Her Next Chapters

92. Reclaiming Your Professional Confidence

• Christina Kohl

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I recently renewed my SPHR certification—60 hours of continuing education that represent more than just staying current. They reflect a deeper commitment to my growth, my clients, and the message I want to share with you today:

You don’t have to start over. But you do need to start moving.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

  • What it looked like to retake the SPHR exam after a 13-year career break
  • Why investing in yourself—certification or not—can build real momentum
  • Practical ways to show employers (and yourself) that you're serious about your next chapter

🔑 Key Takeaways:

  • Staying current builds confidence and credibility
  • You don’t need a credential to move forward, but small steps matter
  • Professional development is a powerful signal—to yourself and future employers






Christina Kohl:

Hi and welcome to Her Next Chapter's podcast. I'm your host, Christina Kohl. I'm a mom of three and soon to be an empty nester. I'm also a certified HR pro who restarted my career after being a stay-at-home mom for over a decade. I created this podcast to connect with moms who have an empty nest on the horizon and are wanting to redefine their identity outside of motherhood, which might include a job search. On this show, we'll have raw conversations about our ever-changing roles as moms. We'll hear from women who restarted their careers and share tips for a job search after a career break. So if that's you, you're in the right place, friend, let's get started.

Christina Kohl:

Hi there and welcome back to Her Next Chapters. I've got a little personal win to share today and a story behind it that I think might speak to you, especially if you're coming back to your career after some time away. So I recently, as in a couple of days ago, recertified my SPHR. That stands for Senior Professional in Human Resources. It's a credential I've held for years, and renewing it got me thinking about what it means to stay current, to invest in yourself and to show up for your next chapter, whatever that looks like. So, whether you're returning to work after a break, rebuilding after a layoff or making a career pivot. This episode is for you.

Christina Kohl:

So completing my SPHR recertification required 60 hours of continuing education over the past three years. I'm keeping Keep this credential active on purpose, even though I'm no longer in a corporate HR role. Why? Because I still use HR strategy every single day of my work as a career coach. So, So reviewing job postings, screening resumes, leading interviews, coaching hiring managers, negotiating offers. Keeping my SPHR shows that I'm serious about staying sharp, credible and flexible. And you guys, if I ever decide to return to a traditional HR role, I'm ready. And for my clients, it's a signal that I'm not just coaching from theory. I bring current, real world knowledge to every session. So if you are job searching, changing careers or returning to work, one of the best things you can do is show through action that you're serious about this next chapter.

Christina Kohl:

This isn't just about getting more letters after your name. It's about rebuilding your confidence, staying relevant, showing potential employers that you're engaged and growing. This can look like a lot of different ways, so you can renew a professional license, like I did. You can take a LinkedIn learning course. You can attend a virtual summit or a workshop, even reading up on new tools in your field, or joining a local or online professional group. These small steps matter. You don't need a degree or a fancy title.

Christina Kohl:

So I want to go back in time just for a minute, because this isn't the first time I've had to get a recertification. Years ago, during my 13-year career break, I let my SPHR expire, so I was home with my kids. I wasn't working in HR anymore and it just didn't seem necessary at the time. But when I got serious about returning to the workforce, when I really wanted to come back with purpose and confidence, I knew I needed to get that certification back. And getting it back meant taking the exam all over again. And let me tell you, that test is no joke. It is known for being one of the hardest HR exams out there, with as much as a 40% fail rate at the time that I took it. And here's the kicker, you can't even sit for the SPHR exam unless you've had at least five years of exempt-level HR experience. This isn't an entry-level thing. It's for seasoned professionals. People have been in the trenches doing strategic HR work for years, and I had been out of HR for 13 years and now I was diving back in, trying to prove to myself that I still belonged, and even though I had my SPHR certification from years before, I still had to prove my eligibility to sit for the exam. So, thankfully, I had kept copies of my performance reviews from throughout my career and also I'd asked for a letter of recommendation from the executive leader when I left a role, which he gladly provided. This is obviously in the days before LinkedIn was even around. Those documents allowed me to demonstrate the five years plus of exemplary HR experience that I had. So just a quick reminder for those of you listening keep your own copy of those important documents, scan them, keep them digital, whatever it is, email them to yourself. Make sure you hold onto those documents because you might need them in the future.

Christina Kohl:

And taking this test, it wasn't just an emotional challenge Like am I up to the challenge? Do I know everything I need to know? It was a real investment. I'm talking dollars. The cost it was about a thousand dollars between the exam fee and the study materials. The time I spent around 10 to 12 hours per week for three months studying so I can pass this test. This is early mornings, late nights, flashcards, practice exams. I was all in. This is my way of saying to myself I'm serious about this comeback and I wanted employers to see that too. And when I passed, it was more than a piece of paper. It was proof to me that I wasn't starting over. It was more than a piece of paper. It was proof to me that I wasn't starting over. I was bringing everything I had learned before, during and after my break into this next chapter.

Christina Kohl:

So I want to talk to you, listening, because, odds are, you're probably not in HR, but yet you're nodding along. Maybe you're wondering how to return to your field after years away, or maybe you're pivoting, stepping into something new, or just trying to feel like yourself again professionally. Well, here's what I want you to know. You don't have to take a certification test to prove your worth, but sometimes investing in your growth can be the thing that reminds you of what you're capable of. And maybe you're a teacher thinking about renewing your license, or a project manager eyeing the PMP, or are you a CPA who let their license go, or maybe you're a creative who's brushing up on design tools. Whatever your field, ask yourself what would help you feel current and confident again. What's one step you can take this month to move closer to the career that you want. You don't have to go all in tomorrow, but starting somewhere builds momentum. And yes, it might cost something. Yes, it might take time, but that time and money it's not wasted, it's an investment in you. And if this story has you thinking, I want to feel like that, I want to believe in myself again. I want you to know I've got something coming up that might be just the right next step.

Christina Kohl:

This September I'm running my group coaching program. It is for mid-career women who are returning to work pivoting industries or just finally ready to land a role that feels right. We cover everything from clarity and confidence to resume updates, linkedin, interview prep and networking and salary negotiation. It's a full strategy built on real world tools and designed for women who are ready to take action. The wait list is open. There's no commitment now, just you raising your hand. Let me know you're interested. You can check the link in the show notes or just send me a direct message on LinkedIn. Or, better yet, send me an email, christina@ her next chapters. com, and I'll send you all the details. And if you want more job search support in the meantime, I've put together a free guide with links to my best podcast episodes on resumes, interviewing, networking and career comebacks. You can grab it by signing up through the link in the show notes or message me and I'll send it your way.

Christina Kohl:

All right, just a reminder. You don't need a certification to be qualified. You don't need a fancy title to be worthy, but if a credential, a course or a challenge helps you reconnect to your professional identity, go for it. So you've invested in everyone else for years. Maybe it's time to invest in you, and you know what, employers are going to see that as a very strong signal to your commitment to your profession and your seriousness about getting the next job. And you know what that commitment showing up for yourself in that It getting those credentials, getting that training, getting current is going to show any potential employer your seriousness and your level of commitment to your career. Again, it speaks volumes and it's going to be something to help you land that next job.

Christina Kohl:

All right, thanks for being here today, friends, and if this story hit home, I would love to hear from you what is one thing you've done or you want to do to build back your confidence. Well, that's it for this week's episode. Friends, I will talk to you next time. Thank you so much for listening today. I hope this episode hit home for you and, if you haven't already, be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn and say hello so I can personally thank you for listening. Until next time, remember, your story is uniquely your own and your next chapters are ready to begin.