Career breaks

Taking time out for a career break or sabbatical and stepping out of the rat race for a while is becoming increasingly popular and many employers actively encourage their employees to take time out.

Why take a career break or sabbatical?

It gives you the opportunity to step outside of your daily routine. It’s a great chance to do something different from the norm and regain your enthusiasm for life; it could be travelling, working or volunteering.

What type of person can do this?

There is no standard stereotype of a typical person choosing to take a career break or sabbatical. People taking career breaks or sabbaticals greatly vary in age and career-stage. For example, it might be someone who has always regretted never having taken a gap year and finally decided to put this right. It could be someone who feels they are stuck in a rut at work and is re-considering their career or someone who would just like to take some time away from their current position. Many people who choose to do this aren't necessarily unhappy at work either. It may simply be that they want to take some time out to re-charge their batteries.

How easy is it to do?

Many companies are now realising the benefits and acknowledging the popularity of career breaks and sabbaticals by offering these to staff who have been with the company for a specified length of time - with the promise that their job will be kept open for them if they return within an agreed time period.

Where can I go and what do I do?

The world is your oyster, you can take a career break or sabbatical almost anywhere. Where you go and what you do depends where in the world you're interested in visiting and what you want out of your time away. The only limit is your imagination. You may want to hit the road and backpack across the globe, or do something worthwhile such as volunteering with a local community. Your career break path is your choice.