Taking personal time off doesn't have to mean sacrificing your career
Are you starting a family or taking care of a sick family member?
There are career steps you need to address before you take your leave.
Before you leave, do this. Speak in "us" language,
not in "me" language, and have solutions in mind before you sit down
with your boss. Every company and employer handles family leave
differently, so do your research and get up to speed on the typical
practice of your office. Anticipate what your employer's fears are and
be prepared to mitigate them from the outset. Your leave can have a
potentially negative impact on your employer, so you have to help them
ease into it. There's no set time frame, as every office operates
differently.
Customarily, two weeks is the common norm for anyone leaving a position.
Be fair and honest to your employer about your wants and needs --
before you officially leave. Remember, The Family and Medical Leave Act
could be an option for you (aside from quitting altogether). If you are
covered, you are entitled to an unpaid but job-protected leave for
twelve weeks. This includes birth of a child, taking care of a sick
family member, adoption of a child, personal health conditions or
military service.
Another method to slowly ease yourself out of a job but keep positive
ties to your company is to learn how to pitch working from home as a win
for your employer. Consider all your options (working part-time, taking
a year off or telecommuting) and then ask for your ideal schedule. With
the push to create family-friendly work environments, employers are
more flexible than ever as long as you demonstrate you can and will
produce great work.
How to handle a resume gap. Not all employment gaps
are due to layoffs or getting fired. You may have taken time off to take
courses, have kids, freelance, or travel, and all of those things can
make you a better candidate for the job. List the courses you've taken
and explain how they will help in this new position. Talk about your
freelancing experience and what you learned and accomplished during that
time. Discuss the volunteer programs you've been a part of, like the
PTA or Cub Scouts. Share your travels with your prospective employer. At
the very least, they may find comfort in knowing you've "been there,
done that" and won't be taking off to travel the world again!
Never let go of your network. While you might not be
100 percent in the industry right now, you should always stay in touch
with your former colleagues and clients. Whether it's liking a post they
shared on LinkedIn, attending networking events, reaching out to them
via email or even meeting for coffee every few months. Maintaining your
relationships will offer insight into how the industry is adapting and
keep you abreast of the changes and developments. These tools and
industry know-how can serve you well when you are ready to test the
waters again.
Where your colleagues are concerned, it'll also keep you fresh in their
minds. Those lunch dates and email exchanges will showcase the fact that
you've still been actively involved in the industry -- even if it was
from a backseat view. If a job opens up down the line, they'll be more
open to recommending it to you. Use LinkedIn Pulse to read the most
relevant industry news that your professional community is reading and
sharing, so you're in the know when you return to work.
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