Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Career Gap Led to Teaching Kindergarten
Transcript
- Lucas: So there's this story about a woman named Sofia who had been out of the workforce for seven years. She had a background in corporate training, but when she decided to go back, she chose to become a kindergarten teacher. And the way she did it is actually a blueprint for anyone considering a return to teaching. Luna: Seven years is a long gap. What made her pick teaching over going back to corporate training? Lucas: She said she wanted a job that felt more meaningful, and she also wanted a schedule that aligned with her kids. Teaching gave her the same holidays and summers off. But the challenge was getting certified with that gap. Luna: Right, because you can't just walk into a classroom. You need a teaching license. How did she start? Lucas: She researched alternative routes. Most states have alternative certification programs for people with a bachelor's degree. Sofia went through the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, or ABCTE. The program took her about 10 months and cost just under $2,000. Luna: That's not bad. But does a certification alone overcome a hiring manager's concern about a seven-year gap? Lucas: Not by itself. Sofia realized she needed to show she was still capable in a classroom setting. So she volunteered as a classroom aide at her son's elementary school for two months. That gave her recent references and a concrete story about managing a room full of five-year-olds. Luna: And that's hard to argue with. I think a lot of returners get stuck because they only submit applications and wait. But actually getting back in front of students, even unpaid, proves you can still do it. Lucas: Exactly. She also took a couple of online courses on classroom management and child development to refresh her knowledge. She listed those on her resume under a 'Professional Development' section, which showed she was proactive. Luna: Now, what about the financial piece? Teaching is not known for high salaries, especially starting out. Lucas: That's a real consideration. Sofia was making $65,000 as a corporate trainer. Her starting teacher salary in her state was about $40,000. That's a 38 percent cut. But she told us that the benefits, the pension, and the schedule balance made up for it. Plus, she knew the salary would increase with experience. Luna: So she took a long-term view. I think that's key. If you're returning after a gap, you might need to accept a step back financially in the short run to get the role you really want. Lucas: Right. She also targeted high-needs school districts because they tend to be more open to alternative certification candidates and sometimes offer signing bonuses or loan forgiveness. That's a tip for anyone: don't just apply to the most competitive suburban schools. Luna: Makes sense. So did she get hired before the school year started, or did she have to wait? Lucas: She started applying in February, got an interview in April, and was offered a contract in May for the following fall. So it took about three months from applications to offer. She says the interview focused heavily on how she would handle the gap and why she was returning now. Luna: What did she say that worked? Lucas: She framed the gap as intentional family time, not a gap in skills. She explained that during those years she was practicing patience, conflict resolution, and multi-tasking every day. And she made sure to connect that directly to kindergarten teaching. 'Managing a household with three kids prepared me for a classroom of 20,' she said. Luna: That's a great reframe. So many returners undersell their caregiving experience. But it's real work. Lucas: Absolutely. And once she started teaching, she said the first year was brutal — the workload, the emotional drain. But by the second year, she felt she had found her footing. Luna: That's a common theme in career changes. The first year always hurts. But I love that she took a concrete path: certification, volunteering, targeted applications. Lucas: And it's not just teaching. This framework applies to many careers: get the credential, find a way to gain recent experience, and build a narrative that connects your past life to your target role. Luna: That's the kind of practical advice I think our listeners really need. And it's why we keep this podcast ad-free — we don't want the content to be driven by sponsors. If you find value in these conversations and want to support our independence, you can do so at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Exactly. Every little bit helps us keep the focus on the listener. Now, Sofia's story is still unfolding. She's now in her third year of teaching and she's mentoring other career-changers. She says the best part is seeing her own kids come home and talk about their teachers differently. Luna: That's sweet. So for someone listening right now who's thinking about going into teaching after a gap, what are the first three things they should do? Lucas: First, check your state's alternative certification requirements. Second, start volunteering in a school — even one day a week. And third, update your resume to emphasize transferable skills from any caregiving or volunteer roles you've held. Don't wait until you're fully certified to start networking. Luna: Solid advice. And remember, the gap itself isn't a black mark if you can tell a story about what you learned. Thanks, Lucas. Lucas: Thanks, Luna. And to our listeners, we'll be back next time with another story of a successful return to the workforce.