The Power of Sabbaticals: A Professional Catapult

I’ve been on my self designed sabbatical for over 5 months, now. While I’m making the most of it and loving every bit, I want to acknowledge that job hunting can be incredibly time consuming and a full time job in itself.?

I faced quite some external resistance and judgment at my decision to take a sabbatical. From-- "Is it really wise to leave a job in hand when the job market is tough?" to "What about your income stream and savings?"?

I am here to say -- yes, it is wise to pause, when you need it the most!

Taking a pause in life is like the powerful act of pulling back a bowstring before an arrow is released.

A sabbatical is like pulling back a bowstring. There's potential energy, focus, and aim in this act before launching the arrow into the bullseye. Similarly, an intentional pause involves introspection, amasses vigor, and finds direction to purposefully launch into what comes next. It can catapult your career to the next stage!

I hadn't been in the job market in a while, and I had almost forgotten how demanding job hunts can be. But throughout my sabbatical I had a plan, a keen sense of faith and the belief in self to not settle.?

Here are three things I did on my mini sabbatical that helped me explore my professional pathway and make the most of my time professionally.?

1. Seeked guidance from experts! I spoke with 50 people (yes, 50!) in my @LinkedIn network whose work most inspired me or who knew me best in professional contexts. I started by asking them big questions I was seeking clarity on– should I do a Phd, work with a multi-lateral or optimize my earning potential by switching sectors? You can learn so much from people's stories and their drivers for decision making. Connecting and reconnecting with people through conversations helped me amass so much second hand wisdom that shaped my decision making. Ultimately though, the decision of the next step fundamentally comes down to you. But you are so much wiser by the end of this exercise. I am so grateful to the 50 individuals who gave me a slice of their valuable time and perspective.??
2. I upskilled myself: I am a lifelong learner and the thing that energizes me the most is learning, formally and informally. During my Sabbatical, the best investment I made was getting myself a LinkedIn Premium account. I took more than 10 LinkedIn Learning certification courses which made me brush up and gain depth of knowledge on a range of topics. The content really helped me in my job interviews as well. Additionally, I completed my 200 hour Yoga teacher training, logged more scuba dives and took online courses to learn digital illustration to be able to illustrate my own children’s book. It was the most invigorating break ever that also helped me build a diverse career portfolio I can lean on at any point in time.?
3. I curated my LinkedIn feed to follow the influencers in areas I’d like to grow in. Here are 3 influencers I followed who gave me strength and great advice during my job hunt through their posts.Basant Shenouda's posts are a ray of positivity and inspiration when the job application process looks dreary. Jasmine Escalera-- A totally relatable latina whose pep talks (& podcasts) help you better navigate the job search as a woman of color. Nii Ato Bentsi-Enchill takes a holistic approach to career with a focus on storytelling.

By the end of the Sabbatical exploration, I landed a role I am thrilled to work with and is deeply aligned with my values. Shout out to the 50 people who shaped my journey. I have come to believe more than ever before -- "People are people because of other people!"