Many circumstances require people to take a break from their careers, but unfortunately, returning to work after time away can be extremely difficult. If you are getting ready for a career break, there are steps you can take now – before your break begins – to make your return easier.
Here are some things to consider:
- Are you caring for a loved one?
If you are taking a career break because of a loved one’s disability or serious illness, you may be able to be paid for your time. The options vary significantly depending on your loved one’s condition, medical coverage, and state of residence, but this path is available far more often than most people realize.
If you can be employed by Medicare, Medicaid, your loved one’s state, or an agency as your loved one’s caregiver, this will have numerous benefits for you. First, you will avoid taking an actual career break. The paycheck you receive makes caring for your loved one employment, transforming it into a job you can put on your resume.
While the paycheck may not be equal to what you were making at your previous job, it will be much more than the $0 you were planning to make during your career break. Some programs even cover your housing expenses to live with your loved one.
Depending on the situation, compensation may be available even if you are not an immediate family member of the loved one you are caring for. Research your specific situation to find out what is possible for you.
To start exploring this possibility, I recommend reading at: https://careforth.com/blog/how-to-become-a-paid-caregiver-for-a-family-member-6-steps-to-uncovering-financial-assistance-options-for-family-caregivers/
- Can you change the job you already have?
I am not suggesting you get a new job entirely. I am suggesting you change the job you have now into one that accommodates your current situation or the situation you are moving towards. If your current plan is to quit your job completely, you have nothing to lose by first asking whether you could work in your ideal scenario.
I want to warn you about what one of my college professors called a “failure of imagination.” Just because you only see two options – leaving your job altogether or staying at your job as it currently is – does not necessarily mean that no other options exist.
I have personally done this twice.
The first time, I knew I needed to leave a workplace, but there were parts of the work that I didn’t mind and that I could do remotely without real-time conversation with other team members. When I submitted my resignation from the job, I let my manager know that I would be happy to continue doing those parts of my work from home after hours even after leaving my current position. Not only did my manager accept, they were also able to continue my health insurance, and I was able to negotiate a higher hourly rate for myself. By offering to do the work I preferred in the way I preferred, I was able to keep that job on my resume after moving on from the full-time position, maintain my health insurance benefits, and still get paid – all without any direct contact with the work environment I needed to leave behind.
The second time, I was satisfied with my job overall, but I needed more time outside of work due to life changes. Again, I spoke with my manager. I let her know that I had a personal situation that meant I needed to change my schedule, and gave her two options for what it could change to. I sent her an email with this information, then set up a meeting to discuss it a few days later. In the meeting, I remained firm that this change to my schedule was necessary for me to stay with the company. My schedule change was approved, and I was able to move forward working the hours that made the rest of my life manageable.
- Can you stay connected to your field through volunteering?
Unpaid experience is legitimate experience that can go on your resume. Unpaid experience does not even have to be marked as unpaid on the resume. You do not have to volunteer for many hours in order for the experience to count; you only have to keep a record of your start and end dates (month and year), the contact information of the people you reported to or worked closely with, and your accomplishments.
- Can you stay connected to your field through freelancing?
Many workers assume that freelancing means a constant grind – putting in 60 or 80 hours a week to keep your small business afloat.
In reality, you can spend as little as one or two hours a month maintaining a freelance position once you have set it up and stay connected to your field and avoid a gap in your work history.
The options here are innumerable, and vary based on your field, but may include mentoring others, writing a blog, occasionally consulting, and many more options.
For this to succeed, you will have to report your freelance activities on your taxes, keep a record of your accomplishments, and ideally keep the contact information of a few references.
If you are looking into any of these options, but aren’t sure where to start, book a consultation with Career Health Workshop for assistance.