How to Take a Career Break

How many Americans do you think have taken a career break? 

The answer’s a lot higher than you’d expect: According to a LinkedIn survey of 23,000 workers, 62 percent said they’ve taken one — and 35 percent said they’d want to in the future. 

Taking time off to care for a parent or child, pursue a passion project, or simply recharge is something that many workers don’t like to talk about, because it’s traditionally carried a bit of a stigma. There was an assumption that if you’d taken a career break you were somehow less ambitious, or wouldn’t be able to keep up once you returned to the office.

Fortunately, attitudes seem to be shifting. Employers are waking up to the fact that sometimes hitting the pause button can be a smart, healthy move that may even make them more productive in the long run.

“We’ve seen people who’ve taken career breaks come back hungry and highly motivated,” says Procter & Gamble Senior Human Resources Director Lisa Thorner . “They want to come back and learn and grow, because they've already taken care of what they need.”

But successfully pulling off a break can still be tricky — and it requires a lot of preparation. If you’re considering it, we’ve got guidance from Thorner, and another P&G leader, President of Global Business Services April Cielica , on the steps you should take before a career break, and how you can frame your time off to future employers. 

Don’t worry, we won’t be taking a career break any time soon. Subscribe now for more expert advice from the best in business.