How to Return to Work After a Career Break? Simple Steps You Should Follow

We are all living a fast-paced life. In the era of marketing trends, career trends, cut-throat competition, and a rapidly changing work landscape, you may find yourself stuck in the midst due to extreme intimidation and exhaustion. 

But as of today, career breaks are no longer the taboo they used to be. Industry experts often advise and also encourage professionals to go for a break at some point in their careers to avoid complete burnout. 

Sometimes, the choice of a career break is not voluntary but induced by the circumstances. In India, socio-economic and political factors play a significant role in a society that is highly stratified. 

For instance, gender is a crucial aspect of career breaks. According to the Times of India, 80% of working women in India take career breaks. 

Therefore, a career break may be voluntary or circumstantial. But it can be a good time to reinvent yourself, refuel your energy, and discover new opportunities to not break the monotony and upgrade your work profile.

How to Return to Work After a Career Break? Simple Steps to Follow

Returning to work after a career break can be overwhelming, exciting, or even challenging. However, the best part about considering a career break in contemporary times is that it is easily available, and there is a wide range of courses and upskilling opportunities online. 

A whole galaxy of new knowledge awaits you just a mouse click away. upGrad is one such platform that offers a whole host of professional courses with industry insights which you stand to gain a lot. So, the next time you find yourself caught in the dilemma of how to return to work after a career break, focus all your attention on upskilling and prepare for your second innings unfazed.

Nonetheless, you can follow these simple steps for restarting your career after a break:

1. Assess Your Goals and Career Break:

• You can carefully speculate about your career goals and what you seek from your return to work. Having a specific objective will help you focus your job search, whether it is for professional advancement, financial security, or personal fulfillment
• As for your career break, you can assess the skills or newfound interests you might have during your time off and how these can fit into the careers you wish to pursue

2. Addressing Self-Doubt and Rebuilding Self-Confidence:

• It is natural to have concerns about your abilities and talent after a career break. You can consider your previous successes and the valuable experiences you’ve gained over your career
• Setting attainable objectives for yourself will prove productive along the road. Positive self-talk and concentrating on your strengths may also have a big influence on your thinking.

3. Consider Flexible or Part-Time Work Initially:

• You can start with contractual or part-time positions before going back to full-time employment seems intimidating. Without the stress of a full-time schedule, this will enable you to gradually re-enter the workforce and gain confidence.
• You might also try your hand at consulting or freelancing in your field of expertise, providing your services to hiring organizations via work from home jobs

4. Restart Networking:

• Networking is extremely useful in your journey to restart work. You can connect with former coworkers and contacts in the sector. Reconnecting might lead to networking activities or online forums to find suitable job opportunities
• You can make use of LinkedIn to grow your network and even start working on personal branding through networking and regularly posting on your account which may also lead to work from home jobs 

5. Prepare for Interviews:

• You need to stay a step ahead for interview preparation when coming from a career break. You must articulate your reasoning in a positive and informative manner. You can focus on the personal development you achieved during this period and how it will help you in the future
• Further, you should talk about how you kept up with industry trends over your hiatus and practice standard interview questions

6. Seek Peer and Professional Support: 

• You should not hesitate to ask for advice from mentors, career coaches, or friends who have successfully returned after a break. They can provide valuable insights and emotional support during your transition
• Mental health shouldn’t be a taboo. You can address your concerns and start working on tackling them through support and guidance

7. Upskilling and Reskilling :

• Upskilling can highly benefit your career return journey. It can reflect your commitment to long-term goals and learning approach
• If you believe your skills need polishing, you can enhance your skills by enrolling in online courses or earning certificates. Industry-specific training is available on platforms like upGrad that offer free, paid, and short-term courses for professionals.
• Keep up with new developments in your field to make sure your knowledge is still applicable to current industry standards

Reasons for taking a career break 

A person’s reasons for a career break can vary greatly. The vast possibilities of circumstances and incidences cannot be pinpointed completely. 

However, we can discuss the most common reasons for taking a career break as listed below:

1. Higher Education – If you’re pursuing advanced degrees or certifications to boost your skills and qualifications for the future, you might take a break from your full-time job. It shows investment in personal growth and future career development.
2. Health Reasons – Many people need a break to recover from physical or mental health issues, and this reason can reflect resilience and self-awareness. It also shows that you prioritize your well-being, which can be important in the long run.
3. Sabbatical – Sabbaticals are often taken for personal growth, creative pursuits, or volunteering. It can be a great way to recharge or explore different career paths, and it’s generally seen positively by employers if it’s framed in a way that demonstrates learning and growth.
4. Family Obligation – Whether it’s caregiving, parenting, or supporting family during a challenging time, taking a career break due to family obligations reflects responsibility and compassion. It also shows your ability to handle personal commitments while maintaining focus on long-term career goals.
5. Relocation – This reason for a career break may be possible when you move to a new city or country, whether for personal or professional reasons. Relocation is a major life decision in itself and may require you to quit your job and take a break. This decision indicates your demonstrated adaptability and the ability to handle change, which is a valuable trait.
6. Burnout – You might feel overwhelmed or overworked in a certain role. This will eventually cause you to feel exhausted to the point of feeling burnout. Then, might need to take a major step back break to reset and restore balance. Thus, it is crucial to acknowledge your feelings and know when to stop something that is not working out for you.

Also Read: Overcoming Career Gap in Resume

Staying ahead with upGrad's free courses 

Resuming work after a professional break is a process that calls for confidence, patience, and preparedness. You can successfully resume your career and prosper by evaluating your goals and accordingly updating your skills to re-enter the workforce.

Here’s where you can take advantage of upGrad’s diverse range of free courses. Some popular examples of our online courses are:

• Digital marketing courses
• Data Science courses
• AI courses
• Software development courses

You can explore our domain-specific courses and pick the relevant courses you need to start your career upskilling journey with upGrad! Here’s what you get:

• Free and paid courses
• Association with top institutions and hiring partners
• Placement and career assistance from our career counselors
• 24/7 learner support
• Mentorship and studying from industry experts

Conclusion

The process of restarting work after a career break can be a nail-biting one. However, following some key steps and taking charge of your upskilling journey can aid your adjustment back into work. You can leverage your learning and newly acquired skills and apply them to different work roles. 

Further, you may make use of existing transferable skills to assist you in bagging a job role that interests you. Taking a career break, be it for whatever reason, should not essentially affect your overall career. If you keep updated with industry trends, pursue upskilling opportunities, and adopt a learning attitude, you will adjust back into the work in no time. However, it is also important to be patient with your standing and mindfully take steps for personal and professional development.

In case, you are looking to seek advice for your study and career options, you can book a free counseling session with upGrad and avail expert guidance! 

Reference Links:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucianapaulise/2024/04/02/how-to-navigate-career-breaks-pros-and-cons-of-taking-sabbaticals/
https://explore.darwinbox.com/hr-glossary/career-break 
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/career-breaks-tricky-for-women-pay-gap-persists/articleshow/108312569.cms
https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2023/infographics-2128e451e0/