% salary bump that PMP holders typically see, and why hiring managers in logistics, healthcare, and tech are increasingly open to career-gap candidates who can demonstrate organizational maturity. If you're wondering how to bridge a resume gap with a credential that actually gets callbacks, this episode is your blueprint.

#CareerGap #ProjectManagement #PMP #Returnship #StayAtHomeParent #CareerPivot #TransferableSkills #VolunteerWork #LogisticsJobs #Certification #PMI #JobSearch #ResumeGap #ParentReturn #WorkLifeBalance #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Episode 74 of The Comeback Career Podcast. After six years as a stay-at-home parent, Jenna Kowalski was terrified of sales—cold calling, rejection, the whole stereotype. But when her husband's job relocated them to a new city, she needed income fast. She took a part-time role at a local specialty food store, selling artisan cheeses and charcuterie to customers. That small retail job rebuilt her confidence and taught her how to listen to prospects. Within eighteen months, she parlayed that experience into a B2B sales development role at a food-tech startup, QuotaPath, where she now earns a base salary of $65,000 plus commission. This episode breaks down Jenna's three-step process: start in a low-stakes sales environment, build listening skills without a script, and then leverage tangible metrics (like conversion rates and average order value) to prove you can sell. No false promises—sales re-entry is hard, but Jenna's story shows it's possible without a traditional corporate background.

#CareerGap #SalesCareer #StayAtHomeParent #ReEntry #JobSearchAfterGap #SalesReEntry #JennaKowalski #QuotaPath #SpecialtyFoodStore #ColdCalling #B2BSales #RetailSales #SalesDevelopment #ConfidenceBuilding #ListeningSkills #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how a career gap can actually strengthen your candidacy for a marketing management role. They dive into the story of Jenna, a former brand manager who took five years off to raise twins and returned as a marketing manager at a mid-sized consumer goods company. Lucas breaks down how Jenna framed her gap as a strategic advantage, using her at-home experience to demonstrate project management, budgeting, and audience insight skills. They discuss specific tactics like creating a 'gap portfolio' to showcase volunteer marketing work, leveraging alumni networks for referrals, and negotiating a flexible schedule. Luna shares data on how companies like Patagonia and HubSpot have formal return-to-work programs, and they debate whether certifications in digital marketing tools like Google Analytics or HubSpot Academy are worth the investment. The episode ends with a reflective note on redefining professional identity after a break.

#CareerGap #MarketingManager #ReturnToWork #ParentReEntry #JennaStory #GapPortfolio #AlumniNetworks #FlexibleWork #Patagonia #HubSpot #GoogleAnalytics #HubSpotAcademy #DigitalMarketing #ProfessionalIdentity #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ComebackCareer

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Episode 72 of The Comeback Career Podcast explores the untold story of a former teacher who returned to the workforce as a cybersecurity analyst after a six-year career gap raising two kids. Lucas and Luna break down the specific certifications (CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker), the free online resources used (Cybrary, TryHackMe), and the negotiation strategy that landed a fully remote role with a 15 percent salary bump over her previous teaching salary. They discuss how to frame a gap as an asset in high-demand fields, the power of homelab projects, and why employers in cybersecurity are increasingly open to career changers. Perfect for parents re-entering the workforce or anyone considering a pivot into tech.

#CareerGap #Cybersecurity #Returnship #CompTIA #CEH #Cybrary #TryHackMe #Homelab #RemoteWork #TeacherToTech #CareerChange #ParentingAndCareer #WorkLifeBalance #TechSkills #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ComebackCareer #Careers

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