Managing your Career Break at work

Probably the biggest concern for all those contemplating a career-break is the impact on their professional life. For those in retirement or those who have decided that they want to change their career direction, a career break will often be a chosen path towards further self-discovery and growth and the opportunity to fulfil a dream but for some, who wish to remain in their chosen profession, there is a sense of risk associated with a career-break – will they enhance their skills and promotion prospects or will they damage their future chance of promotion or new opportunities in their chosen sector?

More and more employers are increasingly recognising the value of sabbatical and career breaks to them in terms of staff retention, reinvigoration and development. The economic shift of the last twenty years has slowly eliminated the ‘job for life’ scenario, employers no longer manage people’s careers as they once did, self management of your career and the desire for greater work-life balance are becoming increasingly valued by both the individual and employer.

There will always be, for a minority, a small risk associated with taking a career break and this is usually only in the short-term but if you prepare, negotiate well and ensure that you demonstrate to your current, or to a future, employer the value to their organisation of your career-break then you may just have the edge over the competition. Don’t forget that a career break will most likely lead to amazing self-development, reinvigoration and a growth in your skill set and confidence, all of which will be greatly beneficial to you and any employer.

Dealing with your employer

More and more organisations are now introducing paid and unpaid sabbatical schemes for staff who have been with them for some-time, if your organisation doesn’t currently promote such a scheme, and you don’t want to resign unless you really have to, you need to prepare to negotiate.

-         Do some research, check you contract and employee handbook, is there anyone in your organisation that has taken an extended period of time from work previously that you could talk to.

-         Decide on the right time to discuss this with your manager, both in terms of their current work situation and near future developments within your organisation

-         Prepare your argument, know exactly what you’re asking for, (when, how long, paid or unpaid or a combination of both, staff benefits) and evaluate your worth to your organisation

-         Present your case, ensuring to put yourself in your employer’s shoes and demonstrate to them how easy it will be for them, offer solutions to covering your position

-         Explain how much the organisation will benefit from your career-break as well as you. Emphasis what you will be able to give back

-         Make sure you listen and try to anticipate their objections

-         Don’t get angry or upset if the reaction isn’t as good as you hoped and don’t ‘sweat the small stuff’

-         Make sure you build and maintain a good relationship, even if you wish to resign, make sure it is on good terms

-         Once you have negotiated your career-break make sure you get the agreement in writing

Note: If you’re organisation is currently looking to cut costs and staff, offer to take voluntary redundancy with a good reference; this may help you finance your career break and stand you in good stead for job seeking on you return.

Don’t forget that this may be the most difficult part of planning your career break and most people find it easier than they first thought. If you can’t negotiate with your employer and need to resign, remember to leave on good terms and that your career break is going to enhance your skills and self-belief and a future employer may just be a better ‘fit’ for you.

Whilst you’re away

If you returning to your job or company ensure you agree with your employer how you’re going to keep abreast of major changes and development. Can you be included in certain e-mails? Receive important reports? This need not be an entirely one way communication, if you have good relationship with your boss can you call them or e-mail them occasionally and let them know how you’re getting on and how you are developing etc.

If you’re not returning to the same job but want to stay in the same sector consider keeping in touch with colleagues and acquaintances via e-mail to ensure you hear the latest news and they keep you in mind.

When you return

Returning to your old job

If you’re returning to your old job accept that there may be changes, new faces etc. and it will take time to adjust. Some colleagues may also need to time to adjust and for you to ‘earn’ their respect again but within a few weeks they will become used to the new reinvigorated you.

 Some returning career-breakers often find that things haven’t changed at all and no longer feel as excited by their role, if this happens to you and you need to move on don’t forget to pay due respect to the fact that this employer facilitated your career-break and colleague have welcomed you back. Their references and support can be vital for the future.

Finding a new job

Once you’ve got over the initial ‘high’ of you trip and seeing friends and family you need to keep busy and accept that it can take a little time to adapt to being back home.

Your old employer and acquaintances may be able to update you on the latest sector news and possible opportunities.

Keep busy and re-write your CV and rather than an employment history gap use your career break to demonstrate, your guts, your motivation, ability to take on a new challenge and the value of the new skills and confidence you have found.

Recruitment agencies can also be useful and will generally understand the benefit to both you and a future employer of your career-break.

Changing direction

If during your career break you recognised that you want to do something else it’s worth doing the research and planning as to how you’re going to make it happen when you get back home.

If you’re unsure of what it is you want to do or aren’t sure of how to make it happen you may find engaging the expertise of a careers or even a life-coach very valuable but remember to keep busy and not let the motivation you feel after your career break slip away in post-trip blues.

Not coming back

For career breakers, with fewer family commitments, a small few will decide that they don’t want to return home, at least not yet, because they found the perfect job, fallen in love with a new country or more likely fallen in love with a new person.

Generally not coming home will mean coming home for a short time, to put affairs in order, resign from a job, sell a home or to re-assure loved ones. This  ‘coming home’ will often act as a reality check and ensure that your decision is the right one.

Career Breaker Case Study: Janet Simpson

“It was a real kaleidoscope of colours, sights, tastes, sounds and smells - from the guinea pig offered at the welcome ceremony, to the ever changing landscape, to the sound of the conch being blown to call the locals to work.”

Not all ‘gappers’ are your usual 18-25-year-old students looking for life experience. There is an increasing amount of older people who see gap projects as a chance to give something back. This was the case for 42-year-old Janet Simpson a local government officer from Lancashire who spent five weeks teaching and building in Peru.

Janet had already travelled to Peru on more traditional tourist-stlye holidays, but wanted a new experience of the country and a chance to do her part for the people who had shown her so much hospitality and generosity on her previous trips there.

“I'd already been to Peru twice I'd always been shown the utmost kindness and been given a warm welcome so I wanted to be able to re-pay some of that in a small way.”  

Many conventional gappers take time out of studies to travel before they head out into the ‘real world’. However Janet used her time in Peru to help re-align her perceptions of the working world and re-prioritise things her life, a process which she claims has done her some good.

“What would've interested me, or what I would've thought really important at work, is no longer of any significance.  I've actually been involved with something that has had a positive and lasting impact on people's lives.”

Because of work commitments Janet needed a project which was shorter than the usual and decided to travel with Madventurer as they offered the ideal project in a part of the world she knew well, over just 6 weeks.

“Most other companies asked for a minimum commitment of 3 months which I knew I couldn't get off from work.  I also didn't want to have to spend a year or so saving up to be able to do that so Mad's 6 week project was ideal.”

However this doesn’t mean that 6 weeks was long enough. For Janet, like many other Madventurers, it was a case of leaving when she had too rather than when she wanted too.

“I could quite easily have stopped another 6 weeks and got to know everyone and the local area a little better.  It's one of the things about which I'm most proud.  If I never do anything else worthwhile there'll always be that.”