Career Pause Musings
As I sit here and write this, I am on week 3 of leaving “traditional” employment to opt to pause to spend time with my kids, launch my coaching business and reflect on what may be in store for me next. In many ways, a career pause was NOT on my bingo card. Like many of you, I spent my twenties earning multiple degrees, pursuing new opportunities, and quite frankly, not really giving much thought to the autopilot of my routines. I was good at my job, liked my coworkers, and was comfortable with this narrative….mostly.
However, after having my third baby and realizing childcare costs, time constraints, a work travelling partner and aspirations outside of my current role, I decided to reevaluate. While making this decision, even knowing what I know about career pauses, I kept coming back to “how will I look to future employers if I opt out?” Although this is certainly a common belief held by many women, this does not have to be your defining story.
If a career pause is in your future, here are some quick ways to prepare:
Don’t hide it, Own it: While it may be tempting to creatively design your resume to hide either voluntary or forced pauses, resist the urge. Showcasing a career break and including a few bullet points that align with your next move (ie: gaining certificates, volunteer work, fundraising, caretaking etc.) can serve as a great springboard to help you reimagine what work may look like for you next.
Keep your Networks Strong: Networking can be a terrifying word and may drum up visions of “speed dating” events and college alumni meet ups. If that is your jam, have at it! If it’s not…no problem. Make a point to put intentional calendar reminders during your pause to connect or reconnect with old colleagues. Not only will this provide you with a lifeline to your past, it allows you to stay engaged in your former industry or in new pursuits you may discover along the way.
Reflect and Embrace Change: During a career pause, you may find yourself realizing that your former industry does not align with your values or interests any longer. That may seem like a really scary and confusing revelation, but take time to explore the “pulling” feeling. Create moments to learn more about the path you are moving towards instead of immediately discounting it. This can be as simple as reaching out to someone for an informational interview, looking at workforce trends in the industry of interest or even evaluating how your skills can translate. Taking a first step is critical to taking a second step.
Career pauses come in all shapes and sizes, but spending time being honest and proactive about what you want in your next chapter will not only change your outlook but will open up doors to new opportunities you may have been too busy to see.
