8 Years in and I Am Ready for a Career Break

Question

I am 8 years into my career and I feel exhausted. I remember when I was a fresh graduate and I wanted to teach abroad and take a gap year before job hunting. This was frowned upon so I started my career and never looked back. Fast forward 8 years and I am completely wiped out. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do.  I still have this little thought in my head to chase my 20 year old dreams, but I am afraid of effecting my progression in my career. Any advice transitioning back into the corporate world after taking a year off?

MoneyCareerMotherhood · Answer

You mentioned you sometimes think about chasing your 20 year old dreams...What were they? Did you do the sensible thing and get the 'adult' job but really your heart has always been somewhere else? Or have you enjoyed your career until recently, and now feel restless and think about your dreams at a different time? These scenarios will suggest very different solutions! Once you understand the drivers of why you want to leave, figure out what you want to achieve on your break and upon your return. To have maximum benefit from the break you want to be sure you're running toward something, not away from your current job.

Anonymous · Answer

I am in the middle of taking the break.  I was with the same Company since I graduated College over 25 years ago.  I grew with the Company, adapted to many changes within the Company.  Over the past couple of years, I did not feel the same way, I dreaded going into work in the morning.  Since I have left, I have reconnected with family, and am really looking at what I want  to do, versus what I have to do.  If you can, take the  time to figure out what will make you happy in your workplace that will give you balance.  I realized why I dreaded going to work, because that was all I let happen in my life.  Balance and happiness in the workplace can happen.

ParentsPivot · Answer

Hello! I work with people all the time who are returning to work after a career pause and it can certainly be done. A pause can be the perfect opportunity to reflect on what is missing from your current work and what you would like to have in your next venture in addition to taking time away from a career.

There are other options to consider too though. Would you be open to a month sabbatical and see how that goes? Would you be open to part time and see how that goes? If you do take a year, then I agree with what has been said above about keeping track of how you are growing and developing new skills and talking to employers on the flip side about how after a year sabbatical you are way more energized to work for the right company than people who have been slogging through work during COVID for the last year.

With career pause candidates, employers can be biased to think that you are not as committed to staying with a job. In my experience working with return to work candidates, this is absolutely not true. People are even more committed to work after a pause. But the bias should be addressed and if you bring it up then you control the narrative. One client who took a year off to travel addressed this question when it was asked of her by saying that she was really refreshed and loved having that experience and that the company should not be as worried about her being committed to the job as all the other people who had been working away without a sabbatical for the past year. She ended up getting the job. :)

One last tip, maintain your network. This is easy to do in this virtual world and one thing that many career pause candidates neglect and regret.

Nancy C · Answer

I am now 13 months into a personal sabbatical, and it has been the best decision I've made in my 8 year career.

In July 2019, I left my job without another one lined up. I was navigating a toxic work environment, feeling extremely burned out, and crying every day. My unhappiness infiltrated all aspects of my life, and I was miserable. When I made the decision to quit, the sense of relief was overwhelming. It was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken, but one I would take again and again.

I didn't plan to take this much time off, and I'm very fortunate to have a partner & support system in place to make it possible. My time hasn't been spent traveling the world or getting another degree, but it's been spent learning more about myself and how I want to spent my time in this life. It might sound a bit 'woo woo,' but as a society, we place an incredible amount of value on our jobs, so much that we don’t even clarify “for work” when we ask others, “what do you do?” Until I stepped away, I didn’t realize how intertwined my professional identity had become with my self worth and how deeply it was causing dissonance in my life.

If you are feeling the urge to take time off and do something for yourself, go for it. In the big picture, you'll have a long career, a year of which will be such a small blip. And if you don't take the year for yourself, you'll constantly wonder 'what if?'

In your time off, you'll likely gain clarity into what you want to be doing for work, as well as meet people along the way, and that will help when it's time to find a job again. Enjoy!

Hannah DeLisle-Stall · Answer

It doesn't have to be a year 'off' . Whether you're volunteering, pursuing a creative project, building a side hustle, or even teaching abroad and traveling like you mentioned, there are a lot of ways to reframe your time away from your current job as having value to your next employer, when you choose to return to a more traditional employment situation. I'd advise against framing it as a 'break', because really its just taking an opportunity to build your skills in a new and different way.

Jackie Ghedine · Answer

Burnout is real and it doesn't matter if its 8 years or 18 years into your career. The demands on employees today looks very different from it did just 20 years ago as companies look to cut costs by cutting the number of employees but keeping workloads the same.

The good news is that you love your job - which means you're not looking to uproot. your career just put it on ice so you (and it) can be even fresher.

Knowing you want to take a year off is the first step towards coming back. By planning ahead of time you can feel as if you're  in more control upon your return.

Are you interested in returning to your current company or transition somewhere else? If it's the current company, have the direct conversation regarding sabbatical to see if they can accommodate you.

Keep a log of what you're doing while away and what new skills you're acquiring. No, you aren't going to be learning how to code, however, if you plan on traveling alone abroad (post covid), that's a skill. If you are negotiating your lease so you can move somewhere else for a bit, that's a skill.  Keep track of what small learnings you're getting along the way.

Remember to articulate all the amazing benefits of your break when you go back to job hunting.  How you feeling refreshed and renewed will benefit the company.

Enjoy every minute of this year!

Allix Stewart · Answer

I think taking a year can actually not be just beneficial to you personally and emotionally, but also professionally down the line. If you take the year and then explain clearly how and why you have that gap in your resume when writing your cover letter, good employers will definitely see that as a sign of professional maturity and the year would probably work in your favor and not be an issue. I craft resumes as my side job and plenty of people have gaps, so I don't see that it would be detrimental. I agree that it could also be beneficial to explore whether there is a sabbatical option at your current job. Burnout is very real and if you intuitively feel you need the break I would definitely listen to that and take care of yourself!

Iky · Answer

Lots of great advice here.  It sounds like you have already decided to pursue your dream and you are just unsure about how to reenter the corporate world.  I praise you for thinking ahead and gathering enough information to know what to expect a year from now.

I recommend “What Color Is Your Parachute” by Richard N. Bolles.  This book teaches you the steps of how to land your dream job.  You may choose to read this book during your year off and follow the steps to get back to the corporate world when you are ready to do so.

Your story reminds me of two of the great points on how to grow up creatively gifted from James R. Delisle’s “Understanding Your Gifted Child From the Inside Out:”

- Learn to free yourself from the expectations of others and to walk away from the games they try to impose on you.

- Free yourself to “play your own game” in such a way as to make good use of your gifts.

Earlier in my career, I took some time off to explore different things.  When I decided to reenter the corporate world, I found it much easier to become a contractor than a full-time employee.  Before my contract ended, I was hired as a full-time employee and I worked there for over 5 years.  I always found it exciting to be a contractor because it gave me a chance to see if the company and the job were a good fit for me.  My manager and my team also got a chance to see if I was a good fit for them.  I see it as a win-win situation.  Of course, not all contracts are contract-to-hire.  It really depends on how much you like being a contractor.

Some questions you may want to consider:
1. In a scale of 1 to 10, how well does the corporate world fit you?

2. In a scale of 1 to 10, how well does the non-corporate job you dream about fit you?

I am excited for you to be able to take a year off.  Good luck with everything!

Lynn Hartmann · Answer

If you are exhausted and need a change. You should follow that instinct. I know it's scary to change, and lose that job security that you have built up.  But, you and your health all around are more important. Take care of you. Leave the right way, and don't burn bridges! Hang in there! I believe in you and you can do what's best for you!

Anonymous · Answer

wow, 8 years in doesn’t seem like very much to me.  I would say though that many women take weeks/months in their early thirties for maternity leave so it is possible.  If you take a year off you could just say you had to deal with a personal issue or wanted to travel.

8 Years in and I Am Ready for a Career Break

You're invited.

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