Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How to Use Freelance Projects to Bridge a Career Gap
Transcript
- Lucas: So you take five years off to raise kids, or care for a parent, or just recover from burnout. The resume has a gap. And the standard advice is: volunteer, take a course, do something. But there's a specific strategy I've seen work really well, and it's freelancing. Luna: Freelancing as a bridge, not a career pivot. I like that. You're not starting a new business — you're using short-term projects to prove you still have the skills. Lucas: Exactly. And I want to ground this in a real story. A woman named Maria — former marketing manager at a consumer goods company. She took five years off after having twins. When she wanted to go back, she was terrified that her skills were obsolete. Luna: That fear is so common. The industry changes fast. Even two years feels like a lifetime in digital marketing. Lucas: Right. So instead of applying for full-time roles and getting rejected, she started freelancing on Upwork and through local connections. She offered content strategy — something she'd done before, but now with a focus on current platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Luna: She updated her skills while earning. That's smart. Lucas: Over nine months, she earned about $18,000. Not life-changing money, but not nothing. And more importantly, she had three concrete case studies to talk about in interviews. One project increased a client's engagement rate by 40 percent. Luna: That's a specific number. That's way more powerful than saying 'I kept up with trends.' Lucas: Exactly. She landed a full-time marketing manager role at a mid-sized tech company. The hiring manager later told her that her freelance portfolio was the reason she got the interview. It proved she hadn't been sitting still. Luna: So for someone listening who's been out for a while, what's the first step? Just sign up for a platform? Lucas: I'd say start with your existing network. Maria got her first client from a former colleague who needed help with a blog. That project led to two more referrals. Platforms like Upwork are fine, but the competition is fierce. Your network already trusts you. Luna: Yeah, that trust factor is huge. You're not a random freelancer — you're someone they know can deliver. Lucas: And you don't need to charge a lot at first. Maria started at $25 an hour, which is low for a marketing strategist, but she was rebuilding confidence and getting recent work samples. After three months, she raised her rate to $45. Luna: That's a good point. You can always raise rates later. The goal is to get that first project done. Lucas: There's also a psychological shift. When you're freelancing, you're not 'unemployed' — you're a consultant. That changes how you talk about yourself in interviews. You're not explaining a gap; you're describing a period of self-employed work. Luna: And that's a framing that hiring managers respond to. I read a LinkedIn survey from 2025 that said 67 percent of hiring managers view freelance experience during a gap as a positive signal. They see initiative. Lucas: That's a great stat. It reframes the whole narrative. The gap isn't a void — it's a period where you chose to engage in project-based work. Luna: But let's be real — freelancing isn't easy when you're rusty. What about impostor syndrome? You're pitching services you haven't done in years. Lucas: It's real. Maria told me she felt like a fraud for the first two months. But she focused on small wins. She'd take a project that was maybe below her old level — like writing social media captions — just to get the momentum going. Then she'd build up. Luna: Start small, build confidence. That's practical. Lucas: And don't overthink the pricing. One mistake I see people make is they try to charge their old salary as an hourly rate. That's a trap. You're not a full-time employee. You're selling a specific deliverable. Price per project if you can. Luna: Project-based pricing also makes it easier for clients to say yes. They know the total cost upfront. Lucas: Exactly. Maria charged $500 for a content audit and strategy document. That's a fixed price. The client knew exactly what they were getting, and she could deliver it in 10 hours. Luna: That's $50 an hour effectively. Not bad for someone re-entering. Lucas: Now, another key point: how do you list freelance work on a resume when you have a gap? Most people put 'Freelance Marketing Consultant' with dates, but they don't include details. You need to treat it like a real job. List the clients, the projects, the results. Luna: So instead of a vague line, you write: 'Developed content strategy for a B2B SaaS company that increased blog traffic by 25 percent in three months.' Specific. Lucas: Exactly. And if you're worried about confidentiality, you can say 'client in the healthcare space' or something similar. The key is showing impact. Luna: One thing I'd add: use LinkedIn to showcase this work. Post about a project you completed, even if it's small. It signals to your network that you're active and available. Lucas: Great advice. And that brings me to a broader point. Freelancing during a gap isn't just about the money or the resume line. It's about rebuilding your professional identity. You're reminding yourself that you are capable. Luna: Honestly, if today's episode helped you think about your own career gap differently, even just a little, that's the kind of thing that makes this show worth doing. And if it was worth a coffee to you, you can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Yeah, listener support is what keeps this show ad-free and focused on real, practical advice. No pressure at all — but if you've gotten value from episodes like this one, that link is there. Luna: Alright, back to freelancing. So let's say someone listens to this and wants to start next week. What's the one thing they should do today? Lucas: Pick one skill you already have — the thing you were best at in your old job — and offer it to one person in your network for free or at a steep discount. Just to get a recent testimonial and a case study. One project can unlock the next. Luna: I love that. One small step, no pressure. And then build from there. Lucas: Exactly. Maria's first project was for a friend's small business. She wrote three blog posts. That led to a paid project with a startup. That led to the job. It all started with one small yes. Luna: So the takeaway: freelancing can be a powerful bridge, not just a side hustle. It's a way to re-enter with proof, not promises. Lucas: And that proof is what hiring managers are looking for. They want to know you can still do the work. Freelancing gives you the receipts. Luna: Great episode. Thanks, Lucas. Lucas: Thanks, Luna. See everyone next time.