Career Break - careerbreakcafe.com - Time for a break

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Is it time you looked at taking a career break?

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	Time for a break?

	>>	What is a career break?

	>>	Why take a career break?

	>>	Your career

	>>	When is best?

	>>	How long?

Your career

Changing world, changing careers
It is increasingly now the assumption that a job is no longer ‘for life’ for the majority of people in the developed working world. Shifts in the economic climate in the last 20 years has meant that people now are less able to rely on their employers for life-long security. Thatcherism meant that in the UK the individual had to become more responsible for their own career, the individual had to start to ‘sell’ their skills, personality and experience to the employer offering the best ‘package.’

One result from this period of change is that ‘portfolio’ career paths have started to emerge, where individuals managing themselves, building a collection of skills and experiences, move between jobs, employers and locations. This more fluid career structure has created intense periods of work (the city trader being an obvious example) as well as more gaps between jobs. This has led naturally to more people taking career breaks.

The notion now is that self-motivated individuals with a diverse set of experiences and jobs are more employable. A well-managed and interesting career break is a crucial part of this 21st century career path. Life-transition is an important step between different stages of employment and can happen several times during a career.

Career break statistics

71% are unhappy in their present careers
66% would quit their job for £5000 in cash
83% for £2000 a year would go to a competitor
69% Among Londoners would take a pay cut of £10,000 to avoid the city's transport system

Read about those who have taken charge of their career > careerbreak community

Is your company career break friendly?
An increasing number of companies and organisations are offering career break options. Find out before you apply for a job what the companies career break policy is – there will usually be something on their website or literature that mentions sabbaticals or career breaks. Don’t be scared to ask. Remember, a structured career break is a positive thing.

Here are a few companies already with career break policies:

Accenture
PWC
Littlewoods
Prudential
The Post Office
Vodafone
BT
Tesco

Does your company offer a career break scheme? Let us know at work@careerbreakcafe.com

What about when you come back – read about what options there are for when you return from a career break, including companies that have a high standard of corporate social responsibility. Read here

Careerbreakcafe.com is the leading web magazine for anyone considering, taking, or returning from a career break.
Because life’s too short.

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