Seriously Considering a Career Break?
Taking a career break. The gap year. A sabbatical. Basically, you need time off, you want to refresh and recharge, you need a change of scenery, or maybe it’s necessary for you to leave and not by choice.
Not everyone can afford (financially or career-wise) to leave a job, but if you’re seriously considering a break, you’ll want to prepare by considering your options for leaving as well as plan how to make the most of your time.
Taking a Career Break May Be Necessary
Sometimes taking a career break is not a choice. Reasons for the break may be a lay off, child care, senior care, or illness.
These are important reasons for a gap in your employment and even if you are forced to look for a new job, most employers interviewing you will understand your position if you effectively communicate why you’ve been out of the workforce and show your ability to jump back into it.
It helps to show that you’ve stayed up on industry skills and topics, so keep this in mind if you are just about to leave the workforce. It is wise to stay knowledgeable and in contact with your industry connections throughout your time off.
Career Break Options
But what if your career break is a choice to get away from work and travel or relax or do the things you’ve always wanted to do because, darnit! Is life too short?
This is certainly valid and some would even say courageous! Will everyone understand your choice? Probably not, but you knew that already. Just because taking a career break is unconventional doesn’t mean you have to leave your job in an unconventional way.
Along with those who are forced to take a career break, you too, should do so in a professional manner and should consider your career break options:
• Leave Your Job, Keep an Income: Leaving your career doesn’t necessarily mean leaving work completely. If you want to leave your current career but still have to bring in money for financial reasons you should start looking into opportunities like working abroad or freelancing before you leave your job.
• Leave the Rat Race but Have a Plan: If you do want to leave your career and collecting a paycheck behind and devote yourself to studying, volunteering, traveling, or some other “always wanted to do” agenda, planning is also required here. Look into the arrangements and the cost and decide how you will manage without an income. It’s better to start planning this before you take your leave because it will make your time away from work all that more fulfilling (and not bogged down with the details).
• Leaving to Care for a Family Member: If you’re leaving to take care of children, a parent, or yourself make sure you look into all the options available to you. There is a good chance you will be eligible for FMLA (the Family Medical Leave Act) which protects your health benefits and a position at work for up to 12 weeks. If you plan to stay out of work for an undetermined amount of time, make sure you leave your job in a courteous and professional manner so that you are considered a good candidate for a future job if you wish to return. One of the best ways to return to the workforce is to connect with people who already know you. Even if you are leaving your job to study under a guru in India with the intention to never return to the workforce again, don’t burn your bridges. Even the guru would advise against that!
Career Break Ideas
Keeping in mind that a career break is a major decision that takes some planning and a good bit of certainty and courage, there are many ideas you might consider for taking a career break. Here’s just a few:
• Join and Expedition!
• Work in a foreign country!
• Get a job that allows you to travel, perhaps a cruise boat?
• Volunteer for your favorite organization or charity.
• Study – learn a language, a new skill, study to enter a new, fulfilling career. Explore healthcare jobs, sales jobs, financial jobs – the career you’ve always wanted!
• Drive across the country and explore little known places.
• Fully immerse yourself in something you’ve always wanted to do – write a novel, research your family tree, seriously commit to photography or your rock band.
The possibilities are endless and only you know what you really want to do. You’ve only got one life, so go live it! When you’re ready to come back to the “real world,” check back with us for excellent ways to accelerate your job search results. ‘Til then, bon voyage!
Lynn Mattoon is a Content Editor & Career Writer for Healthcarejobsite.com, a Beyond.com career community.
