TAKING A CAREER BREAK

Impacts, Challenges, ChangesLisa Happell

Career4Connect15 May 2014

Work, Kids, Health, Finance, Exercise Family, Emails, Appointment, Social Events

Reading, Study, Meetings, Social Media

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XntzFHLRo0M

Treadmill of Life

Jumping off the treadmill

REASON FOR BREAK

• RETRENCHMENT• FAMILY• STRESS/BURNOUT• UNEMPLOYMENT• TRAVEL• O.S POSTING• RELOCATION

• AGED PARENTS• ILLNESS• STUDY• CAREER UNCERTAINITY

Audience

1. If they have taken a break

2. Impact of the break on career (either positive or negative)

REASON FOR BREAK

• RETRENCHMENT• FAMILY• STRESS/BURNOUT• UNEMPLOYMENT• TRAVEL• O.S POSTING• RELOCATION

• AGED PARENTS• ILLNESS• STUDY• CAREER UNCERTAINITY

Career Break Beneficial

86% (Yes)

14% (No)

CHALLENGES/BENEFITS

• LOSS OF IDENTITY• RE-ENTER• CAREER IMPACT• AT TIME STRESSFUL• LOSS KNOWLEDGE• MENTALLY YES/CAREER NO• Career Uncertainty• SET-BACK• FINANCIAL

• Time To Reflect• Empowering• Study• Recharge/Change• Found Path• Creative/Dream• Redefine

Research Data

A recent article in The Age (2013) showed that only 51% of employees felt they were in the right career, with 27% not sure and the other 22% saying no.

An article in the Sydney Morning Herald (2011) showed that satisfaction levels were at an all-time low, with job satisfaction levels at only 56% in Victoria, 51% in NSW, and 46% overall in Australia.

LOSS OF IDENTITY/PURPOSE

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

LOSS OF SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

LOSING TOUCH WITH INDUSTRY

STRESS ABOUT FINDING WORK

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

KEY ISSUES

KEY ISSUES

Research DataLosing a job may be an increasingly common career "event", something most of us will experience at some stage. But that familiarity doesn't lessen the psychological pain that often accompanies redundancy.

The sudden loss of routine, contact with professional peers, and simply not having a workplace to go to can leave people feeling isolated, depressed and lost.

Losing the sense of identity, structure, and social contact that come with having a job

Source Ian Wyle - The Guardian, Saturday 26 September 2009

Source: Ian

BENEFITS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkX-TPaodoM

The break gave me the time and space to imagine new possibilities and be creative (Tina)

Planned Happenstance is both attitude that you gain and actions you take. It is the view that you can create opportunities by taking action on your curiosity and on chance events. “Planned happenstance” theory was introduced in 1999 by Mitchell, Levin and Krumboltz. -

Chaos Theory - Audience

Chaos theory tells us that little changes lead to gigantic shifts.

• One small change/major change

• Small change/improve your life

Source: Cairnes, Margot, Staying Sane in a Changing World Simon & Schuster, 2003

Chaos Theory & Happenstance

Now think of these theories in relation to the following story

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/macadamia-king-on-doctors-orders/story-e6frg6nf-

1226912428565

PROFESSION/INDUSTRY

• LEGAL• CAREER INDUSTRY • PHARMACUTICAL• EDUCATION • ENVIRONMENTAL

• HEALTH• FINANCE• SALES• IT• ACCOUNTANCY

Period of Career Break

less than 1 yr

1-2 yrs

3-4 yrs

5-10 yrs

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

KEEPING IN TOUCH

NETWORK

READING

JOB SITES

VOLUNTEER

STUDY

WRITE

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

65% YES

YES

Networking

The Hidden Job Market reportedly accounts for between 60-80 per cent of actual job opportunities available at any given time*

Stay in touch, keep skills updated (networking, reviewing job sites etc). Do not assume you will not go back to previous workplace/type of work...You just never know! (Survey Participant)

* Source - www.graduateopportunities.com

RETURNING

SAME JO

B/INDUST

RY

DIFF JO

B/SAME IN

DUSTRY

SAME JO

B/DIFF

INDUST

RY

DIFF JO

B/DIFF

INDUST

RY05

10152025303540

Series 1

TRANSITION

Networking

Study/Training

Research

Voluntary

Apply Jobs

Career Advice

Support Family/Friends

Financial Support

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Series 1

ACCESS TO JOB INFO

HELP WITH INTERVIEWS/RESUMES

ASSISTANCE WITH MAKING CONNECTIONS/NETWORKS

ADVICE ON HOW TO EXPLAIN CAREER BREAKS

HOW TO MANAGE CAREER BREAKS

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

CAREER SUPPORT

Career Consultants• Help to come up with new career options

• Sometimes your confidence can go down and you need support to lift it back up

• Help clients – practical considerations of work/career re-entry

• Reframing to acknowledge broader personal/life stage issues.

Transition/Career Support

• Consider managing careers as holistic approach(individual in a complete picture rather than isolating parts.)

• The Systems Theory Framework of Career Development (Patton and McMahon, 1999)

Other Tips

• Social Media (set-up/Clean-up)

• Short Courses (Coursera) – (Free – Online)

• Enjoy the time

• Get the support

• Business Networks (Local Councils)

Questions