Ways of working · 6 min read
How do I take a career break or sabbatical?
How to take a career break or sabbatical: asking your employer, planning money and time, your legal rights, and how to explain the break when you return.
The short answer
A career break is a planned period away from work, from a few months to a year or more, for rest, travel, caring, study or exploring a new direction. Some employers offer sabbaticals, often unpaid, with your job held for you; otherwise you may need to resign. Start by checking your employer's policy and asking, with a clear plan and return date. Budget for the full break plus a few months of searching if you're not returning. Give the break a loose purpose so it doesn't drift. When you come back, explain it in one or two sentences on your CV and in interviews. Many employers now see planned breaks as normal.
Key takeaways
- Check whether your employer offers sabbaticals or unpaid leave.
- Budget for the break plus a search period if you won't return.
- Give it a loose purpose so time doesn't drift.
- Explain it briefly and confidently when you return.
On this pageSabbatical or resign?
Sabbatical or resign?
| Option | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Paid sabbatical | Job held, some pay | Long-serving staff at employers who offer it |
| Unpaid leave | Job held, no pay | One to six months |
| Resign | Free to go, no job held | Long breaks or a change of direction |
| Part-time step down | Reduced hours | Study or caring alongside work |
How to ask your employer
- Check the staff handbook for sabbatical or unpaid leave policies.
- Choose dates that fit the business cycle.
- Write a short proposal: dates, purpose, handover plan and return date.
- Discuss it with your manager before HR.
- Agree in writing what happens to your role, pay, pension and benefits.
Plan your money
- Monthly essential costs, times the number of months away.
- Extra costs, such as travel, courses or caring.
- Health insurance and pension contributions.
- A buffer of three to six months if you'll be job hunting afterward.
Give it a loose purpose
Breaks without any purpose often feel shorter and less restful than expected. Choose one or two aims, such as recovering your energy, learning a skill or trying a new kind of work, and a light structure, like a weekly plan. Leave room for rest and surprises.
Coming back
A few weeks before you return, reconnect with colleagues or contacts. Update your CV with what you did. In interviews, give a two-sentence answer: why you took the break, and what you're ready for now. Most interviewers move on quickly when you sound settled.
Illustrative example
Will, a civil engineer, negotiates a four-month unpaid sabbatical after seven years at his firm. He spends a month resting, two months volunteering on a sustainable building project abroad, and a month on a short course. He returns to his old job with a new interest in low-carbon design, and his firm moves him onto a related project.
Ideas for using a break well
- Rest properly for the first few weeks before planning anything.
- Try two or three kinds of work through volunteering, short projects or shadowing.
- Take one short course in a skill you'd use either way.
- Keep in light contact with a few colleagues so returning is easier.
What happens to the gaps
Most posts ask for something your CV doesn't show yet. OffLadder CV names those gaps, and Laddie, our AI coach, turns each one into three steps:
- Learn the skill: a short lesson on what the post asks for, starting from the basics.
- Try the work: a 15-minute task taken from the job itself, so you have a real example to talk about.
- Practise the interview: a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of.
The conversation stays in your OffLadder account. Once you've done the work, add it to your CV in your own words, and the next post you tailor for can point to it.
Questions people ask
- Is there a legal right to a sabbatical?
- Not generally in the UK or US. Sabbaticals depend on your employer's policy. In the US, the FMLA gives some workers up to 12 weeks' unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons.
- How long can a career break be?
- Anything from a month to several years. Employer sabbaticals are often one to twelve months. Longer breaks usually mean resigning and returning to the job market.
- Will a career break hurt my career?
- Usually less than people fear, especially with a clear reason and something to show for it. Long breaks in fast-changing fields may need some refreshing before you return.
- How do I put a career break on my CV?
- Add a line with dates and a short description, such as 'Career break: travel and a data analysis course'. Don't hide it.
- Should I take a break if I'm burned out?
- It can help, but see your doctor first, because sick leave may be more appropriate and protects your income. A break works best when you've planned what you'll do with it.
- How much money do I need?
- Add your monthly costs for the length of the break, plus travel or study costs, plus three to six months' costs if you'll be job hunting afterward.
- Can I take a career break to try a new career?
- Yes, and it's a good use of one. Plan a few small experiments in the field you're curious about, so you return with evidence about whether you want it.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Family and Medical Leave Act · US Department of Labor
- How to be mentally healthy at work · Mind
- Labour market overview, UK · Office for National Statistics
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.