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

In Episode 12 of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how informational interviews can be a strategic tool for career re-entry after a gap. They walk through a specific case: a former marketing manager who took five years off to raise kids and used 15 informational interviews to land a role at a mid-size agency. Lucas breaks down the three-step process — research, ask, follow up — with concrete scripts and timing. Luna shares why most people skip the research step and how that hurts them. The episode covers how to find the right people to talk to, how to frame your ask without sounding desperate, and what to actually say in the follow-up that converts a conversation into a referral. No fluff, just a repeatable system that works whether your gap is two years or ten. Plus, a short reflection on why this approach builds confidence faster than sending out blind applications.

#InformationalInterviews #CareerGap #ReEntry #Networking #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #MarketingManager #StayAtHomeMom #WorkforceReturn #JobInterview #ResumeGap #CareerStrategy #ProfessionalNetworking #JobReferral #Confidence #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how returning professionals can use AI tools to stay sharp during a career gap. They discuss real-world examples like a former marketing manager who used ChatGPT to build a portfolio of mock campaigns, and a stay-at-home parent who learned basic Python through AI tutoring apps. The hosts share practical tips for leveraging AI for resume optimization, skill-building, and interview prep — all without spending money on expensive courses. They also address common fears about AI replacing jobs and reframe AI as a bridge, not a threat. A natural donation segment ties listener support to keeping the show ad-free and accessible for career-changers.

#CareerGap #ReturnToWork #AIforCareers #ChatGPT #SkillBuilding #JobSearch #ResumeTips #InterviewPrep #StayAtHomeParent #Caregiving #CareerPivot #TechTools #ProfessionalDevelopment #Confidence #WorkforceReentry #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle a sensitive but critical challenge for career-gap returners: age discrimination layered on top of employment gaps. They unpack a 2024 Federal Reserve Board working paper that found callback rates for older women with a two-year gap dropped to roughly that of a sixty-two-year-old applicant no gap. The hosts discuss why a four-year gap can effectively age you a decade in an employer's eyes and what that means for your job search strategy. They explore practical countermoves including how five-year contract roles on a resume scramble the 'age-plus-gap' penalty, why listing skills-based certifications from the gap period can reset the clock, and what the research suggests about the specific penalty for women over fifty re-entering. Lucas shares a real example from a former colleague who used a temp-to-perm pathway and a portfolio of independent projects to neutralize employer assumptions. Luna pushes back on whether the bias is real or perceived, and they land on a specific set of resume and networking tactics that returners in their forties and fifties can use immediately. The episode includes a brief, natural donation segment supporting the ad-free show. Recorded May 25, 2026.

#CareerGap #AgeBias #ReturnToWork #WomenOver50 #JobSearch #ResumeTips #MidCareer #WorkforceReEntry #CaregivingGap #FederalReserve #WorkingPaper #CallbackRates #EmploymentGap #ContractWork #SkillsCertification #TempAgency #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore a practical, under-discussed strategy for career re-entry after a gap: temporary staffing agencies. Focusing on the story of Maria, a former marketing manager who returned to work after six years at home, they break down how temp placements can rebuild confidence, refresh skills, and open doors to permanent roles. Lucas cites a 2025 American Staffing Association study showing that 42% of temp-to-perm hires come from workers with career gaps of two years or longer. Luna shares how her sister used a temp agency to re-enter accounting after staying home with twins. Together, they walk through concrete steps: choosing the right agency, handling the gap conversation with a recruiter, and leveraging short-term assignments to update your resume with recent references. No platitudes—just a tactical path forward for anyone wondering how to start again.

#TempAgency #CareerGap #ReturnToWork #StayAtHomeReEntry #TempToPerm #StaffingAgencies #JobSearch #Careers #CareerReEntry #Maria #ConfidenceBuilding #ResumeRefresh #Networking #WorkforceReentry #ProfessionalDevelopment #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #ComebackCareer

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore how strategic volunteer work can close a resume gap and build professional credibility. They examine the case of a former marketing manager who landed a full-time role after a four-year gap by joining a local nonprofit's board and taking on a pro-bono consulting project. Lucas breaks down why nonprofit board service, event committees, and skills-based volunteering signal 'current competence' to hiring managers better than online courses or freelance gigs. Luna shares data from a 2025 LinkedIn survey showing that 63% of hiring managers view volunteer experience as equivalent to paid work when evaluating candidates with gaps. They discuss how to frame volunteer roles on a resume, which types of organizations carry the most weight, and what to do if you have no volunteer experience to leverage. The episode also addresses the 'so what' question: how to tell the story of volunteer work in an interview so it lands as leadership, not charity. The hosts wrap with honest advice on avoiding volunteer burnout and knowing when to stop volunteering and start applying. No fluff, no judgment — just a concrete strategy for turning a gap into a growth story.

#CareerGap #Volunteering #ResumeGap #ReturnToWork #NonprofitBoard #SkillsBasedVolunteering #ProBono #CareerComeback #JobSearch #HiringManager #LinkedInSurvey #MarketingManager #ProfessionalDevelopment #InterviewTips #CareerAdvice #StayAtHomeParent #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Lucas and Luna explore the psychological hurdle of rebuilding professional confidence after a career gap, focusing on the case of Grace, a former marketing manager who returned to work after six years at home. They discuss why confidence often drops more than competence, how to practice 'confidence scaffolding' using small wins, and a specific technique called the 'pre-game warm-up' that Grace used before interviews and meetings. The hosts share research from Harvard Business Review on how re-entering professionals are often perceived as more mature and focused, not less capable. This episode offers concrete steps for listeners who know they have the skills but feel the inner doubt.

#CareerGap #ReturnToWork #Confidence #ProfessionalConfidence #StayAtHomeParent #ReEntry #Grace #HarvardBusinessReview #SmallWins #PreGameWarmUp #ConfidenceScaffolding #ImposterSyndrome #SkillsGap #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheComebackCareer #LucasAndLuna

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In this episode of The Comeback Career Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle a common but tricky challenge for returners: how to explain a career gap without overexplaining, oversharing, or sounding defensive. Using the real-world example of a marketing director who returned after a six-year gap to care for aging parents, they break down a three-sentence framework that acknowledges the gap, signals readiness, and redirects to value. They also discuss the 'elevator answer' technique, the trap of apologetic language, and how to handle follow-up questions about specific gaps. Lucas shares data from a 2025 LinkedIn survey showing that 68% of hiring managers say a well-framed gap is neutral, while only 12% see it as a negative. Luna offers practical tips for practicing your narrative without memorizing it. The episode closes with a reflective question: what if your gap story is actually your superpower?

#CareerGap #ReturnToWork #JobSearch #InterviewTips #Caregiver #Resume #ComebackCareer #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers #JobInterview #Networking #LinkedIn #ProfessionalDevelopment #Confidence #Storytelling #GapExplanation #HiringManager

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Episode 5 of The Comeback Career Podcast tackles the networking awkwardness that comes after a career gap. Hosts Lucas and Luna explore why re-entering professionals feel like frauds at networking events, and offer a concrete strategy based on the 'Informational Interview Reset.' Lucas shares the story of a former marketing director who used this approach to land a role at HubSpot after a four-year gap, and Luna breaks down the three-part email template that made it work. They discuss the surprising data point that 70% of hiring managers view a career gap neutrally, not negatively, and why you should target people two levels above your target role. Specific, actionable, and designed for listeners who want to head back into the workforce with confidence.

#CareerGap #Networking #ReturnToWork #StayAtHomeReEntry #JobSearch #InformationalInterview #HubSpot #MarketingDirector #LinkedIn #ComebackCareer #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Careers #ProfessionalDevelopment #ReEnteringTheWorkforce #JobInterviewTips #NetworkingStrategy #CareerAdvice

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Returning to work after a gap often means accepting less than you're worth. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down a real case: a former marketing manager who took two years off to care for aging parents, then landed a role that was one level below her previous title. They discuss how to prepare a salary anchor, why most people undervalue themselves after a break, and a simple framing technique called the 'bridge statement' that turns a gap into a strength. Lucas shares data from a 2025 LinkedIn survey showing that professionals who take a break and negotiate deliberately earn 12% more than those who accept the first offer. Luna offers a practical script for explaining a gap without apologizing. By the end, listeners will have a concrete strategy for negotiating from a position of confidence, not defensiveness.

#SalaryNegotiation #CareerGap #ReturnToWork #StayAtHomeReEntry #LinkedInData #BridgeStatement #MarketingManager #Caregiver #JobOffer #NegotiationTips #Confidence #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheComebackCareerPodcast #WorkLifeBalance #CareerAdvice #SalaryAnchor

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Lucas and Luna explore how returning parents can frame caregiving as a professional asset, not a liability. They dissect a real case: Sarah, a former marketing manager who spent six years at home, then landed a senior operations role by reframing her volunteer treasurer work, logistics of managing a household, and conflict-resolution skills. Lucas walks through the 'competency translation' method—mapping stay-at-home activities to corporate competencies like project management, negotiation, and crisis response. They discuss how to handle the 'what did you do for six years?' question without defensiveness, and why companies like Patagonia and Etsy actively recruit returners. The episode includes a specific exercise: writing a 'transferable skills inventory' before any interview. No platitudes—just a concrete framework for turning a gap into a strength.

#CaregivingSkills #ReturnToWork #JobInterviewTips #CareerBreak #TransferableSkills #SarahsStory #CompetencyTranslation #ProjectManagement #NegotiationSkills #CrisisResponse #VolunteerExperience #Patagonia #Etsy #StayAtHomeMom #StayAtHomeDad #Careers #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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