Latest / Career Coaching with Fexingo: Professional Coaches, Career Counselors, and Guidance for Workers / How to Plan a Career Break That Boosts Your Trajectory
Transcript
- Lucas: Luna, I’ve been thinking about a career move that a lot of people consider but rarely talk about openly: the intentional career break. Not the kind where you get laid off and scramble — I mean a planned sabbatical. Luna: It sounds risky. What’s the upside that would make someone want to step away voluntarily? Lucas: A recent LinkedIn survey found that about 15 percent of professionals have taken a break of three months or more. And 70 percent of those said it positively impacted their career — not just their mental health, their actual trajectory. Luna: Seventy percent? That’s higher than I would have guessed. I always thought the conventional wisdom was that a gap hurts you. Lucas: It does if you don’t plan it. But if you approach it strategically — with the same rigor you’d bring to a job change — a sabbatical can actually become a career accelerant. Luna: So what’s the framework? How do you plan a break that doesn’t backfire? Lucas: I’d break it into three pillars: financial runway, relationship management, and re-entry strategy. Let’s start with the money — you need to know your burn rate and have a cushion that covers at least your break plus three months of buffer after you return. Luna: Because the biggest fear is not being able to land a job after? Or running out of money while you’re away? Lucas: Both. But the runway isn’t just about survival — it’s about freedom. When you know you have six months of expenses saved, you can actually relax and get the real benefit of the break, which is perspective and recharge. Luna: What about the people you leave behind? How do you keep relationships alive while you’re gone? Lucas: This is the pillar most people neglect. You need to have honest conversations with your manager and key colleagues before you leave. Set expectations — 'I’ll be offline but available for emergencies' — and schedule a few check-ins. Also, identify the people in your network you want to stay in touch with and set up a loose cadence. Luna: I've heard stories where someone takes a break, comes back, and all their contacts have moved on or forgotten them. How do you avoid that? Lucas: You stay visible in low-friction ways. A LinkedIn post before you leave saying you're taking a sabbatical. A monthly email update to a small circle. And the return is easier if you've maintained a few key threads — like, 'I’d love to grab coffee when I’m back.' Luna: It sounds almost like a marketing campaign for yourself. Which I guess it is. Lucas: Exactly. And the third pillar is re-entry strategy. This is where people fumble the most. They come back from their sabbatical and just start applying to jobs cold. Instead, you should treat the last month of your break as a soft launch — reconnect with recruiters, update your portfolio, and have a narrative ready. Luna: What does that narrative sound like? 'I took three months off to travel' — that doesn't exactly scream commitment. Lucas: Actually, the key is to frame it as intentional growth. Let me give you a concrete example. A friend of mine — a marketing director at a consumer goods company — took a three-month sabbatical and taught English in Vietnam. She didn't just say 'I traveled.' She said 'I immersed myself in a new culture and developed cross-functional communication skills in a low-resource environment.' It became a selling point. Luna: That's clever. She turned a gap into a differentiator. Did she get back into the same level role? Lucas: She actually came back to a better role. She had more clarity on what she wanted, and her sabbatical story made her stand out in interviews. The hiring manager said it showed self-awareness and courage. Luna: But not everyone can just disappear for three months. Some people have mortgages, kids, or a boss who would say no. Lucas: Absolutely. That's why I think the first step is actually an audit of your current situation. How much runway do you really have? Could you negotiate a sabbatical policy at your current company? Some employers offer unpaid leave or sabbatical programs — you just have to ask. Luna: That's a good point. A lot of people assume it's not an option, but it never hurts to bring it up as a conversation. Lucas: And if it's not, you can still create your own mini-break. Even two weeks of truly unplugged time — no email, no Slack — can reset your thinking. A longer break is ideal, but the principles scale down. Luna: So the framework is: financial cushion, maintain relationships, and plan your return. That's simple enough, but the execution requires courage. Lucas: It does. But the LinkedIn data suggests the risk is worth it. And remember, a career break doesn't have to be a single event. Some people take them every few years as a way to avoid burnout and stay fresh. Luna: I wonder how that cycles back into performance. If you take a break every few years, your long-term trajectory might actually be higher than someone who grinds straight through for thirty years. Lucas: That's the hypothesis. Some research on endurance athletes suggests that strategic rest improves overall output. I think the same applies to careers. Luna: Alright, so you've convinced me to put a little sabbatical daydream on the back burner. But what about the practicalities of actually coming back? Any tips for the first month back? Lucas: First month back, I'd say go easy on yourself. There's a reentry dip that's real. Your brain has been in a different rhythm. So don't schedule back to back interviews or negotiations right away. Use the first week to reorient, update your materials, and start conversations without pressure. Luna: And the phone call conversations with former colleagues — do you lead with your story or ask about their news first? Lucas: Lead with curiosity about them. That's relationship management 101. When you show genuine interest, they'll be more open to helping you. And they'll remember that you're not just using them as a stepping stone. Luna: That's a good reminder. I think this whole sabbatical thing comes down to intentionality. If you're going to step away, step away with purpose. Lucas: Exactly. And that's something we can help listeners think through. Honestly, the reason we can have these nuanced conversations on this show — about career breaks, about negotiation, about values — is that we don't run ads. If you find this kind of detailed career coaching useful and you want to support keeping it ad-free, you can do that at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: It's a small gesture that keeps the show independent and focused on what matters. Every bit helps. Lucas: So back to re-entry — one thing people underestimate is how to frame the gap on a resume. You don't have to hide it. In fact, you can list it as a separate entry: 'Sabbatical — Intentional Career Break, March to June 2026.' And then bullet point what you learned. Luna: I love that. Treat it as a job. It signals confidence. I think too many people shrink from the narrative. Lucas: And that confidence itself makes you more attractive to employers. So if you're on the fence about taking a break, I'd say do the prep work, but don't let fear stop you. A well-planned sabbatical could be the best career move you never knew you needed. Luna: I'm sold. Now I just need to save up that three-month runway. Lucas: Start small. Even a savings target of one month's expenses is a start. And then you can build from there.