She has been suffering each day. The toxicity around became so difficult to navigate. At every meeting, her Manager will put her on the spot. Allegations and liability for mistakes were becoming routine.
She decided to resign. Her mind cannot take it anymore. She wanted to take a break and detox.
She explored new places, tried new hobbies, met her friends and relatives, and went to her hometown. The energy was right now. She was ready to take her career ahead after a three-month break.
She interviewed at a few places. She honestly told about her story and what she faced. People were reading her exit as a lack of resilience. It has been nine months since, and she is still searching.
I spoke to her recently. Her confidence has taken a backseat. All good feel factors have disappeared.
Is she that bad? What about all those LinkedIn posts she read – career breaks are OK?
Sometimes breaks are needed and a better option than continuing work. It saves you from having a mental breakdown and going into depression.
While a well-planned break can revitalize your spirit, an impulsive one can leave your career prospects a little sunburnt.
Before you tender your resignation, make sure you accept the tradeoffs and have a few things in order:
1] Career Trajectory
A career break means you choose to take a backseat to support your mental well-being. This means adjusting your growth curve accordingly, which may be flat/downward for some time.
2] Network
When you stay away from the ecosystem, people tend to forget you – “Not in sight, not in mind.” One should make sure that while they are out of touch, they have some touch points.
3] Market Realities
You may be ready but the market may not be ready for you. Recession, Job losses, De-growth etc. are market realities today. Make sure you understand the timing part well.
4] Skill Gap
Remember, your learning has stopped as you are not working on real-life projects. So have a plan to compensate for through structured learning, courses, and webinars.
5] Plan B
Make sure you have good hooks with a few leaders across a few organizations who see you as a good talent. They will be great mentors and in some cases will help you get a job when you get back.
Taking a career break can be an enriching experience, but with a little forethought, you can ensure it’s a positive blip, not a career black hole.
Finally, don’t blindly believe in what others say about career breaks (including what I am saying) or what you read from influencers. Do your research and speak to people you trust before settling down with a concept, including “Career Breaks are OK.“
About Transform Ahead®️
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