Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Career Gap Led to a Corporate Trainer Role
Transcript
- Lucas: So Maria spent seven years at home with her twins, and last month she started as a corporate trainer at a Fortune 500 company. Her starting salary is about twenty percent higher than her last teaching salary. Luna: Twenty percent higher? That's a strong comeback. How did she pull that off? Lucas: Well, she didn't just dust off her old resume. She completely reframed her teaching experience. She'd run a classroom of thirty teenagers, managed parent communications, and designed curriculum. She translated that into 'facilitation,' 'stakeholder engagement,' and 'instructional design.' Luna: It's funny how teachers undervalue those skills. I mean, managing a classroom is basically project management with higher stakes. Lucas: Exactly. And she did something smart before even applying. She took a couple of free online courses on adult learning theory and instructional design, just to get the vocabulary right. That gave her confidence in interviews. Luna: That's a great tip. What about the gap itself? How did she handle that question? Lucas: She didn't apologize for it. She said, 'I chose to be home with my kids, and I kept my skills sharp. I organized a parent-teacher association, led a scout troop, and volunteered for a literacy program. All of that involved training and coordinating people.' Luna: So she turned the gap into evidence of leadership. That's a powerful reframe. Lucas: Right. And she used her network. A former colleague had moved into HR at that company and knew they were expanding their leadership development team. That's how she got her foot in the door. Luna: Networking still matters more than anything, doesn't it? Lucas: It does. And in this case, it was a warm intro. But she also prepared for the interview by asking the hiring manager what challenges the team was facing. She brought a sample training outline—just one page—for a module on giving feedback. That blew them away. Luna: A sample outline? That's the kind of thing that makes you memorable. Did she negotiate her salary? Lucas: She did. She researched typical salaries for corporate trainers with her experience, and when they made an offer, she countered with a number ten percent higher. They met her in the middle. That's partly why she's above her old teaching salary. Luna: Good for her. And she also got a flexible schedule, right? I think I read that in her story. Lucas: Yeah, they agreed she could work from home two days a week, and she has to be in the office for training sessions. That flexibility was key for her as a parent. Luna: Let's talk about the broader trend. Companies are investing a lot more in soft skills training, especially with hybrid work. Is that what's opening these doors? Lucas: Absolutely. According to a LinkedIn report from earlier this year, demand for leadership development and communication training has grown by over thirty percent year-over-year. Managers are struggling to keep remote teams cohesive, so they're bringing in trainers. Luna: And former teachers are perfect for that. They know how to hold attention, how to break down complex ideas, how to read a room—even a virtual one. Lucas: Right. And Maria's story isn't unique. I spoke with a career coach who says she's seen a wave of former educators moving into corporate training and instructional design roles. The key is making the connection explicit. Luna: What about the emotional side? I imagine there's fear, imposter syndrome, all of that. Lucas: Maria admitted she felt like a fraud for the first few months. But she had a mantra: 'I've trained thirty teenagers every day for five years. I can handle a room of executives.' She also joined a local meetup for trainers, which helped her see she belonged. Luna: That's a good reminder that the comeback isn't just about skills, it's about identity. Lucas: And about practice. She practiced her interview answers out loud, recorded herself, and even did mock interviews with a friend. That prepared her for the tough questions. Luna: So for someone listening who's a former teacher or just had a long gap, what's the first step you'd recommend? Lucas: Start by listing everything you did during your gap—volunteer work, managing a household budget, organizing a community event. Then translate those into business language. That's your new resume. Luna: And then what? Should they reach out to people on LinkedIn? Lucas: Yes, but not cold. Look for former colleagues or classmates who work in training or HR. Ask for an informational interview. People love to talk about their work. That's how you find opportunities. Luna: And what about certifications? Do they need a certificate in instructional design? Lucas: Not necessarily. Maria took a few free courses just to learn the jargon, but she got the job because of her portfolio and her teaching experience. Employers care more about whether you can actually teach and engage people. Luna: That's reassuring. I think a lot of people feel they need a formal degree or certificate to pivot. Lucas: It can help, but it's not a gate. What matters is your ability to show you've trained people before—and that includes your kids' soccer team or the PTA bake sale. Luna: Speaking of which, if listeners have gotten something out of our conversations about career comebacks, a couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going. Buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, if you've found them useful. Lucas: Yeah, we keep the show ad-free, and listener support is a big part of that. Every little bit helps us keep bringing stories like Maria's. Luna: And speaking of stories, I loved how she used her PTA experience to demonstrate project management. That's a classic example of transferable skills. Lucas: Exactly. And she put that on her resume as 'Coordinated a parent-teacher association of forty members, organizing events and training volunteers.' It sounds like a corporate role, because it basically was. Luna: So what's one thing someone should do this week if they're thinking about this path? Lucas: Pick one volunteer or home responsibility you've handled and rewrite it as a bullet point on a resume. Just one. Then share it with someone you trust and ask if it sounds compelling. Luna: That's a low-stakes first step. And maybe also look up one online course on adult learning theory, just to build confidence. Lucas: Right. And remember, the gap isn't a hole in your resume—it's a different kind of experience. Maria proved that, and you can too. Luna: Thanks for joining us. We'll be back next week with another comeback story. Lucas: Until then, keep building your story.