Whether it was voluntary or due to a job loss, having a career break tends to raise questions from a potential employer, questions that some professionals do not have a ready answer for.

In fact, it is to avoid this dreaded gap in their work history timeline that many professionals opt to take jobs with not much to recommend them except for the fact that they were available.

But things have changed.

If I was writing this article a few years ago, I would share strategies along the lines of taking up online learning, attending networking events, keeping up with industry news, and so on.

Nowadays though, with all the online career options, a career ‘break’ no longer means what it used to. You can take a hiatus from a particular line of work and invest that time in another as long as you are gaining or enhancing skills that will be relevant in whichever career path you decide to pursue.

In fact, one of the definitions of career on Wikipedia according to organizational behavior researchers is "an individual's work-related and other relevant experiences, both inside and outside of organizations, that form a unique pattern over the individual's life span."

So, having a career break now means literally doing nothing while waiting for the next job, something few professionals do…and maximizing your career break will now mean ways to use the time taken away from a first or main career in a more profitable way.

1.   Figure out what next you want to do with your life:

A lot of us would agree that when COVID pressed the world’s pause button, it kind of gave everyone permission to switch gears and see what else was possible. Even as many businesses shut down, others were born during that season. Many individuals also rose to prominence because they were providing a way to navigate this never-before-seen phenomenon and its impact on the workplace as we knew it. A career break has the same potential, and if used wisely, could unearth never-before-considered opportunities or a new direction for your career.

 

2.   Explore unused or buried Talents:

A lot of us can testify to having been able to do one thing or the other really well when we were children that we no longer do now that we are adults. On the one hand, it could simply be a case of putting away childish things; on the other, it could be that the demands of adulthood meant other things became more important. Talents never disappear, but much like any unused tool they can become dulled by neglect. They can however be sharpened, and while they may not have the same potential that they did if you had used them earlier, they could still serve a purpose.  For example, an aspiring artist who exchanged his palette for a pen could develop his skills sufficiently to use an application like Canva to become a part- or full-time graphic artist.

 

3.   Spend time to reinforce or renew relationships:

In the pursuit of relationships that could or would give your career a boost, it is very easy to take the relationships you already have for granted. A career break means you can pay attention to these relationships as well. These become your support system and will make sure things continue to run smoothly on the home front if or when you eventually return to full-time work.

 

4.   Be intentional about developing Success Habits:

Habits are hardwired into our brains, so we do the things that form our routines automatically. A career break means you have the time to change your habits to those that put you on the road to success. Examples of such habits are: waking up early, exercising, setting aside some “thinking” time, planning your day, and reading. Taking control over your life by consistently displaying these habits guarantees growth and gives you a sense of balance that motivates you to take the necessary steps to put your career where you want it to be.

 

Let’s face it though, habits are hard, both to form and to break. Here is a guide to get you “S-O-A-Ring”.

 

S – Small, wise habits over time tend to compound. Too much too soon could overwhelm you and force your brain to revert to the status quo. For instance, to wake up at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m., you can start by setting your alarm for 5.30 a.m. and then work your way to 5 a.m.

 

O – make the new habit as Obvious as possible. Want to start exercising? Place your exercise gear where you would easily see it. Want to finish a book? Put it right next to your bed and read your assigned pages.

 

A – Automate the habit where you can. E.g., setting reminders on your phone to align with your to-do list, using an app to remind you to drink more water, or using a text-to-talk app to read one chapter of your chosen book per day.

 

R – Reward yourself for repeating a habit consistently over a defined period with a symbol of your accomplishment, a personal certificate of achievement, a gift, a trip, etc.

 

5.   Refine your Personal Brand.

You can be deliberate about crafting your professional persona and how you want to be perceived by your peers, potential employers, and the public. A career break gives you the necessary time to articulate what your strengths are and how you can use your brand to project them. In a scenario where you opt for a career change, for example, there may be elements of your previous career you can bring into the new one that could set you apart from others in the same space. As a medical student turned HR professional, I know firsthand the importance of aligning natural abilities with career choices. It means I approach talent management with a unique perspective.

 

The time a career break gives you can be an asset or a liability, that depends on you. Maximize this time and position yourself for a fulfilling career.

I’m still sharing 5 lessons, skills, and other nuggets as it relates to all things talent, career, and purpose in the “Power of 5” series. Feel free to comment on any topics you may like to see. You can also send your career questions to me at toyintalkstalent@gmail.com.

For my career stories go to my blog, https://toyintalkstalent.wordpress.com/  

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