Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Career Gap Helped One Parent Return as a Government Affairs Specialist
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot on this show about career gaps and the return to work, but one path we haven't really covered is government affairs — the people who shape policy, meet with legislators, advocate for specific causes. And I think a lot of parents assume that world is too political or too competitive to enter after a break. Luna: Yeah, it feels like a closed club. But I actually know someone who did it. Her name is Jamila — she was a policy analyst at a state health department before her kids, took two years off, and now she's a government affairs specialist for a clean energy nonprofit. Lucas: Right, and her story is a really good example of how you don't need to have been in the room the whole time. Let's start with her background: Jamila worked at the Illinois Department of Public Health for about three years, focusing on health equity data. Then she left after her second child was born — she just couldn't make the commute and daycare schedule work. Luna: And during her gap, she didn't just stay home. She volunteered with a local environmental group — basically helping them organize community meetings about air quality. She ended up on their advisory board. Lucas: That's the key move. She didn't think of it as 'career-related' at first — she just cared about the issue. But that board gave her exposure to the policy side of environmental advocacy. She started attending city council hearings, writing comment letters, even testifying once about a proposed incinerator. Luna: And when she felt ready to look for paid work, she had a very specific target: she wanted a role that combined her health policy experience with her new environmental interest. She found a posting for a government affairs specialist at a nonprofit that advocates for solar incentives in the Midwest. Lucas: But she almost didn't apply because the job description asked for 'legislative experience' — which she didn't have. She had never been a lobbyist. But she realized that her volunteer advisory board work involved legislative advocacy — she had drafted position papers and met with a state representative's aide. Luna: So she reframed her resume. Instead of listing 'Volunteer, Community Air Quality Board,' she wrote 'Policy Advisor, Clean Air Coalition — developed legislative testimony and built relationships with three aldermen.' That's a big shift in language. Lucas: She also used her caregiving years to highlight budget management. She wrote in her cover letter that managing a household budget for a family of four taught her to prioritize spending and track metrics — which is exactly what a government affairs team does when they're analyzing the fiscal impact of a bill. Luna: And she got the job. She started about eight months ago, working remotely from home with occasional trips to the state capitol. She says the pay is about fifteen percent less than her pre-gap salary, but the benefits are better and she has way more flexibility. Lucas: And that pay cut is common in returnships or early re-entry roles, but what I find interesting is that in government affairs, the ceiling is actually high. Once you have a few years of lobbying experience, especially on a high-profile issue like clean energy, you can move into a senior director role or even start your own consulting practice. Luna: Yeah, Jamila's manager told her that the nonprofit actually prefers hiring parents who took a career break, because they tend to be more organized and better at managing competing priorities. And in government affairs, you're juggling multiple bills, multiple stakeholders — it's a real advantage. Lucas: Let's talk about the actual process of finding that role. Because it's not like there's a 'government affairs returnship' program. Jamila found the posting on a clean energy job board, but she also reached out to her network from the advisory board. Luna: Exactly. She didn't apply cold. She emailed the executive director of the nonprofit — who she had met at a conference — and said, 'I'm thinking of returning to work and I saw this posting. I'd love to chat about what the role really involves.' That conversation turned into an informal interview. Lucas: That's a classic informational interview tactic, but it's especially effective in government affairs because relationships matter more than a perfect resume. If the executive director already trusts your judgment from the advisory board, they're going to give you a shot. Luna: One thing she had to address was the gap itself. In her interview, she was asked directly about the two years. She said something like, 'I stepped away to focus on my young children, but I stayed engaged in policy through my volunteer work.' That's a strong answer — it shows commitment, not disengagement. Lucas: And she also had a great answer for why she wanted to switch from health to energy. She tied it to her kids — she said she wanted to work on climate solutions for their future. That's genuine and it resonates in that sector. Luna: I think the biggest takeaway from her story is that you don't need to have had a traditional career path in government affairs to break in. You just need a combination of policy knowledge, relationship-building, and the ability to frame your experience — including the gap — as relevant. Lucas: And her volunteering wasn't random — it was in a field she cared about, and she took on real responsibility. She didn't just show up to meetings; she became a voice. That's the kind of thing that makes a hiring manager say, 'This person is serious.' Luna: If we've helped you think through a career move or decision, a couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these episodes ad-free — buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo, if you've gotten something out of them. It really does make a difference. Lucas: Yeah, that's a good reminder. And back to Jamila — she also mentioned that she uses a lot of the skills she honed as a parent. Negotiating with a toddler? That's basically what you do with a state senator who's on the fence about a bill. Luna: She actually said that in her interview — and the team loved it. It's true, though. Government affairs is all about persuasion, patience, and knowing when to push and when to wait. Lucas: Let's talk about resources. If a listener is thinking about this path, what should they do first? I'd say start like Jamila did — find an issue you're passionate about and volunteer. Join a local advocacy group, a neighborhood association, a school board committee. Luna: And then actively take on policy work. Don't just be the person who brings snacks to the meeting. Offer to write a comment letter, track a bill, or brief a board member on an issue. That's how you build the portfolio that will go on your resume. Lucas: Also, look into formal returnship programs. Some states have them. For example, the state of Minnesota runs a 'Policy Returnship' through its Department of Employment. It's a paid six-month fellowship for parents returning to work, and it places you in a state agency. Luna: I didn't know that. That's great. And there are also nonprofits like Women in Government Relations that offer mentoring programs specifically for career re-entrants. Lucas: Right. And one more thing — Jamila says that when she tells people she's a government affairs specialist, they often assume she's a lawyer or a former politician. But she's neither. She's a policy analyst with a career gap who volunteered strategically. That's the story. Luna: And she's making a real impact. She helped pass a community solar bill this spring that will lower energy costs for low-income households. That's something she can point to and say, 'I did that.' Lucas: So for our listeners: if you're a parent with a gap and you're interested in policy, don't count yourself out. Start small, get involved, reframe your experience. The door is more open than you think. Luna: Yeah, and if you have a specific question about this path, we'd love to hear from you. You can find us on the Fexingo site — we read every message. Lucas: Next week we're talking about another angle we haven't covered — how to use a career gap to launch a franchise business. That's a whole different world, but the principles are similar: leverage your skills, find the right opportunity, and don't be afraid to start. Luna: Can't wait. Thanks for listening, everyone.