Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How to Use a Temp Agency to Re-Enter the Workforce After a Gap
Transcript
- Lucas: So today I want to talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention when it comes to career re-entry after a gap: temporary staffing agencies. Luna: Temp agencies. Like, the old-school 'we'll send you to file papers for a week' kind of thing? Lucas: Exactly. But the industry has changed a lot. In 2025, the American Staffing Association found that 42 percent of temp to perm hires came from workers who'd had a career gap of two years or longer. That's huge. Luna: Forty-two percent — so almost half. That's not a footnote. That's a real on-ramp. Lucas: Right. And I think the reason it works so well is psychological as much as practical. When you've been out of the workforce for a while, even a short-term assignment can rebuild your confidence in a way that reading articles or updating your LinkedIn just can't. Luna: It's proof of concept. You show up, you do the work, you remember you can still do it. Lucas: Exactly. Let me give you a specific case. A woman named Maria — former marketing manager at a mid-sized consumer goods company. She left her job in 2020 when her second kid was born, planned to go back after a year, and then, you know, life happened. By 2024 she was ready but terrified. Luna: I think that's the part people don't talk about enough — the fear. It's not just skill rust. It's the dread of being judged. Lucas: Exactly. So Maria went to a staffing agency called Robert Half — one of the big ones. She was upfront about her six-year gap. And the recruiter's reaction surprised her: they didn't flinch. They said, 'Great, we have a three-month temp to perm role at a software company, assistant marketing manager. Want to try it?' Luna: And she took it. Lucas: She took it. And three months later she got offered the permanent job. Now she's been there over a year. The temp placement was basically a try before you buy for the employer — low risk for them, low pressure for her. Luna: I love that. My sister actually did something similar. She was a stay-at-home mom for five years with twins. She went to a local temp agency — not a national one — and got placed at a small accounting firm doing data entry. It was only eight weeks, but it gave her a recent reference and the confidence to apply for a permanent bookkeeping role. Lucas: And that's the key. That recent reference is gold. When you've been out for years, your most recent professional reference is from, say, 2018. A hiring manager might wonder if that person even remembers you. But a reference from last month? Solid. Luna: So how do you actually pick the right agency? Because I imagine some are better for career re-entry than others. Lucas: Great question. First, look for agencies that specialize in your field. Robert Half is good for finance and accounting. Randstad and Manpower cover broader categories. There are also niche agencies like Creative Circle for marketing or Toptal for tech freelancers. If you were a project manager, you want an agency that places project managers regularly. Luna: So don't just walk into the first 'we hire everyone' place. Lucas: Right. The second thing: ask the agency directly about their experience placing candidates with career gaps. Some recruiters are skeptical. Others, like Maria's, see it as a pool of motivated talent. You want the second kind. Luna: And you can just ask that? Lucas: Absolutely. A good recruiter will be transparent. Say, 'I've been out of the workforce for a few years and I'm looking to ease back in. Do you have clients who are open to that?' If they hesitate, move on. Luna: That's really practical. What about the conversation itself? How do you bring up the gap with the recruiter? Lucas: The same way you would in any interview — briefly and forward-looking. You don't apologize. You say, 'I took time away from paid work to care for family. I'm now fully available and eager to apply my skills.' Then pivot to the skills. For Maria, she talked about how she'd stayed current by doing a Google Analytics certification and helping a friend's small business with social media. Luna: So you're framing the gap as a period where you still developed — just not on a payroll. Lucas: Exactly. And if you did any volunteer work, ongoing education, or freelance projects, absolutely mention those. They're not filler — they're proof of engagement. Luna: What if someone has nothing? Like, pure stay-at-home with no formal volunteering or courses? Lucas: Then you still have skills from managing a household — budget management, scheduling, conflict resolution. But I'd suggest before even contacting an agency, spend two weeks doing something small. A free online course, a volunteer gig, even helping a neighbor with their resume. That gives you something concrete to mention. Luna: That's smart. It's like creating a mini-bridge. Lucas: And by the way, a lot of temp assignments are remote now. That's actually a big shift post-pandemic. So the barrier to entry is lower — you don't have to commute, buy a whole new wardrobe, or find childcare for 40 hours a week right away. You can start with 20 hours a week from home. Luna: That's huge for parents especially. My sister's data entry gig was fully remote. She could do it during nap time. Lucas: Exactly. And that leads to the next point: once you're in a temp role, treat it like a long interview. Show up early, deliver, ask for feedback. The agency will hear about it, and they'll send you better assignments. It's a virtuous cycle. Luna: You know, this whole conversation is making me think about how many people might overlook temp agencies because they think it's only for entry-level or blue-collar work. But Maria was a marketing manager. My sister is a bookkeeper. These are professional roles. Lucas: Totally. The staffing industry has moved upmarket. There are agencies placing interim CFOs, IT project managers, even lawyers. The term 'temp' can sound low-status, but in practice it's just a flexible employment model. Luna: And it's a way to get your foot in the door without the pressure of a permanent interview process. You get to prove yourself on the job. Lucas: Speaking of which, if we've helped you think through a career move or decision, a couple of bucks a month is genuinely what keeps these episodes ad-free and coming. You can support the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — it's that simple. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. And there's no pressure — just if you've gotten something out of it. Lucas: So back to the practical side. One thing I want to emphasize is that a temp assignment can also help you figure out what you don't want. Maybe you took a marketing role and realized you hate the new software stack. That's valuable information — and you only invested three months, not a full-time job search and onboarding. Luna: Right. It's like a test-drive for your career re-entry. Lucas: Exactly. And if you do decide you want to go permanent, many temp agencies have a direct to hire pipeline. The employer pays a conversion fee to the agency, but that fee is often waived after a certain number of weeks. So the employer is incentivized to hire you. Luna: So it's a win win win: the employer gets a low-risk trial, you get a smooth re-entry, and the agency gets a placement fee. Lucas: Exactly. And the data backs it up. According to that same ASA study, temp to perm hires have a 60 percent retention rate after one year, compared to about 50 percent for direct hires. So employers are increasingly using temp as a screening tool. Luna: That's a stat worth remembering. It means if you go in as a temp, you're not a second-class candidate — you're actually getting a longer, more realistic interview. Lucas: Right. And that brings me to one last point: don't wait until you feel ready. The biggest mistake people make is thinking they need to update their entire resume, take three courses, and 'get their confidence back' before they even apply. That's paralysis. Temp agencies are built for people who are ready to start — even if they don't feel ready. Luna: Action before confidence. Just reach out to an agency this week. Lucas: Exactly. Even if it's just a phone call to ask a few questions. That alone breaks the inertia. Luna: So for anyone listening who's been out of work for a year or more, and the thought of a full-time job search feels overwhelming — maybe start with a temp agency. No pressure, just a way to get moving. Lucas: I think that's the right note to end on. Maria and my sister both started with a single conversation. And now they're both back in rewarding careers. The first step doesn't have to be big. Luna: It just has to be a step. Lucas: Exactly. Thanks for listening, and we'll talk next time.