3 of the Greatest Fears of a Sabbatical

And Why You Should Ignore Them

“Are you serious?”

“Eight months off work?!”

“Can you go back to your job afterwards?”

These are some of the comments I heard when I began telling people I was going to take a sabbatical from my position as Vice President of IT in a Cyber Security Startup.

Some people were shocked, and even my supportive colleagues were not completely sure how it would work. 

I’ve identified three common fears that keep people even from thinking about taking a sabbatical, let alone planning for one.

Fear #1: “If I’m Not Moving Up, I’m on the Way Out”

The first fear I’ve observed comes from the idea that if a person is not seeking their next opportunity or preparing for their next role, something is wrong with their career. Your career is either moving forward or not successful; that’s the conventional thinking here.  

The truth is in the fast-paced world of high-tech startups and hyper-growth companies, sabbaticals can be a game changer. They provide an opportunity for rest, recovery and reflection that is essential to continue improving. Time away allows us to digest all that has happened and allow our experiences to become wisdom. This time also allows for the physical, mental and emotional healing we all need from an intense career.

Fear #2: “If I leave my job, there won’t be another job or opportunity when I return!”

The second fear people fall into is the belief there won’t be a job or opportunity when they return. They’ll get back from their sabbatical and find themselves unemployed for an uncomfortably long period of time. Again, this is not true. 

Recruiters I spoke to have said sabbaticals in tech are very common and are not an impediment to getting a job afterwards. The demand for people with relevant technical skill sets is very high and with a detailed plan, you'll have ample time to start up conversations and find your next opportunity when it is time.

Fear #3: “If I take off a few months, my skills won’t be sharp!”

The third fear arises from the idea that time away from the work force causes your skills to diminish. If you’re not constantly working, this thinking goes, you’ll lose your edge. Again, not true.

In six to twelve months you can’t lose your knowledge, skills and abilities that make you a solid employee. Also, a sabbatical is a perfect time to re-tool and discover new technologies you would not have in a job. Make it a part of your plan to learn some new skills. A sabbatical is time to sharpen your edge and come back stronger than before.

Don’t let false expectations prevent you from doing something that can make a huge positive difference in your career. Start planning when you should take your sabbatical today. Next week I will share three steps I used to plan my sabbatical, and you can too.

About Me

 I am an experienced IT Executive presently on a sabbatical to spend time and help my family. At this point I am two months into it and the journey while not easy has been rewarding.  During this time away I am writing a book on career networking in tech and starting a blog on career mentorship. Send me a PM if you want to join the journey.