Be A Quitter - And Become More Marketable

(Tuesday, August 09, 2005) - According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, more executives are leaving their jobs to unwind and explore new opportunities for a year or two. Feeling the effects of burn-out, executives with over 25 years of experience are taking a break from their careers and focusing on hobbies and interests such as travel, that they never had time for. According to Peter Handal, President and CEO of Dale Carnegie Training, "Taking a leave from your job mid-career can be a positive move for many reasons. It may help you relax and recover from burn-out and give you time to identify your passions and interests."

A generation ago, few people voluntarily quit a job midway through their career, no matter how unhappy they were. They made sure to secure a new job before leaving the prior one. The belief was if you were out of a work, even by choice, prospective employees considered you damaged goods.

Today, it's become more common --and acceptable-- for executives to take some time off faced with burnout and corporate restructuring around each turn. Employees now are leaving the race for a few months or longer without knowing where they will run to next or when they will jump back in.

But, an extended break is a gamble that can backfire without careful planning, warns Handal. "You need to do an honest assessment of your financial position before making such a career changing move. " He offers the following additional advice on determining whether it is the right time in your career to take a break and how to successfully get back into the workforce after your leave:

Determine job satisfaction in your current position. If you are unsure of your career path or if you are too consumed by your current position to explore new opportunities, it may be a good time to take a break to do a thorough job search.

Have a plan. Make sure you have a plan in place before you leap. Know how you'll help pay the bills, such as project work or consulting. Along with leisure time activities, make sure you take time to network and career search.

Job experience. Executives with 25 years of stellar experience will have an easier time of reentering the workforce after a break since they have many contacts and credibility. Assess your skill level and experience when deciding when to take a break.

Continue to Network. It's important not to lose touch with contacts you've made throughout your career; you'll need when you decide to reenter the work force. Over the course of your hiatus, network and talk to people about their jobs to figure out what kinds of jobs you might find more satisfying.



About Dale Carnegie Training
Dale Carnegie Training (www.dalecarnegie.com) is a global management training company with experts in corporate management, workplace issues and leadership trends. The company provides leadership, sales and management training to over 400 of the Fortune 500 companies, training over 7 million adults worldwide.

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