returning to work after a ten month career break

🌻 My story:

Like many others, I have always followed the conventional path as determined by the society. I went through the academic rat race in Singapore, graduated from university and pursued a traditionally well-regarded job in the finance industry. While I performed well at work, I found myself constantly questioning if my work truly sparked joy and if I could see myself continuing this line of work in the next decade. I have always just moved on with the daily grind as I was so overloaded with work that I could not make time for myself.

So what changed?

I went to another company while remaining in a similar role. These questions intensified as I was in a toxic work environment and my mental health deteriorated and went downhill from there. Honestly, I was in denial about my growing anxiety issues initially as I deemed myself “strong”. It took a long time for me to admit that I was not happy with my way of life after many sessions with a therapist. At one point, I felt like I was in the matrix and simply moving forward with my life that someone else has set for me - but who was I to kid? I made my own bed while trying to fit in. For most of my life, I was a headless fish swimming in the ocean, trying her best to keep up with the others but never knew where she was headed.

I knew I needed to recalibrate.

It was not easy to quit without a plan - not with the fear of uncertainty and unknown keeping me from stepping forward. And especially not in Singapore where everyone is climbing the corporate ladder. But I knew that staying status quo will not do me any good long term. I convinced myself that 6-12 month career break is not even 2% of our work life span and I needed the time to decide on my future path.

And so I hit the pause button after 5 years into the work force.

🌻 Where am I now?

I have rejoined the workforce after a ten month break. I was able to better sort out my direction during the time off and am at (more) peace with myself now. I asked questions during interviews to spot potential red flags and ensured that my work style is aligned with the hiring manager’s.

🌻 My advice if you’re considering a career break:

I believe that there are many people like me - we believe in following the conventional path, we believe settling down by the age of thirty, and believe that companies will regard candidates whom have a gap in their resume as unstable. But I think that Covid exacerbated the process of self-reflection and made many people realise that there is value outside of work, so career breaks are much more common now. Based on my own experiences interviewing with companies, career gaps seem to be acceptable to hiring managers, HRs and recruiters as long as you can clearly articulate the (processed & corporate acceptable) reasons why you left.

🌻 Bottom line before taking a career break:

1. Make sure that you set a goal for yourself and know what you want out of the career break. If not, it will be a vicious cycle and all these things will keep repeating until you solve the root problem.

2. Be financially responsible and make sure you have enough savings to support your lifestyle. Set a time frame of your career break and be prepared that it could take longer than planned.

3. Trust the process. There may be times you look at your peers and doubt and regret your decision. But trust that you are in a better position to see clearly now than before.

🌻🌻🌻

I recently came across a children’s book talking about a Penguin Who Wanted to Fly. It was only until the Penguin was pushed into the sea that it dawned on him that swimming is very much like flying. Much like the Penguin whom envied birds that could fly, many of us probably also have also looked at individuals deemed successful by society and wished that we can have the same success. So we pushed ourselves, try and try and try. The fact is that the definition of flying (or success) is inherently different to everyone. We don’t need to follow the same conventional path as others and become what others call successful. It is ok to find our wings and fly freely in our own world.