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Is it ok to take 6-12 months off in between jobs or will it hurt my career? I’m burned out and want a new job, but I don’t want to look right away. Is there anything I should do in the interim?
Lawyers are notorious worker bees. Focused, intense, heads down and laboring away until Mission Accomplished. It’s a temperament that can take its toll after some time in a challenging position and often results in severe burnout.
Many years ago, there was very little “give” for time off between jobs – as employers often viewed such gaps negatively. So lawyers swung from vine to vine when it came to employment transitions. Today the legal market is quite different. Fueled by more career options for lawyers, changing values, shifting leverage…and the overall evolution of the profession, lawyer mobility is at an all time high. This has forced employers to adapt to the changing times with regard to what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to a lawyer’s employment history. So there is more room now for variety and alternative career choices – whether it is the type of job selected or time taken to do other things.
This is welcome news for many in the legal profession. And what this news means is that if you want to take 6 – 12 months off to decompress, travel, sit on the beach, spend time with family…or do whatever, you will have the opportunity to do so without compromising your career. Of course in an interview you will need to be prepared to explain why you pressed pause, but it won’t be a problem if you’ve done your homework and deliver an effective message. Many of you may be wondering: “So what would be an effective message in this context”? Below is an example:
Employer:
“I noticed a gap on your resume from 2016 – 2017. What did you do during this time? We you not able to find another position?”
Candidate:
“My position at XYZ Company/Law Firm was terrific, but also very demanding so I worked very hard and didn’t take many breaks. After four years, I decided it was time to take some time away before jumping into another position immediately. So I left XYZ Company/Law Firm in 2016 to travel and spend more time with family. It wasn’t an easy thing to do, but I made it a priority. During that time, I did not proactively seek another position and only re-engaged once I was truly ready. The time off was fantastic and I feel recharged and ready for my next role.”
Now that you know you can take the time off without career repercussions – and can address the gap in an interview, what should you do in the interim?
Before discussing your interim game plan, it’s important to understand that finding a new job takes time – and securing an offer could take anywhere between three months (if you are lucky) to one year. In some instances it could take longer if you are not proactive or strategic about your job search. If you are covering all of your bases, the average period of time is roughly five to six months. So these data points should factor into your interim plan. Below is the strategy to follow during your time on the sidelines:
Determine How Much Time You Want To Take Off.
To set the framework for your upcoming activities, try to ballpark how much time you plan to take off. Your answer doesn’t need to have pinpoint precision, but a general sense of when you want to re-engage more fervently.
Unplug For The First 4 – 12 Weeks.
As you leave your job, you’ll be operating at a certain stress level and will still be engaged in quasi-addictive behaviors (does constantly checking your email ring a bell?). So in order to rid these carryover dynamics, completely unplug and disengage from work related reading materials, website and activities for 4 – 12 weeks. You are going to need that time to re-center and clear your head. During this period, get some sleep, work out, reconnect with friends, spend time outdoors, ride your bike…engage in activities that are interesting and fun. By doing so, you’ll gain a new perspective on your time away from work and will have a much clearer head when it comes time to plug back in.
Set A Date To Re-Engage.
Setting a concrete date to re-engage after you have gone through your initial decompression period is critical if you are going to make the most of your time off. Once you have set it, forget about everything work related until it’s time. Doing this will psychologically “give you permission” not think or worry about your search because you know you will focus your efforts on that date. There doesn’t have to be a single date either. You can set several dates to ease back in to the search preparation and hunting process. The deadline may or may not change, but if you don’t set it now, you could drift and start feeling aimless and overwhelmed as the weeks go by.
Create Your Checklist.
Once you are ready to start preparing for your upcoming job search, create a checklist of the necessary tasks to complete in order to be fully prepared. These will be items that will need your attention once you re-engage. Below is a sample list:
A Timeline to Execute.
The notion of all of this may feel a bit overwhelming – as there is a lot to do while you are taking time off. In order to wrap your arms around it all, prioritize your tasks and set goals: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly – whatever is most comfortable for you. Your goals may shift, which is fine. But this approach will mitigate stress, give you a sense of control and enable you to be more productive.
Ready, Set, Go!
You’ve taken some rest, set your date, created your checklist and crystalized your timeline. Now it’s time to execute. So take a deep breath and jump in. There’s no need to feel pressure at this point, anything and everything can be revised as the need arises.
As you conclude this chapter of your career and transition to a new, taking 6 – 12 months to recharge and re-center is an acceptable choice in today’s legal profession and one that won’t hurt your career. So capitalize on this opportunity…and enjoy! But in the interim, build the strong foundation for your job search so when its time to hit the pavement, you will be prepared…and look forward to the exciting new adventure that awaits you.
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