Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How to Return as a Sustainability Consultant After a Career Gap
Transcript
- Lucas: There's this assumption that if you step away from the workforce for several years, you lose your edge in fast-moving fields. But sustainability consulting is one of those areas where the opposite is often true. Luna: Because the field itself is still evolving, right? The rules, the frameworks, the technology — they're all relatively new. Lucas: Exactly. And the people who've been out for a few years didn't miss some established canon. They're coming in alongside everyone else who's trying to figure out what 'sustainability' actually means in a corporate context. Luna: So today we're going to talk about one specific returner who did exactly that — a former environmental policy analyst named Maria who took a seven-year gap to raise her kids and came back as a sustainability consultant. Lucas: Maria's story is interesting because she didn't try to re-enter at the same level she left. She targeted a growing niche. Before her gap, she worked at a state environmental agency analyzing regulatory impact. Good work, but it was bureaucratic, slow-moving. Luna: And that's partly why she left. She told me she felt like she was writing reports that nobody read. Lucas: Right. So when she started thinking about returning, she didn't want to go back to that world. She'd kept an eye on the corporate side — ESG reporting, carbon accounting, that whole ecosystem. And she realized that her policy analysis background was actually a good foundation for it. Luna: But the gap was seven years. That's a long time to be out. How did she bridge it? Lucas: Two things. First, she took an online certification in sustainability reporting — specifically the Global Reporting Institute's GRI Certified Sustainability Professional program. It's about three months part-time, costs around a thousand dollars. Luna: And that's a credential that actually carries weight. I've seen job postings that specifically ask for GRI certification. Lucas: Exactly. Second, she got involved with a local environmental nonprofit that was helping small businesses measure their carbon footprint. It was volunteer work, maybe five hours a week, but she treated it like a consulting engagement. Luna: So she had a recent credential and a recent project to talk about in interviews. That's huge for someone with a gap. Lucas: It's the difference between saying 'I used to do policy analysis seven years ago' and 'I recently completed a GRI certification and helped three local businesses reduce their energy use by fifteen percent.' Luna: And she got hired. She's now a sustainability consultant at a mid-sized firm that works with manufacturing companies. Lucas: The firm has about forty employees. They do carbon footprint assessments, help clients set science-based targets, prepare sustainability reports for investors. Maria's role is mostly data collection and analysis, but she's already leading a client project. Luna: How did she find the job? Was it networking, or did she apply cold? Lucas: It was a combination. She connected with the firm's founder on LinkedIn after attending a webinar he hosted on Scope 3 emissions. She sent a thoughtful message — not asking for a job, but commenting on something he said. That started a conversation. Luna: So she didn't lead with her gap. She led with interest in the topic. Lucas: Right. And when they eventually met for coffee, she framed her gap as a period of applied learning. She said, 'I spent those years managing a household budget, coordinating schedules, negotiating with contractors — all of which are project management skills. And I used my free time to stay current with sustainability frameworks.' Luna: That's a great reframe. Instead of apologizing for the gap, she made it relevant. Lucas: And it worked. The founder told me later that he actually prefers hiring returners for some roles because they tend to be more organized and less prone to job-hopping. Luna: That's a perspective we don't hear enough. The assumption is always that employers see gaps as red flags. But in a field like sustainability, where emotional intelligence and stakeholder management matter, life experience can be a real plus. Lucas: Let's talk about the certifications that actually open doors. Maria's GRI certification is one. There's also the SASB Fundamentals credential, the CDP disclosure certification, and for those who want to go deeper, the CFA Institute's Certificate in ESG Investing. Luna: And none of those require a full degree. They're online, self-paced, and cost between a few hundred and a couple thousand dollars. Lucas: That's key for returners who may not have the budget or time for a master's program. Maria spent about fifteen hundred dollars total on her certification and some short courses on carbon accounting. She did it over six months while her youngest was in preschool. Luna: And now she's earning a salary that's actually higher than what she made before her gap. Which is not always the case, but in her situation, the pivot paid off. Lucas: The broader trend here is that sustainability consulting is growing fast. The global market for ESG reporting and advisory services is estimated at over ten billion dollars and growing at something like fifteen percent compound annual growth rate. Luna: So there's demand. And the barriers to entry are relatively low for someone with a policy or analytical background. Lucas: If you're a returner listening and thinking about this path, the playbook is pretty clear. One: pick a certification that's recognized in the industry. Two: find a volunteer project or a small freelance gig to demonstrate current capability. Three: target firms that are small enough that your manager might actually be the founder or a senior partner who values life experience. Luna: And four: when you're in the interview, frame your gap as a strength. You've managed complexity, you're motivated, you're not going to be distracted by the next shiny job title. Lucas: Maria's story is just one example, but it's a replicable one. The field is new enough that nobody has a thirty-year resume in it. So a seven-year gap doesn't put you behind the curve. Luna: It actually might put you ahead if you've used that time to develop skills that aren't taught in a classroom — like patience, negotiation, and the ability to explain complex ideas to non-experts. Lucas: You know, that's part of why we do this show. We hear from so many parents who feel like their time away from paid work is a liability. But the truth is, for a lot of emerging fields, the skills you build at home are directly transferable. Luna: And we want to keep having these conversations without interruption. That's why we deliberately don't run ads on this podcast. Lucas: If you find value in that approach — in hearing real stories without commercial breaks — the simplest way to support it is at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's not a subscription, not a ask for much. Just a way for listeners who appreciate the ad-free format to help keep it that way. Luna: And it genuinely makes a difference. Even a small contribution helps us cover hosting costs and keep the show accessible to everyone. Lucas: Alright. So back to the practical side. Let's talk about where to find these opportunities. Luna: Are there specific job boards or networks that cater to sustainability roles? Lucas: There are. GreenBiz has a job board. The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board website lists member firms. And LinkedIn is actually pretty good if you follow the right hashtags — especially #ESG and #SustainabilityJobs. Luna: Also, there's a growing number of return to work programs at larger consulting firms. Deloitte has one. Accenture has one. But Maria's story shows you don't need a big-name program to make it work. Lucas: No. She found her role through a targeted, relationship-based approach. She spent about four months networking before she even applied anywhere. And her first application was to the firm where she eventually got hired. Luna: So the lesson is: don't spray and pray with your resume. Do the prep work first. Lucas: Exactly. Build a credible story. Get a certification. Do a project. Then reach out to people who are already in the field. Luna: And remember, you're not starting from zero. You're starting from a different place. Lucas: That's the message we want to leave you with. Thanks for listening. Luna: We'll be back next week with another comeback story.