Get the Best from a Career Break

Saying Hello to a Hiatus

Taking an extended break from work can be one of the best things you can do for yourself. When you’re not in your daily work routine, the possibilities are limitless. You can examine your priorities and values, and decide where you want to go in life. Or, if you’re a new parent, you can spend lots of quality time with your baby, uninterrupted by the demands of a 9-to-5 job. You can further your education or even launch that business you’ve been thinking about for years.

But before you walk into your boss’s office and explain that the company will just have to survive without you for the next year or so, there are a few things you might want to consider. When you contemplate a career break, ask yourself some basic questions, including:

• What do you specifically hope to accomplish?
• How determined are you to see it through?
• Have you talked to anyone about your idea?
• What concrete plans are in place?
• Are you financially prepared?
• What will you do if things don’t go according to plan?

The answers to these questions will tell you if you’re ready to take the plunge. You may be fortunate...