Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / How a Stay-at-Home Mom Returned as a Financial Controller
Transcript
- Lucas: So, Luna, I've been looking at a story that challenges the usual return to work playbook. Sarah Mitchell, a former accountant, stepped away for eleven years to raise her kids. And she didn't come back as a staff accountant — she came back as a financial controller. Luna: A controller? That's a big leap. Most returners I've heard of go back to a similar or slightly lower role. How did she pull that off? Lucas: That's exactly what I wanted to dig into. She didn't just update her resume and hope for the best. She had a three-part strategy. First, she spent about six months refreshing her technical skills. She took a couple of online courses in advanced Excel and modern ERP systems — the kind of software that wasn't even around when she left the workforce. Luna: Right, because if you're out for a decade, the tools change. I remember when I came back, I had to re-learn everything about digital marketing. Lucas: Exactly. But Sarah went further. She didn't just take courses — she targeted certifications that are actually recognized in the manufacturing sector. She earned a certificate in financial planning and analysis, which is a credential that controllers often have. That gave her a concrete way to show she wasn't just dusting off old skills, but building new ones. Luna: And the second part? I'm guessing networking played a role. Lucas: It was huge. She joined the local chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants and attended every monthly meeting for a year. She volunteered to help with their budgeting for a charity event, which let her interact with CFOs and controllers in a low-pressure setting. By the time she started applying, she had a network of people who could vouch for her current skills, not just her pre-gap ones. Luna: That's smart — it's not just who you know, it's who can speak to what you can do now. Lucas: And the third piece was how she framed the gap in interviews. She didn't apologize for it. Instead, she talked about the eleven years as a period of intense project management — coordinating schedules, managing budgets for a household, leading volunteer initiatives at her kids' school. She literally called herself a 'chief operating officer of a small household.' Luna: I love that reframe. It's honest, and it forces the interviewer to see the transferable skills. Lucas: But here's the thing — she didn't just talk. She had evidence. She brought a portfolio of volunteer projects where she'd managed budgets over fifty thousand dollars, and she had references from those volunteer roles. So when she said she could handle the financial oversight, she had proof. Luna: That's a great example of how to make a gap work for you instead of against you. But I'm curious — did she face any pushback? The hiring manager must have had doubts. Lucas: Oh, absolutely. She told me that in one interview, the CFO literally asked, 'How do I know you can handle the pressure after being out for so long?' She didn't get defensive. She pointed to a volunteer event she'd organized that raised forty thousand dollars in two months, coordinating a team of fifteen volunteers. She said, 'That was unpaid, but it was high-stakes, and I delivered.' Luna: That's a killer response. It shows resilience and self-awareness. Lucas: And it worked. She got the job. But she also negotiated her salary — which is another thing a lot of returners skip. She researched what controllers with her experience level were making in her region, and she went in with a number that was about fifteen percent above the initial offer. She got a ten percent increase. Luna: Good for her. I think a lot of returners are just so grateful to be hired that they don't negotiate. But that can set you back for years. Lucas: Exactly. And that's one of the things we want to highlight in this episode — that a career gap doesn't have to mean a step down. With the right strategy, you can actually leapfrog into a more senior role. Luna: I want to circle back to the networking piece, because I think that's the part most people struggle with. How did she get past the awkwardness of reconnecting with old colleagues after a decade? Lucas: She said it was terrifying at first. But she started small. She reached out to two former coworkers — not to ask for a job, but to ask for advice on what had changed in the accounting world. That low-stakes ask opened the door. And from there, she expanded her circle. Luna: Yeah, asking for advice is so much easier than asking for a job. It's a natural conversation starter. Lucas: And she made it a habit. She set a goal to have one coffee chat per week, whether virtual or in person. Some led nowhere, but a few turned into real relationships. One of those relationships — a CFO she met at an IMA event — was the one who eventually referred her to the controller position. Luna: So it wasn't just about the quantity of connections, but the quality. She cultivated meaningful professional relationships. Lucas: Exactly. And that's something we often emphasize on this show — that a comeback is rarely a solo effort. It's about building a support system of people who can open doors. Luna: Speaking of support, we should mention that listener support is what keeps this podcast ad-free and accessible. If you've found value in these comeback stories, you can support the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Every little bit helps us keep bringing you these conversations. Lucas: Yeah, and we genuinely appreciate it. But let's get back to Sarah's story — because there's one more piece I think our listeners will find useful. Lucas: She also did a lot of preparation for the technical interview. She knew she'd be tested on things like month-end close processes and financial reporting standards. So she didn't just rely on her old knowledge — she took a refresher course on the latest accounting standards, which had changed significantly while she was out. Luna: That's a great point. Standards change, and if you're not up to date, it can be a red flag. Lucas: She even practiced with case studies. She found sample interview questions for controller roles online and spent a weekend working through them. By the time she walked into the interview, she felt confident, not just hopeful. Luna: So what would you say is the biggest takeaway from Sarah's story for someone considering a similar leap? Lucas: I think it's that a career gap can be repositioned as a period of growth, not just absence. Sarah didn't hide those years — she defined them on her own terms. She showed that she was managing budgets, leading volunteers, and learning new skills the whole time. Luna: And she also set herself up for success by investing in her skills and network before she even started applying. That's a blueprint, not a lucky break. Lucas: Right. And for anyone listening who's thinking, 'But I can't afford a year of networking and courses' — Sarah did this part-time while her kids were in school. She carved out two hours a day, three days a week, for six months. You don't need a full-time job hunt to make progress. Luna: That's encouraging. It's about consistency, not intensity. Lucas: And one last thing — she negotiated her salary, which we mentioned. But she also negotiated her start date. She gave herself a month to get her kids settled into their school routine before starting the new job. That was a small ask that made a huge difference in her transition. Luna: That's such a practical detail. It shows you can ask for what you need without jeopardizing the offer. Lucas: So if you're listening and you've been out of the workforce for a few years, Sarah's story is proof that you don't have to settle. With a strategic approach, you can aim higher than you might think. The key is to build your case before you walk into the room. Luna: And remember, you're not starting from zero. You have a whole history of skills and experiences — even the ones from your gap years — that can be reframed as assets. Lucas: Well said. And that's what we're here for — to help you see those possibilities. Thanks for joining us on this episode, and we'll be back with another comeback story soon.