Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Stay-at-Home Dad Returned as an Operations Manager
Transcript
- Lucas: So you know that moment when you're at a party and someone asks, 'So what do you do?' and you freeze because for the last six years you've been washing sippy cups and managing nap schedules? That's exactly where our guest today found himself. Mark, a former logistics coordinator, who stepped away to be a stay-at-home dad, and then came back as an operations manager for a regional food distributor. Luna: That is a massive leap, from logistics coordinator to operations manager. And I love that he did it after a six-year gap, not a six-month one. Lucas: Exactly. And what I love about Mark's story is that he didn't just dust off his old resume and hope for the best. He treated the gap as a strategic pivot. He spent the first few months of his job search talking to people in operations, not just applying online. And he had a really clear answer to the question everyone was dying to ask: 'What did you do all day?' Luna: And that's the question we're going to unpack today. But before we dive deep, if today’s episode gives you one practical tip that helps you think about your own career gap, that’s great. And the reason we can keep offering these conversations without ads is because of listeners who support the show. If that’s you, you can buy me a coffee at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Every bit helps us keep the lights on and the mics warm. Lucas: Yeah, and we genuinely appreciate it. Now, back to Mark. So when he first started applying, he got zero callbacks. Not one. And he realized that his resume read like a time capsule. It was all about his old role, but nothing about how he'd spent the last six years. Luna: So what did he do differently? Because I bet a lot of our listeners are in that same boat. Lucas: He completely rebranded his resume. Instead of a 'career gap,' he listed it as 'Director of Household Operations' and bullet-pointed things like 'managed a $4,000 monthly budget,' 'coordinated schedules for three children and two adults,' 'negotiated with vendors for home services.' And he didn't just stop at the resume. He had concrete stories ready for interviews. Luna: I love that. 'Director of Household Operations' sounds like a legit title, and honestly, it is. I've seen moms and dads do this, and it works because those are real skills. Lucas: Right. And he also got involved in his local PTA and took on the role of volunteer coordinator for a community food drive. That gave him recent, verifiable experience managing volunteers and logistics. So when he went into interviews, he wasn't just talking about what he did five years ago. He had something current to point to. Luna: That's such a smart move. And it's not just about checking a box. It shows initiative and that you can still work with people and deadlines. Lucas: Exactly. And that's what eventually landed him the job. He got an interview through a former colleague, and in that interview, he framed his gap as a period of intense, hands-on project management. He talked about how he ran the household like a small business, with inventory, scheduling, and a budget. And he even joked that if you can get a toddler to eat broccoli, you can negotiate with almost anyone. Luna: That's a great line. And I bet it disarmed the interviewer. But what about the actual operations manager role? That's a big jump from coordinator. How did he convince them he could handle the increased scope? Lucas: He focused on the fundamentals. He reminded them that as a logistics coordinator, he was already managing inventory, coordinating shipments, and working with carriers. He said the gap didn't erase that experience, it added to it. He argued that managing a household is essentially managing a supply chain for a family of five, and that he had become a better problem-solver because he'd had to be. Luna: And the company saw that. They took a chance on him, and it paid off. I've heard stories like this where employers are actually surprised by how quickly returners ramp up because they're used to chaos and multitasking. Lucas: That's a really good point. And I think a lot of hiring managers are starting to realize that a career gap isn't a red flag, it's a different kind of experience. Mark is part of a growing trend of parents who step away and come back with renewed focus and maturity. The key is to own the gap, not hide it. Luna: So what's your advice for someone who's listening right now and thinking, 'Okay, I want to do this, but I'm terrified'? Lucas: First, give yourself permission to start small. You don't have to jump straight into a full-time operations manager role. You could take a part-time contract or a project-based gig to rebuild your confidence and your network. Second, go to networking events. Talk to at least three people in your target field before you send out your resume. And third, practice your 'gap story' out loud until it feels natural. Because if you're confident, they'll be confident. Luna: That's solid advice. And I'd add one thing: don't forget to ask for flexibility. Mark negotiated to work from home two days a week, and that made the transition a lot easier for his family. A lot of employers are open to that, especially now. Lucas: Absolutely. And that's a key point. The pandemic changed the conversation around remote work, and that's an opportunity for returners. Mark's company was already hybrid, but he still asked, and they said yes. It never hurts to ask. Luna: And the fact that he asked shows confidence. It's not just about the job, it's about designing a career that works for your life. Lucas: Exactly. And that's the takeaway from Mark's story. A career gap doesn't have to be the end of your career. It can be the beginning of a whole new chapter. You just have to know how to tell your story and show that you've been learning all along. Luna: And for anyone who's listening, if you're thinking about going back, start today. Update your LinkedIn, reach out to one former colleague, and just see where it goes. You might be surprised. Lucas: That's a great note to end on. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time.