There are times when life throws us a curveball and we find ourselves having to put our careers on hold, for several months, and in some cases, a couple of years. This is what we call a “career break.”

Monster.com defines a career break as “an unpaid, purposeful time out of the workforce…”

According to the Pew Research Centre (2015), 10 percent of highly educated mothers (those who earned a master’s degree or greater) chose to stay home. Martin Veasey Talent Solutions adds that, “these days career breaks are taken by both men and women, and for various reasons.”

Career breaks may occur for a number of reasons, including a long illness, choosing to raise a family as a stay-at-home parent, supporting a partner while they pursue their career, deciding to pursue something different- for example traveling the world, doing missions work, getting involved in a passion project or focusing on your emotional and mental well being.

As can be imagined, returning to work after a career break can be both stressful and intimidating. You are under immense pressure to prove to employers and colleagues that you still have what it takes, and that your career break hasn’t diminished your ability to think and deliver quality work.

If anyone was in doubt concerning the abilities of people returning to work after a career break, Martin Veasey Talent Solutions reveals, “Career returners often bring with them: 

• Confidence and maturity that comes from experiencing life events 
• Strong organisational skills 
• An increased desire to succeed”

It’s true that there’s a new level of drive and ambition that is ignited when a person has spent years out of work, fighting off an illness, raising kids, or taking a step back to play a supportive role while their partner pursues their own dreams.

It can be likened to the adrenaline rush and the “I believe I can fly” feeling that comes after facing your greatest fear head on and going sky-diving, bungee jumping or getting a ride on that terrifying roller coaster at the amusement park. While you may be feeling charged up and ready to take on the professional world, employers may not be as keen to have you return after a lengthy hiatus.

In order to remain relevant and avoid going from hero to zero after your career break, make sure you do the following:

1. Don’t stop learning

Take online courses, read books, listen to podcasts – just don’t stop learning. Keep your knowledge of your professional field fresh and up to date. The world is rapidly advancing, and this includes your profession.

Just a few weeks ago, we witnessed the rise of Artificial Intelligence in the form of Chat GPT. It’s important to not only understand what these advancements mean for your career, but to embrace and learn as much as you can about them.

Research ways of getting work done more efficiently, excellently and consistently, with reduced cost on time and money. Make your career come-back by bringing solutions to the table and addressing problems which prospective employers might be struggling with. This will make you an asset to the team.

2. Use social media to your advantage

Show your expertise by sharing some of your knowledge via a blog, podcast or social media. Take advantage of Linked In and connect with professionals in similar fields. You can also join Facebook groups and online Professional Associations which are dedicated to your field of interest and share valuable content there.

This will keep you connected to your field, show the world you know your stuff while protecting you from forgetting everything you know.

3. Maintain professional relationships

Don’t delete the phone numbers of everyone you’ve ever worked with just because you’ve decided to focus on raising a family or travelling the world. Burning bridges is always a bad idea because you may need to go back at some point. And you don’t want to find yourself in a position where you have to eat humble pie and beg for a chance at getting your job back.

In many cases, it’s the people you’ve worked with in the past who are strategically positioned to put in a good word for you if there’s a job opening in your field, or at the very least, to let you know of any employment opportunities that may arise in the company.

This makes it important to maintain healthy relations with former colleagues and employers, unless there’s a solid reason why you wouldn’t want to do that – for example, if the entire company was blacklisted for engaging in criminal dealings of some sort. If that’s the case, run and don’t look back.

Also, don’t be afraid to network and let CEOs, Entrepreneurs or Managers in your social circles know that you’re actively looking for work. Contrary to what many may believe, there’s nothing shameful in asking for help in finding work. Don’t let pride get in the way of a possibly amazing career breakthrough.

Some of the most outstanding job appointments have come through referrals from relatives, friends, church mates or fellow bookclub members. As the saying goes, “your network is your net worth.”

In conclusion, always keep in mind that great things happen when preparation meets opportunity. So, keep learning, build your network and stay prepared. The best in life awaits you!

Begin somewhere. You cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do.

Liz Smith

Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik