Planning your career break

Who takes career breaks?

• Everyone's situation is different
• Typical career breaker is female, late 20s, in a professional/managerial job and single
• More people from IT/telecoms industry than any other

Your job

Career break is so accepted now it's unlikely to damage your career.

Options:

• Paid sabbatical
• Unpaid sabbatical (half of career breakers want this)
• Leave (one third of career breakers plan to do this)
• Use holiday time

Unpaid sabbatical

• Many big companies now have sabbaticals as part of their employment package - they help to attract and retain staff
• Usually you have to have worked there for 2 years' minimum
• You usually come back to the same level of job and salary that you had when you left
• Get your terms in writing

If there's no sabbatical programme at your company:

• Put the business case to your employer - show them what they'll get out of your career break (eg you can gain new skills you can't get in your current job)
• Recruitment is expensive - point out that it will be cheaper to let you go than to hire someone new (especially if you have built up relationships with clients, suppliers and other staff)

Leave

If you leave your job, think about how you're going to get a new one before you leave for your break.

• Stay on good terms with employers
• Must spend your break constructively
• Think about what your industry is doing and what they're looking for
• Try to come back when your industry is hiring
• Start looking for a new job before you come back - email your CV to a few people reminding them you will soon be available again.
• Your career break will stand out on your CV so ensure you promote it - include what you've learned and developed.

Organising

• Can be overwhelming
• Write down all you need and sort it out month by month, then week by week (The Career Break Site has timelines and lists to help in the planning section)
• Depending on what you're doing, takes 3 months to a year to plan
• You have to do things in a certain order, eg finalise your ticket before getting your jabs.

Money

• Biggest concern of career breakers:
  • Not having enough money to do it
  • Not earning money while on break
  • Trouble finding a new job
• To save - have separate bank account
• Remind yourself why you're doing it
• Give up luxuries, switch energy suppliers and see if you can get better mortgage and investment deals (see talk notes from Career breaks and money for more info).
• Plus side - a career break can be a good excuse for simplifying your financial situation and sorting out your pension
• Sort out your money BEFORE you leave your job - you'll be in a much better position
• Focus on low-risk - both in terms of savings and how you manage your money away: eg, you can pay into your credit card account in advance, let your bank know where you're going, take a mix of money (cash, travellers' cheques, cards), use telephone banking rather than online
• Financial advisor might be helpful but get facts, rather than opinions, even from an independent one. Shop around.
• Reclaim anything and everything you're entitled to -- and make sure it goes into your account! Eg:
  • Council tax
  • Security bond (if you rent)
  • Subscriptions
  • TV licence
  • Water bill
  • Money you lent someone
• Income tax rebate can usually wait until you get back
• Direct debit can take care of lots of things but remember to keep enough money in your account!

Car

• Sell - take to several dealers to get a good price
• Lend - to someone you trust. Leave documents, and get them insured on your car.
• Store - not recommended
• Professional storage
• £65 pcm (outside uncared for)
• Decent car storage - £15 per week
• Basic maintenance (eg driving) and extras - from £4 per week each
• Tell insurance company
• Declare SORN (off road) - garage can do for you

House

Renters

• Check agreement for notice period
• Ensure your deposit is returned - if you have any doubts, take photos of the house before you leave to prove you didn't break anything

Home-owners

• Sell
  • Leave enough time - may take longer than expected
  • Depending on where you live - takes 6 months to a year to complete sale
  • Best to stay in the country until contracts exchanged
  • If having trouble selling, cut price, sell or leave empty
• Rent out
  • Professional letting agency - easier than doing it yourself
  • Shop around for decent agent. Possible admin fee (£75) plus 10-20% of rent - but saves hassle
  • Need gas certificate (around £50)
  • Health & safety requirements (agency can advise) eg smoke alarm, banister
  • Switch to interest-only mortgage
  • Tell insurance company. Check terms for tenants - what's buildings and what's contents.
• Leave it empty
  • Need friend or neighbour to check, water plants, mow lawn, pick up post
  • Easier to do in summer - in winter you must have heating on
  • You must tell your insurance company - premiums will go up and may have to find new insurer
• Get professional house-sitter
  • Very expensive
  • Only suitable for short term, but good if you have lots of pets/Ming vases etc
  • Around £30 a day - ask if there are extra charges (eg for more pets, some charge a premium over Christmas)
• Get friend to housesit or rent
  • Can be easier but you still need contract
  • Also, discuss and consider what will happen if things go wrong - eg if they break your antique clock or your cat
  • Sometimes can damage friendships

Putting things in storage

• Costs from £25 pcm for 1 cubic metre
• Check
  • 24-hour access?
  • Security? Eg CCTV, if anyone else has access to your storage area
  • Compulsory insurance? How much? Many don't mention storage is 'at your own risk'
  • Have a look around - is it cold or damp?

Pets

• Lend to a friend
• More difficult with older pet or exotic
• Most animals adapt OK
• Possible to get your pet fostered - ask vet
• Possible to sell if it's valuable eg pedigree
• Give it away if not attached to it (not to a shelter)

Staying in touch

• Global sim card or international mobile (cheaper than your own)
  • Unlock phone (up to £35 for your network provider to do it, but they have to if you ask. About £15 over internet but make sure company is reputable.)
  • 0044, ekit, GoSim do global sims
  • Must check that phone will work in other countries - call provider or check manual - especially if you're going to North America
  • ekit do international mobiles too - good if yours won't work abroad
• Phonecard to use anywhere eg card4anywhere - also can get them for just one country
• Blog - use a normal blog (eg Blogger) for just one country, traveller blog if more going around (eg roughguidesintouch.com) - they include maps and itineraries, and allow you to post photos
• Email account (internet security) eg Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail (make sure you log out properly when using internet cafes)
• Poste Restante - people can send things to the post office where you're going to be, and they'll hold it until you pick it up. Especially nice for Christmas and birthdays, or if you run out of stuff.
• Addresses (print on labels if you like)
• Diary, for birthdays back home.

Organising - bits and pieces

• Memorise your passport number and write down all vital bits of info (eg insurance number PLUS claim line phone number) on two bits of paper. One goes in your luggage and the other in your wallet. Don't include identifying info.
• Insurance is absolutely vital.
  • Make sure it has huge or unlimited medical expenses if you're going to the US
  • Check cover for winter sports, diving etc
  • Extending your policy - usually OK to extend your current policy while abroad
• One card cancellation phone number, eg Sentinel - you set this up so you only need to call one phone number to cancel all credit/debit cards. Your bank should offer this from around £20-£30 a year. Usually also includes a cash loan in emergency.
• Sign up for Foreign & Commonwealth Office alerts for up-to-date visa information and also if anywhere becomes dangerous to visit (your insurance may not cover you if you visit somewhere the FCO advises against).
• Cancel subscriptions to magazines, DVDs, etc. Milk if anyone still uses milkmen!
• Remember to leave enough time to say goodbye to people, and to get all their addresses! Have a going-away party (preferably in someone else's house).

Coming back

If you plan properly before you go away, coming back will be a lot easier, and you won't spend hours in your parents' garage with your head in a box shouting 'but I can't find my grater'

Practical issues

• Sort out any outstanding financial issues (eg your income tax refund which you can do after you return)
• After a couple of days' rest, start job-hunting if you need to, as it'll ease the financial strain
• Revise your CV to include your positive achievements. Use your new skills and make the most of your new-found confidence.
• Look for a new home as soon as you can, so you can get settled

It can feel strange coming back, especially if you have no place to go right away. Try to return in time for something special, like Christmas, if you can.

Remember

What you're doing this for. Yes, it's a bit of a drag, but once you're out there with nothing to worry about except where the nearest toilet and/or beer is, you'll be glad you put the effort in.