Can you take a break from your career overseas? The idea is gaining momentum, especially since the pandemic, which has been an eye-opener for many. This idea is being more formalized and realized by expatriates for whom professional life is part of a broader framework. The quest for a meaningful career is much discussed and debated. How important is it to take a break in your international career, and what are your options?
Rethinking your long-term plans
Whether you work in your home country or abroad, opinions differ. For some, taking a break is "unthinkable" due to the risks of being sidelined on return. This is especially true abroad, where the struggle to climb the career ladder is more complicated. However, a career break is a good opportunity for others to rethink their expatriation project. And by 'rethink', we do not mean to question one's career, but rather to take a step back.
It is often assumed that rethinking your long-term plans abroad means that something is wrong. Taking a break from this mindset is unlikely to be beneficial. If you no longer enjoy your work, if the stay is not going well, taking a break for a few weeks or months will not solve the problem. Still, taking a break from your career should not be seen as a sign that there is a problem. At least that is what the proponents of sabbaticals claim, for whom sabbatical leaves should be positive. You rest in order to re-launch yourself better. You rethink your expatriation project, not because of a problem, but to set new goals to achieve.
What are the options for taking a break in your international career?
Pay attention to your contract, visa, work permit and residence permit. These documents provide the framework for your stay abroad. However, work visas are usually linked to work. For example, it is impossible to stay indefinitely on an H-1B visa without working in the United States. Ideally, the company should have planned for a career break. Today, businesses sense that the tide is turning in this direction and are taking account of employees' new aspirations. However, this is only the case for large companies and startups. This "startup spirit" drives companies to create special leave for employees who want to take a few months off.
Other options depend on what is allowed in the expat country: mutual resignation, paid sabbatical, unpaid leave, resignation, or end of a fixed-term contract, etc. In fact, it's important to be aware of your host country's labor laws. You should also reread your contract. Finally, do not hesitate to seek professional advice. Will you be entitled to unemployment benefits? Is there unemployment insurance for expats? Not all countries offer it. The United Arab Emirates, for example, only introduced it in 2022.
Finding the right time to take a break
Taking a break after your first job abroad is different from leaving after 5 years of staying in your host country. In fact, taking a break during your first year abroad is not advisable. It would not occur to anyone to take a break during their first year of living and working in their host country (some contracts do not allow it). Similarly, taking a break during your first year abroad is like breaking it. The consequences can be severe because the position is still fragile: an expatriate with much theoretical knowledge but little practical knowledge and even less experience and network.
What does the host country's culture say about taking a career break? Is it common practice or not? Abroad, all these questions become even more important. An expat's position is sometimes more precarious. The adaptation period is often longer, as is the time for building mutual trust. Therefore, the chances of taking a break (or not) should be carefully considered and discussed in advance with trusted people, whether from the company or not, before approaching your hierarchy. How will the return be organized? Will the company be inclined to reinstate a foreigner who has been on a break for months instead of training? What image will we give to our superiors? In any case, it is better to wait until you have completed at least a year abroad before considering a break.
Are career breaks meant for anyone?
Obviously, not everyone can afford to take a career break abroad. Such leaves are, above all, trendy among highly skilled and qualified workers. After the era of personal development (which boomed during the pandemic), it is now time for self-care. Soft skills are definitely on the rise, to the point where recruiters are specifically looking for those expats who have dared to take a career break. For these recruiters, it is a sign of greater maturity and openness. Countries are specifically looking for these highly educated individuals. The race to attract international talent has never been so tight.
However, such breaks are a luxury for highly qualified professionals. They usually work in large companies or startups in well-paid positions sought after by major powers. Most of them work in banking, finance, human resources, consulting, information and communication technology, etc., and for them, a career break can be an asset. But others cannot even afford to consider it, simply because their jobs do not allow it. For example, it is difficult to take a break while working in a small company, a factory, or a bakery. The whole work organization would have to be reviewed to allow one person to take an extended leave. This situation can be difficult for both the person who is temporarily leaving and those who are staying.
Taking a break in your career when working abroad
Can you take a career break while working abroad? In principle, yes, but in practice, opinions still differ.
It's a No
Those who say no appeal to memory. People willing to take a professional break must remember everything they invested in moving to their host country. From the choice of country to intercultural training, learning the language, and administrative procedures, it has been an investment in terms of time and money for a purpose. Was this goal achieved? Was working abroad the expatriate's only objective? Those who say "no" will remind you that working abroad is the first step to much bigger goals (getting promoted, setting up your own business, etc.). Therefore, it would be best to ask yourself the right questions: What is your current situation? How long have you been in your current job? Are you happy with your job? Do you live alone or with your family? Do you have friends? If you leave, will you have a sufficient budget? For how long? Will you be entitled to unemployment benefits, and for how long?
Is taking a professional break as an expat the sign of a problem?
Those who argue against taking a break see it as a sign that something is wrong. They believe that taking a break is a form of escapism and that running away from problems will not solve them. If something is wrong at work, the issue needs to be identified and addressed. Taking a break is not the answer.
Even when things are going well, excessive optimism can be dangerous. Some people are confident that they will be able to return to their old job or find a new one. They have a sought-after profession and may even consider moving abroad again for new adventures. However, the months spent doing something other than working are the same months another expatriate talent invests in developing their skills. An expat with an adventurous soul may return with a head full of new emotions but with outdated technical skills. This is especially true in fields where standards and technology are evolving rapidly, such as IT, robotics, healthcare, etc.
Those considering a break, often traumatized by repeated crises, understand they do not have the luxury of retirement. They want to enjoy their youth with professional goals, as well as holidays and moments of relaxation. Why not? But taking breaks can be risky, especially if it becomes a way of life. In this case, it is better to think about organizing your work abroad. It may be time to leave the labor market and start a business. However, it is crucial to choose the right sector, as time maybe even shorter than before.
It's a Yes
"Yes" supporters believe that not everything can be monetized. "Time lost is time gained", and time passes whether we are active or not. The human being is not a machine. We don't have to make every second count. Let's take the example of parental leave. Will we ban parents from taking it because they might lose competence? We understand that parents need time off to bring up their children, even though fathers still have a long way to go. We should also understand that an employee, be it an expat or a local, can take a break from work.
There's one thing that both 'yes' and 'no' campaigners agree on: you shouldn't take a break just because you don't like your job. If something goes wrong, you must ask yourself what isn't working and find a solution. A temporary break runs the risk of being an involuntary pause. Instead of resting, the expatriate will be stressed about returning to the company.
A positive break for a positive outcome
On the contrary, the career break should be a positive experience for an expat. You will be resting with a mission accomplished and having prepared the conditions for the break with your management. A career break is a time to reflect and adapt to new situations. You take the time to travel around the host country, improve your language skills, learn dialects, cook, play sports, socialize, etc. So it's not a question of 100% idleness, even professionally. Being away from the company doesn't mean being disconnected from it. On the contrary, the break is a moment of perspective and reflection. You'll have a better perspective on what you need to work on. You can use the break to train, specialize in a field, study different ways of doing things, set a new pace for your career, network, and attend seminars.
But be careful: it's not about filling your break with "work-like" activities. You can't replace 40 hours of work with 40 hours of training/networking/sports. Advocates of 'yes' recommend being more in tune with your real needs. Walking is not a waste of time. We must not demonize the break but see its benefits. However, the "yes" campaigners are not naive and remind us that such an undertaking is only possible if we have the financial means. Hence their emphasis on the importance of proper planning.
How to explain a career break as an expat?
Opinions vary on this subject. Some think it's better to be honest and explain the "gap" in your CV, while others think the employer doesn't need to know all the details of your life. It's important to fit the gap into a story that explains your career path. The employer shouldn't perceive the expat as a dreamer, a naive person, or someone who can't be relied upon.
Whatever decision is made, it's important to be clear with yourself first in order to be clear with others. It's also important to remember that going away will change your life, and so will the situation when you return: colleagues will have moved on, and life in the company may not be the same (if you stay with the same company). Taking a few weeks off doesn't have the same impact as taking several months off. That's why asking the right questions is essential to consider your options properly. Taking a career break while working abroad is possible as long as you are well-prepared.
