Taking a break from traditional employment

Everyone needs a break on occasion—sometimes even a substantial break. The good news is that between economic changes and COVID-19, gaps in employment history are not as surprising as they used to be, and many people are open about their reasons. But as recently as 2019, research found that while a gap of 1–2 years did not greatly affect interview callback rates, those rates decreased significantly with longer gaps—to 3–5% from 10–11% with the former. So, if you are thinking about exiting a job or the job market for a while, how can you minimize its impact on your professional future?

Before the break. As when mapping out a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you need to plan your break carefully. Include ways that you will remain connected to your professional network—or even grow it in some cases—by attending professional society meetings or visiting mentors, keeping your knowledge and skills current, and attending workshops or classes. And don’t forget a game plan for your transition back into work. If you’re taking an intentional break, research your current company’s policies on extended leaves to see if it can hold your job, or a similar job, while you’re gone.

Returning to work. If the time between jobs is lengthy, you will want to address it early in the application process, such as in a cover letter. You want to convey that the reason for the break has been resolved and that you’re now fully committed to your career. Details are not necessary, but providing an explanation can go a long way toward mitigating a potential employer’s concern. Give a reason, mention a resolution of that reason, then focus on the future: “I took a break from [employment] for [amount of time] to [action]. I am now ready and excited to get back into [type of work] and am even better at [specific ability] because of this experience.”

Honesty is always the best policy. If you did volunteer work, consulting, or took courses, list that on your résumé as evidence of continued commitment to your profession during that time.

Employers point of view. Potential employers care about reliability and relevance. They want to know that you’re ready to work again and that your skills and knowledge are current. If the gap was long, consider taking classes or attending webinars to prepare for your return and ensure that you’re up to date.

Have you changed? The experience of taking a break will sometimes change you in unexpected ways, and you might find you’re not interested in the same position. If you want to move into a different job or field, look into part-time, volunteer, or consulting work to gain exposure to and experience in the new field and to prevent the employment gap from growing. The transferable skills you acquire will be useful even if you decide to stay in the same kind of work.

Manage expectations. You may need to work at a slightly lower level than you were previously until you prove yourself again. This is especially true at large firms or if a gap occurs early in your career.

Having a noncontinuous work history is no longer the red flag it was, and with careful presentation, it can be a nonissue.

Get involved in the discussion. ACS Career Tips is published monthly in C&EN. Send your comments and ideas for topics for future columns to careernavigator@acs.org.