How to Return to Work After Burnout and a Career Break: Identify Your Transferable Skills and Negotiate Flexible Part-Time Work

Happen To Your Career - Meaningful Work, Career Change, Career Design, & Job Search · Jun 25, 2026 · 13m

If you've taken time away from your career and you're wondering how to come back without explaining the gap or apologizing for your time off, this episode is for you.

Caroline spent 17 years at one of the Big Four firms before hitting full-on burnout. After years of being passed over for promotions and navigating a system that forced competition over collaboration, she woke up one day and thought, "I can't do this anymore."

She resigned. Took two years away. Moved countries. Completely reset her life. Then she had to figure out how to come back. This wasn't a standard return-to-work story…