By the time we hit retirement, many of us will have spent over 40 – perhaps even 50 – years “in work”. That’s a long time to go without a break or two! Whether an individual’s reasons are professional or personal, there are countless motivations for pressing the pause button, and for some, this pause will look a lot like a career break.
I wanted to learn more, not just about the driving force behind career breaks, but also about the size and shape they can take, as well as the practical side of stepping away from (and returning to) the workplace. So I caught up with a group of professionals (from within the Salesforce ecosystem and beyond) who have taken the plunge for a whole host of different reasons, from a change of scenery to a change of pace.
What Is a Career Break?
Before we get stuck in, let’s define what a career break actually is. There are several terms to describe what ultimately amounts to the same thing – time out of work.
You may have come across the word “sabbatical”, which is often associated with the academic world. These can be fully paid, partially paid, or not paid at all, depending on the organization.
And, of course, there are other forms of break that take place between different roles and places of employment – unpaid for obvious reasons! More recently, the term “microretirement” has emerged – particularly popular with younger employees who are prioritizing well-being and considering regular breaks from the workplace as an antidote to corporate burnout.
For some, a career break is simply an agreed period of unpaid leave. Agreed in the sense that your time off has been officially approved by your employer. Unpaid in the sense that this is more than an extended holiday. It’s exactly how it sounds; a break, a pause, a hiatus. You’re not picking up emails on the beach between paperbacks. It’s a complete removal from your usual routine.
Some workplaces allow and even encourage career breaks as a long-term investment in their employees. However, it’s not something that every company is able to offer, so it’s worth finding out if this is on the table.
Why Take a Career Break?
If you’re curious about taking a break, it’s also worth considering whether your motivations fall under “push” or “pull”.
Is something drawing you away from your day-to-day role? Perhaps it’s the opportunity to travel, reconnect with your interests, explore other professional opportunities, or reevaluate your place in the world. Or is something pushing you out of the door?
The “Pull” Factor
Those I spoke with all had very different reasons for stepping away. On the “pull” side of things, Beth Clayton, an Operations Director from the UK, has opted for the flexibility and freedom of “van life”. Having worked in the Salesforce ecosystem for over a decade, it was time for a change of pace and a chance to plot her own route on the map.
“A lot of people have asked me how long my career break is for and what my plans were. I think they were a bit shocked when I said I have no idea! The beauty of traveling in your campervan is the flexibility. It is a very cheap lifestyle and you can go wherever you want.
“I’m six months into my career break and have been to the Olympics in Paris, the Pyrenees, Asturias on the north coast of Spain, surfed many spots on the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, spent time in the mountains in north and south Wales, and will be in Portugal shortly to continue to practice my surfing skills. It’s my absolute dream life!”
If you want to follow Beth on her adventures, make sure to check out her blog!
For SF Ben’s Lucy Mazalon, another keen traveler, taking time out relatively early on in her career to explore the world was a logical option.
“I grew up abroad, so you could say that travel is in my DNA. I knew that for the trip I always dreamed of, I would need an extended period of time. I also knew that I had to do it then – aged 23 – when I had very few commitments (no dependents, no mortgage, no rent).”
It’s been a similar picture for Salesforce Consultant Safiyyah Gareeboo, who has taken several breaks during her career. The desire to travel has been a significant motivator, as well as opportunities to reevaluate professional goals.
“The first time was quite early in my career. I’d finally saved up enough to go traveling for a few months. A couple of years ago I took another career break, this time because I was looking to take on a new role and wasn’t sure what I wanted yet. Taking a break seemed like an opportunity to focus and take a bit more time interviewing and deciding what I wanted.”
Travel certainly seems to be a common theme, as is the desire to spend more time with family. One individual, who preferred to remain anonymous, decided to step away temporarily from the workplace to prioritize supporting their children.
“I wanted to take a break to spend time with family and learn more about my kids’ special needs. This meant taking a deep dive into ADHD and the autism spectrum. I took my usual approach, which was to buy a bunch of books and use online resources only to supplement those. Also, after helping to start up a new product and having many years in tech, I needed a break that was longer than a few weeks to avoid burning out.
“Having the time to do the learning that I wanted to pursue has been a blessing. I’m better prepared to understand how my children are impacted and better informed to help them when needed. I’ve been able to spend more time with family and be there at times when I otherwise would have been in meetings or under deadline pressure. Being there has been a huge plus and I now have an even better understanding of the challenges my kids face.”
Then there is that very specific type of career break: parental leave. I hesitate to use the word “break” when it comes to childcare, as I’m sure that many new parents will tell you that there’s not much rest involved – still, they do say a change is as good as a rest! Starting and looking after a family is a common reason for taking time out of work.
Timo Kovala, a Salesforce Architect based in Finland, is partway through his second round of parental leave.
“This is my second parental leave, as I took six months with our firstborn. I’d say that the biggest learning is how different each child is. You don’t really notice those details unless you stay at home and give your time to them. One key lesson is not to stuff your calendar with activities. One activity per day is enough, and zero is fine too if you’ve had a rough night.”
Statutory parental leave can look very different depending on where you live. In Finland, for example, the government provides a subsidy for both parents, but in Timo’s words, “it is still fairly uncommon for fathers to take more than a couple of months with the child”. It’s definitely worth looking into your company’s internal policies to see what’s possible for you.
The “Push” Factor
They say that timing is everything, and this is absolutely the case when it comes to career breaks. For instance, you wouldn’t stroll into a new company and demand a 12-month hiatus within your first few weeks in the role. That being said, if health is a major factor, timing may not be something you can control.
Several people I spoke to said that burnout was their main reason for taking a break. It’s a common symptom of our busy, work-focused world, and it could easily be the driving force behind an individual’s decision to get away from it all. Senior Salesforce Business Analyst Christine Stevens shared her own experience of burnout:
“I decided to take a career break to address the burnout I had been experiencing. Between 2021 and 2023, I switched jobs multiple times, which helped me increase my salary but also came with significant challenges.
“Constantly adjusting to new companies, cultures, and roles took a toll on me mentally and physically. After being laid off in March 2023, just 60 days into a new role, I realized I needed time to reflect on the root causes of my burnout and my frequent job changes, as well as to prioritize my well-being and long-term career satisfaction.”
The tech sector is no stranger to job cuts, with layoffs impacting many in the Salesforce ecosystem over the past few years.
How Do You Re-Enter the Workplace?
We’ve looked at the reasons for taking time out, but how about having a plan for life beyond the break? From the conversations I’ve had, it seems to be a bit of a mixed bag; some had a clear structure in place, and others were happy to play it by ear.
For Beth, historically a keen planner, keeping her options open has been a key part of switching off.
“I think the right opportunity will pop up when I am ready to work again. Because van life is such a cheap way of living, I have mulled over whether I want to look for part-time work or perhaps look into freelancing. I’m keeping my options open and I’ll know when the right thing pops up.”
At the other end of the spectrum, Christine wanted to have a clear plan in place from the start.
“I had a clear plan for re-entering the workforce. I created a portfolio on Notion to showcase my past experience and personal core values, which helped me eliminate roles that didn’t align with my goals. As a Salesforce professional since 2014, I also focused on demonstrating that my skills remained relevant despite the influx of professionals with advanced AI and process analysis expertise.
“By combining a strong portfolio with targeted self-assessment, I was able to position myself for roles that were a great fit and highlighted the depth of my experience in the Salesforce ecosystem.”
For Safiyyah, setting up some “informal interviews before the career break” allowed her to stay in touch and follow up as needed.
For Timo, keeping a foot in the door, despite being busy with parental duties, has been a beneficial way to feel connected to work.
“I’ve been lucky with our second son, in that he has very regular nap times and sleeps soundly, so I’ve had plenty of time for my own projects. I still keep abreast of developments in big tech and post regularly on LinkedIn and other channels. This keeps my mind active and means I won’t lose my touch while being away for a longer period.”
1. Take Control of Your Finances
“My advice is to ensure you have 6-18 months of savings set aside for financial stability. The rise of AI, particularly with Agentforce, has disrupted many job opportunities, so flexibility is crucial.
“Don’t hesitate to explore independent consulting during your break. It’s a great way to build new relationships, maintain industry relevance, and provide a financial cushion. It also gives you the chance to decide if you prefer consulting or returning to a full-time role. The key is to remain adaptable and strategic while prioritizing your personal and professional needs.”
Christine Stevens
2. Trust Your Gut
“Listen to your gut! A lot of people had very different opinions on my choice to take a career break. It took a lot for me to listen to what I truly wanted and I also had to work a lot on my self-belief to know that I am worthy of taking this break. I am so pleased I did the internal work because I am so happy.”
Beth Clayton
3. Prioritize Your Wellbeing
“During the break, eat nutritious meals – don’t skip [them]. Telephone your friends often, and save money every month when you have a job.”
Shumon Saha
4. Connect With Family
“Firstly, I highly recommend taking a longer leave for all parents regardless of your gender. It is truly a unique experience and brings the whole family closer.
“Secondly, listen to yourself and your child: don’t try to do too much, and keep an open mind. There’s a lot of things you can do together, so you don’t need to isolate yourself in your apartment either.”
Timo Kovala
5. Give Back to the Community
“Work out how much it will cost you and budget for that, ideally planning for a bit longer. If you have a job lined up, it’s nice to check in with them during the break. Depending on how long you’ll be off for, I would highly recommend doing some Salesforce volunteering to keep your skills up to date and help another organization.
“The Technical Collective are a great group who can connect you with a junior admin and charity who could use your help for a specific project. With volunteering, I would advise that you agree upfront exactly how much time you can give and to do what.”
Saffiyah Gareeboo
6. Explore Remote Opportunities
“In the Salesforce ecosystem, most of us are lucky to have roles that can be done remotely. If you need to keep some income coming in, there are opportunities to do so, for example, by writing for Salesforce Ben. There are so many co-working spaces, where you will find really friendly and inspiring people and atmosphere. If you want to continue working while traveling, be prepared for time differences.
“If you are moving around to several destinations, don’t pack too much into your itinerary (i.e. have a contingency for unexpected delays/mishaps). Especially if you’ve committed to being available to clients or colleagues, the panic of not being in a suitable location to work is avoidable if you give your schedule some breathing room. These people have been accepting of your decision, and it’s only right that you don’t let them down.”
Lucy Mazalon
Final Thoughts
Rest. Adventure. Recovery. Fulfillment. Duties. Development… While gaps on resumes may once have felt like something to justify or explain, it’s clear that career breaks come in all shapes and sizes for all sorts of reasons.
Is a career break on your radar? For many, it’s a case of if not now, when? Life is short, after all, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns to navigate. What’s certain (and inevitable) is that the world of work has changed – put it down to the rise in remote and nomadic work, the rapid advancements we’ve seen in tech, or simply a natural evolution in our relationship with “the office”.
Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with me. Have you taken (or are you planning to take) a career break? We’d love to hear about it – let us know in the comments.