Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How an HR Coordinator Returned After an Eight-Year Gap
Transcript
- Lucas: So we've talked a lot about career gaps on this show, but today I want to dig into something we haven't touched yet: the eight-year gap. That's a long stretch by anyone's standards, and the person we're looking at is a parent who was a stay at home mom before re-entering as an HR coordinator. I think her story is instructive because she didn't just dust off an old resume — she rebuilt her professional identity from the ground up. Luna: Eight years is a big deal. I mean, most of the advice we've given so far has been for gaps of two to five years. How did she even start? Did she just apply cold? Lucas: No, that's the thing. She didn't apply for anything for the first six months. She spent that time doing what she called 'skills translation' — going through every activity she did at home and in volunteer roles and mapping them to professional competencies. For example, managing a household budget became financial reconciliation, which is a real HR task when you're handling benefits or payroll data. Luna: That's smart. But I have to ask — was that enough to get her in the door? Because I imagine her resume still had this big blank spot. Lucas: Partially, yes. But she also did something else that I think is crucial: she leaned into informational interviews. She reached out to other HR professionals, some of whom she knew from before, and asked for twenty minutes to talk about the current state of the field. Not for a job, just for learning. That got her back into the professional conversation without the pressure of a formal application. Luna: And I'm guessing those conversations gave her more than just insight — they probably rebuilt her confidence too. Lucas: Exactly. And here's a small thing that made a big difference: she used her volunteer work at the local school and a nonprofit to fill part of that gap on her resume. She wasn't just 'at home' — she was the PTA treasurer and a volunteer coordinator for a charity run. Those roles gave her concrete responsibilities and results she could talk about in interviews. Luna: That's a great point. And it's something our listeners can actually do, even if they're not in HR. But I'm curious about the interview itself. How did she handle the 'so what have you been doing' question? Lucas: She had a prepared answer that was honest and positive. She said something like, 'I've been raising my kids and managing our household, but I've also kept my skills sharp through volunteer work and self-study. I've completed a certificate in HR fundamentals, and I'm excited to bring my organizational and people skills back to the workplace.' It's not defensive, it's not apologetic — it's confident. Luna: I love that. And I think the certificate she earned is a big part of it. She didn't just rely on her past experience; she invested in current knowledge. That's something we've seen across several episodes — the gap doesn't have to be a negative if you can show you've grown. Lucas: Right. And that investment paid off. She ended up getting a phased return — she started at twenty hours a week, and after three months, she moved to full time. That took some negotiation, but she went in with a clear ask, which I think made a difference. Luna: Negotiating a phased return is such a smart move for anyone with a long gap. It eases you back in, and it gives the employer a chance to see you in action without a big commitment. How did she frame that request? Lucas: She framed it as a way to ramp up effectively. She said, 'I want to make sure I'm fully up to speed and delivering value, so starting part-time would allow me to learn the systems and culture without overwhelming myself.' That's a win-win phrasing. And it worked. Luna: That's really practical. And I think it's something our listeners could apply in their own situations. But I'm wondering — did she have any setbacks along the way? It can't have been all smooth sailing. Lucas: Oh, absolutely. She told me about a few interviews where she didn't get past the first round. One recruiter even said, 'You've been out of the workforce for a while, so you might not be up to date on compliance regulations.' That stung, but instead of getting discouraged, she used it as fuel. She enrolled in a short course on employment law, and she made sure to mention that in her follow-up emails. Luna: That's exactly the kind of resilience we talk about on this show. It's not about avoiding rejection — it's about converting it into action. So what's the one thing she wishes she had known from the start? Lucas: She said she wished she had started the networking and informational interviews earlier. She spent a few months just updating her resume and applying online, which was basically throwing her efforts into a black hole. Once she pivoted to personal connections, things moved much faster. She told me, 'The resume gets you the interview, but people get you the job.' Luna: That's such a good quote. And I think it ties back to something we've said before: your network is your net worth, especially after a gap. So for someone listening right now who's in the middle of a long gap, what's the first step you'd recommend? Lucas: I'd say start with the skills translation exercise. Take a blank sheet of paper, list everything you do in a week — at home, in volunteer roles, anywhere — and then next to each item, write the professional equivalent. You'll be surprised at how much you're already doing that employers value. That's step one, and it's free and you can do it today. Luna: And if someone's listening and they're thinking, 'That's great, but I'm not sure where to start,' I think this episode is a perfect place to begin. We've given them a concrete framework, and they can always go back to earlier episodes for more specific roles. Lucas: Absolutely. And we're grateful you're here with us. You know, if this episode helped you think through your own career move, or just gave you one useful idea, that's why we do this. And if you ever want to support the show directly, there's a link in the show notes — it's buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. That's the smallest way to keep us going, but it genuinely helps us keep the podcast ad-free. Luna: Yeah, and no pressure at all. It's just a nice way to say thanks if you've gotten value from these conversations. We're just happy you're listening. Lucas: So back to the HR coordinator story — there's one more detail I want to share. After she got the job, she told me that her first performance review was glowing, and her manager said something that stuck with her: 'You bring a level of patience and organization that we don't see in most new hires.' That's a direct result of her time as a parent, and it's a reminder that a gap isn't a blank space — it's a different kind of experience. Luna: That's the perfect takeaway. Your gap doesn't have to be a liability. In fact, it might be your biggest asset. So for anyone out there thinking about returning, start with the skills translation, reach out to your network, and approach interviews with confidence. You've got more to offer than you think. Lucas: And that's the takeaway for today. Thanks for joining us on The Comeback Career Podcast. We'll be back with another story soon — until then, keep moving forward.