Thinking of taking a break
Discussion
I've hit that stage of my career where I feel I need a proper break (20+ years)
My plan would be to take 6-9 months out to recharge the batteries; though at this time no specific plans apart from work on the house that is needed
I've enough 'liquid' assets for 12-18 months, so hopefully OK from that perspective, but has anyone got any insight as to how subsequent employers might view this ( currently IT based snr mgmt and project mgmt)?
Will my next potential employer be looking for me to have done something more constructive with my time out? Has anyone got experience of trying to get back into the industry after a similar time? (Unfortunately my current co won't entertain the idea of a formal sabbatical)
I've no dependents (well apart from the mortgage co
) so only putting myself at risk so to speak
My plan would be to take 6-9 months out to recharge the batteries; though at this time no specific plans apart from work on the house that is needed
I've enough 'liquid' assets for 12-18 months, so hopefully OK from that perspective, but has anyone got any insight as to how subsequent employers might view this ( currently IT based snr mgmt and project mgmt)?
Will my next potential employer be looking for me to have done something more constructive with my time out? Has anyone got experience of trying to get back into the industry after a similar time? (Unfortunately my current co won't entertain the idea of a formal sabbatical)
I've no dependents (well apart from the mortgage co
) so only putting myself at risk so to speakA number of things come to mind.
If you were to volunteer for a specific organisation on a fixed term contract would your employer definitely not consider the time-out? There are a number of, admittedly large, organisations that encourage this in their staff as it has a number of organisational benefits, particularly if linked to the role or values & standards of your organisation.
If not, then taking time out can translate well on to a CV as long as it's not spent watching TV for 12 months (unless you're employed as a reviewer!). If you package what you aim to do, such as your house project, as a task with responsibilities, new learning and an outcome then that will be fine. If you also do some professional development to strengthen your competencies and knowledge (that course you've been putting off for years?) and sprinkle in a little local voluntary work, then before you know it, your CV could well be in a better place than if your stayed put! Good luck!
If you were to volunteer for a specific organisation on a fixed term contract would your employer definitely not consider the time-out? There are a number of, admittedly large, organisations that encourage this in their staff as it has a number of organisational benefits, particularly if linked to the role or values & standards of your organisation.
If not, then taking time out can translate well on to a CV as long as it's not spent watching TV for 12 months (unless you're employed as a reviewer!). If you package what you aim to do, such as your house project, as a task with responsibilities, new learning and an outcome then that will be fine. If you also do some professional development to strengthen your competencies and knowledge (that course you've been putting off for years?) and sprinkle in a little local voluntary work, then before you know it, your CV could well be in a better place than if your stayed put! Good luck!
Do it..... but don't make the break too long.
Having been out of the country of 3½ years (doing consultancy and training work) and then had a new child to look after, I am trying to break back in after nearly 5 years out of the UK job market.
I have had more than one person tell me that I am pretty much unemployable in the current market. Hence starting my own company.
Having been out of the country of 3½ years (doing consultancy and training work) and then had a new child to look after, I am trying to break back in after nearly 5 years out of the UK job market.
I have had more than one person tell me that I am pretty much unemployable in the current market. Hence starting my own company.
It is all about positioning.
After your time off talking to the trees or whatever the hell your up to. The critical thing is how you sell it.
Right. "I had a lifetime ambition to rennovate my own property, learn some new skills, such as tiling, roofing and project management. Something I have always wanted to do, so when we had the funds, the timing was right and I knew I had the chance to finally do it"
Wrong. "yeah well what with the stress and the lack of promotion, I was feeling really flat y'know, bummed out and then when this email about growing your own hemp plants came to me, I really thought this is it"
Most interviewers understand the human aspects of a 20+ year career, you wanted a break, had the chance and took it. But at least try to play the game when you return.
After your time off talking to the trees or whatever the hell your up to. The critical thing is how you sell it.
Right. "I had a lifetime ambition to rennovate my own property, learn some new skills, such as tiling, roofing and project management. Something I have always wanted to do, so when we had the funds, the timing was right and I knew I had the chance to finally do it"
Wrong. "yeah well what with the stress and the lack of promotion, I was feeling really flat y'know, bummed out and then when this email about growing your own hemp plants came to me, I really thought this is it"
Most interviewers understand the human aspects of a 20+ year career, you wanted a break, had the chance and took it. But at least try to play the game when you return.
I am also considering this myself.
I got offered a job, but in the end I turned it down as I decided it wasn't for me but I'm due a decent bonus at end of March as I have saved the company £453,000 in the last year (Operations Manager) so I'm getting a lovely sum from that plus with what I have saved, I am going to be buying a house to do up with and spend 6 months out of work.
I have worked since I was 16 and now 29 (OK, not as much) but still time for a break. I'm in the same position, only a mortgage to pay for, plenty tucked away.
No employer should look at your in a bad way for taking a break.
Do it mate.
I got offered a job, but in the end I turned it down as I decided it wasn't for me but I'm due a decent bonus at end of March as I have saved the company £453,000 in the last year (Operations Manager) so I'm getting a lovely sum from that plus with what I have saved, I am going to be buying a house to do up with and spend 6 months out of work.
I have worked since I was 16 and now 29 (OK, not as much) but still time for a break. I'm in the same position, only a mortgage to pay for, plenty tucked away.
No employer should look at your in a bad way for taking a break.
Do it mate.
Edited by LukeFR on Monday 11th March 20:54
In the 3.5 years I've been freelancing, I have been a bit paranoid about only taking from the business enough to live on, so that it will pay me between contracts. At present that between contracts could extend to about 18 months. I'm not about to take anytime off soon, as my motto is "make hay whilst the sun shine" , but I don't see why you can't say anything you want on your return to the employment market, apart from "I was in prison, innit".
Trikster said:
I've hit that stage of my career where I feel I need a proper break (20+ years)
My plan would be to take 6-9 months out to recharge the batteries; though at this time no specific plans apart from work on the house that is needed
I've enough 'liquid' assets for 12-18 months, so hopefully OK from that perspective, but has anyone got any insight as to how subsequent employers might view this ( currently IT based snr mgmt and project mgmt)?
Will my next potential employer be looking for me to have done something more constructive with my time out? Has anyone got experience of trying to get back into the industry after a similar time? (Unfortunately my current co won't entertain the idea of a formal sabbatical)
I've no dependents (well apart from the mortgage co ) so only putting myself at risk so to speak
I'm in a similar situation although not through choice having just taken redundancy. Everyone I speak to is saying are you looking for a job and look aghast when i say I'm taking 9 months out to recharge, having been in the same senior IT management role for 15 years. I just feel the need to have a total break, if your confident in your skills and dress it up as mentioned above I can't see any issues. People take career breaks as a matter of course these days...My plan would be to take 6-9 months out to recharge the batteries; though at this time no specific plans apart from work on the house that is needed
I've enough 'liquid' assets for 12-18 months, so hopefully OK from that perspective, but has anyone got any insight as to how subsequent employers might view this ( currently IT based snr mgmt and project mgmt)?
Will my next potential employer be looking for me to have done something more constructive with my time out? Has anyone got experience of trying to get back into the industry after a similar time? (Unfortunately my current co won't entertain the idea of a formal sabbatical)
I've no dependents (well apart from the mortgage co
) so only putting myself at risk so to speakAs an aside to this, I've told my family that if either one of the kids (17 and 19) mention a gap year, I'm leaving his cat and her dog in the house, for them to look after and me and the wife are pissing off to lie on a beach and live in a tent, and smoke dope (which I never have tried and don't intend to) for 12 months whilst they work out how to pay the bills, which I will have put in their names.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff