CNBC Make It consulted workplace experts who noted that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the traditional workplace. Some individuals had to leave their jobs, while others opted for a break to balance their personal lives better.
"During the pandemic, when industries like hospitality were suddenly disrupted, many experienced career breaks beyond their control," explained Monster career expert Vicki Salemi. "People became resourceful, identifying transferable skills like customer service and shifting to other areas with job opportunities."
What is a Career Break?
A career break is when someone voluntarily takes a temporary pause from professional duties, taken with the duration depending on the need, and allows people to enjoy personal time they might miss due to their job. Taking a career break is not governed by laws or policies, and individuals may do so for family, personal, or professional development reasons.
How Common are Career Breaks?
A series of surveys indicate that most people experience at least one event that requires taking time off from work. A LinkedIn survey among 23,000 workers in 2022 revealed that nearly two-thirds, 62%, had taken a career break, 35% expressed interest in taking one in the future, and 29% had not encountered events justifying a career break.
Among 6,000 workers aged 25 and older across 6 Southeast Asian countries, the main reasons for taking a career break were health and wellness issues (17%) and job transitions (17%), according to market research firm Milieu Insight. The data also revealed that people took career breaks to travel (13%), raise children (12%), and care for others (10%).
"Career Break" Feature
A "Career Break" feature was introduced and explained by Jennifer Shappley, VP of Talent at LinkedIn, the same year as surveys were conducted, enabling members to highlight breaks in their work history for reasons ranging from full-time parenting to travel and bereavement to relocation and career transition, to facilitate open conversations between candidates and recruiters.
Over 1 million LinkedIn members have added the "career break" feature to their profiles, as reported by the company. Nick Gausling, who faced health issues due to chronic Lyme disease and a mold outbreak in his house, used the feature after resigning from his job. His six-month "health and well-being" career break is now noted on his LinkedIn profile. Gausling finds this feature cleaner than leaving a gap and believes it aligns better with the realities of the modern workforce, acknowledging that many people have moments where they need to step back.
According to Jenn Lim, CEO of the organizational consultancy Delivering Happiness, despite employment gaps being shared, they are frequently seen as a negative assumption of workers being fired, facing difficulties in getting hired, or being a poor performer, which doesn't align with the reality for most working individuals today. Pooja Chhabria, LinkedIn's head of editorial in Asia-Pacific, noted that people are increasingly open to taking career breaks and pursuing non-traditional career paths. This shift is poised to become almost the norm.
