Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Career Gap Can Help You Build a Second Income Stream
Transcript
- Lucas: You know, when people think about a career gap, they usually focus on the resume gap or the lost income. But what if I told you that a career gap could actually be the best time to start building a second income stream? Luna: That's an interesting flip. Most of us see a gap as a time to spend savings or tighten the belt, not to start a new venture. Lucas: Exactly. And look, I'm not talking about starting a full-blown startup. I'm talking about something low-capital, something you can test quickly. Like the case of a former marketing manager we'll call Sarah. She took a year off after her second child, and during that time she launched an Etsy shop selling digital planners. Luna: Digital planners — so like, printable calendars, habit trackers, that kind of thing? Lucas: Right. She had been using them herself and noticed a gap in the market for designs that weren't too feminine or too corporate. She designed a few templates in Canva, listed them on Etsy, and within three months she was making about $800 a month. Not life-changing, but it covered her grocery bills and gave her a sense of professional momentum. Luna: And if today's episode helps you think about your own career gap in a new way — maybe gives you that nudge to try something — the reason we can keep these conversations ad-free is because listeners like you support the show. You can do that at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a small way to say this content matters. Lucas: Yeah, we really appreciate that. And if you've ever thought about turning a side project into something more, today we're going to break down exactly how to do that without feeling overwhelmed. Luna: So let's start with the first step: how do you even pick a side income idea when you're already feeling the pressure of a career break? Lucas: I think the key is to start with what you already do or already know. Sarah started with digital planners because she was already a planner user. She didn't need to learn a whole new skill. She just needed to turn her usage into a product. Luna: That's smart. So it's less about chasing trends and more about looking at your own hobbies, your professional skills, or even the problems you solve in your daily life. Lucas: Exactly. And then you validate it before you invest any real money. For Sarah, that meant creating three simple designs, listing them on Etsy — which costs about twenty cents per listing — and running a small Pinterest campaign to see if anyone clicked. Luna: So the upfront cost was basically just her time and maybe twenty bucks for Canva Pro. Lucas: Right. She got her first sale within two weeks. That told her there was demand. Then she gradually expanded. She added more designs, started an Instagram account focused on planning tips, and within six months she was at $1,200 a month. Not huge, but consistent. Luna: And how did she handle the time management aspect? Because if you're at home with kids or dealing with a job search, you don't have endless hours. Lucas: That's the part most people overlook. She treated it like a part-time job: two hours every morning before the kids woke up, and one hour after they went to bed. She set a timer, and when the time was up, she stopped. No guilt. That's how you avoid burnout. Luna: So it's about boundaries, not just hustle. Lucas: Absolutely. And that discipline actually helped her when she eventually went back to full-time work. She had proven to herself that she could manage multiple priorities and generate revenue on her own. That's a powerful story to tell in an interview. Luna: Let's talk about that resume piece. How do you frame a side business on a resume without making it look like you were just dabbling? Lucas: You frame it as a freelance project or entrepreneurial venture. Sarah listed it as 'Founder, Sarah's Digital Studio' on her resume, with bullet points like 'Designed and launched a line of 30+ digital planners generating $1,200/month in recurring revenue.' That's concrete. It shows initiative, design skills, and business acumen. Luna: And it fills the gap in a positive way. Instead of explaining a year of childcare, you're explaining a year of building a micro-business. Lucas: Exactly. And it doesn't have to be Etsy. It could be freelancing on Upwork, selling a digital course, affiliate marketing, or even flipping furniture. The principle is the same: low cost, quick validation, and structured time. Luna: What about the tax side? I think a lot of people get scared off by the idea of having to report income and pay self-employment tax. Lucas: It's actually simpler than you think. If you earn less than $400 from a side gig, you don't even need to report it. But if you're making a few thousand, you'll file a Schedule C with your taxes. You can deduct expenses — like your Canva subscription, a portion of your internet bill, even your home office space. Luna: So it's not as scary as it sounds. And there are plenty of free resources — the IRS has a small business tax guide, and sites like Bench or QuickBooks Self-Employed offer low-cost tracking. Lucas: Right. And I'd add that you should set aside about twenty-five to thirty percent of your side income for taxes. Put it in a separate account from day one. That way there are no surprises. Luna: So let's say someone's listening and they're thinking, 'Okay, I want to try this, but I'm not a designer or a writer. I don't know what I could sell.' What's your advice? Lucas: Look at the services you already provide for free. Do friends ask you to organize their closets? Plan their vacations? Edit their resumes? Those are all potential services you could charge for. Sarah didn't start with a unique talent — she started with a habit. Luna: That's a great reframe. It's not about being an expert; it's about being helpful enough that someone will pay for it. Lucas: And the beauty of a second income stream during a career gap is that there's no pressure. If it fails, you've lost a few hours and maybe fifty bucks. But if it works, you've got a cushion, a resume booster, and a sense of control during an uncertain time. Luna: So what's the one concrete step someone should take this week if they want to start? Lucas: Pick one idea — just one — and spend two hours this week creating a minimal version. If it's a product, make one listing. If it's a service, write a one-page description and post it on a freelancing platform. Then spend another two hours next week seeing if anyone bites. Luna: And if nobody bites? Lucas: Then you pivot. That's not failure — that's data. The idea is to learn fast with minimal investment. Sarah's first listing didn't sell for a week. She tweaked the title and the photos, and then it took off. Iterate, don't quit. Luna: I love that. So whether it's digital planners or dog walking or freelance writing, the career gap can be an opportunity, not just a pause. Lucas: Exactly. And if you do build something that sticks, you might find yourself with a second income stream that lasts long after you're back in the full-time workforce. Luna: That's a pretty good outcome for a period most people dread. Lucas: Yeah. And if you want to hear more stories like Sarah's, we've got a whole library of episodes on turning gaps into launches. Thanks for being here.