How a Career Break Enhances Your Experience?

Image: Adventure Ride Trip with Yamaha | Jun 2024

Taking a step back from our professional life can help us see when a job or career isn't a good match. Opting for a career break provides the chance to discover different possibilities. Gaps in résumés were once not tolerated. However, professionals can now take breaks to pursue their passions, care for loved ones, volunteer, travel, and consider a new job or a career change. Millennials are leading with this new mindset.

According to surveys, most individuals experience an event requiring time off work at least once. A LinkedIn survey of 23,000 workers in 2022 found that 62% of employees have taken a career break, and 35% are interested in pursuing one. This trend suggests that the traditional straight career path or a "career ladder" has been replaced with "career waves" [1].

Taking a break from work is not a flaw in your résumé. It could be a plus; it depends on how you use your time and how much you're willing to invest in yourself. This aspect could potentially serve as a compelling selling point. It's essential to recognize a break's positive impact on your career, whether you return to your current job or explore new opportunities. The outcome of your career break relies on how you plan it.

Recharge and gain a fresh perspective.

The number of American workers experiencing burnout has reached epidemic proportions. According to a Gallup study, 23% of full-time employees often suffer from burnout at work, with 44% experiencing it occasionally. Many employees must physically distance themselves from work to regain balance [1]. Taking a break from your job/career can be the key to renewing energy and gaining fresh perspectives. Research supports this theory. A study involved surveying 61 leaders from five nonprofit organizations with sabbatical programs. Most survey respondents reported that taking time off helped them develop new ideas and boost their leadership confidence. A study compared 129 university professors who took a sabbatical to 129 equally qualified colleagues who didn't [1]. Unsurprisingly, those who took sabbaticals reported reduced stress levels and enhanced well-being. It is worth noting that those positive changes often persisted long after the professors resumed their work. It indicates that time away not only benefits employees but also the organization.

Develop a diverse way of thinking.

Traveling temporarily away from your professional life can open up a world of possibilities and lead to a profoundly enriched and transformative adventure.

Immersing yourself in diverse cultures, particularly in situations with language barriers, allows you to develop and refine your communication abilities.

By participating in this, you will have the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking. The value of this becomes even more apparent when considering the projected increase in diversity across various demographic categories in the U.S. workforce over the next six years, as stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to its many other benefits, traveling can be a fantastic opportunity to establish a vast global network, greatly enhancing your long-term career prospects. Whether you work as an individual contributor or a team manager, possessing these assets will undoubtedly improve your value as an employee upon your return to work.

During my career break in the last 12 months, I traveled domestically and internationally. I learned about a new culture and visited places I had never visited.

Adventure is also crucial in our lives as it enables us to venture beyond our comfort zones, explore new places, and welcome novel experiences. It is crucial to recognize the many other rewards and opportunities of adventure. We can learn more about ourselves, our abilities, and our limitations through adventure.

While I may not typically consider myself adventurous, I attempt to challenge myself and embark on exciting adventures from time to time.

In the last 12 months, I have embarked on three exciting adventures: jet skiing to Catalina Island, ziplining over a rainforest in Costa Rica, and an adventure ride with Yamaha in the Colorado mountains. These experiences have allowed me to reflect and see things differently.

Enhance existing skills or cultivate new ones.

Opting for a career break and having experiences outside a linear career path can make you a better employee, thought partner, and leader. It gives you a unique opportunity to enhance your professional development by refining your skills or discovering new ones that align with your industry. Exploring the option of a nearby college course or certificate program can enhance your qualifications. Another evident option is presented through online learning. Udemy, a leading online learning platform, offers many courses. Other Leading learning platforms I used, including Coursera and LinkedIn Learning, provide many new learning and certification options. Another excellent learning platform I would recommend is Cornell University's Certificate Program. Explore 240+ programs for professional development through eCornell. During my career break, I completed two certificate programs with eCornell. I learned a lot, and I enjoyed it.

Discover different possibilities.

In conclusion, taking a break from your career can profoundly impact your life. Although many aspire to take a break during their professional journey, only a few follow through. Taking a break can demonstrate your desire to develop new skills and broaden your horizons in an organization. To effectively assert why you took time out, confidently shift the focus to future contributions you plan to make. Embrace it without hesitation, and you'll quickly realize that taking a career break was your most significant choice.

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