Should You Accept a Lower-Level Job After a Career Break?

The question as to whether you should take a lower-level role after taking a career break is vexing one; and one on which many people disagree. On the one hand, you know your skills and capabilities. You were at the top of your game before you left and you were on the way up.

On the other hand, you’ve been out of the workplace for a few years and are a little out of touch with the latest developments in your field. Any employer receiving your CV is going to see this and may be concerned that you are over-qualified if you take a lower-level job. This may suggest that you’ll be bored and not stay long, or worse, that you’ll be angling for the recruiter’s job!

So what’s the answer?

The answer here is to treat yourself in the same way that you would any other person applying for a role with you and assess the situation critically and objectively. First of all, how long was your career break? Six months is very different from six years. Are you going back to the same company or starting afresh? If it’s the same company, do they have some sort of returners programme? Were you studying or looking after family members?

Length of break

In the sales world, for example, it might be easy to catch up after a short break, but might take longer if, for example, you work at the cutting-edge of medical AI or clinical research. Only you can decide how much catching up you will need to do in your specific discipline.

Try to work this out before you start looking for another role. You will be far more impressive if you can tell potential employers in which areas you are up-to-date and the reasons that you haven’t remained so in others. It might be, for example, that there are security reasons that precluded you from keeping up with developments in your chosen field. Be honest with a prospective employer as to what you have and haven’t done during your break and how you believe you can get back up to speed.

Reason for the break

If you were undertaking work-related study, you are less likely to need to worry about going to a lower-level role; it’s likely to be seen as something positive. If you took a career break for other reasons, be honest about them. Many of us take time out to raise children or care for other relatives during the course of a career. In fact, many hiring managers will regard this as commendable; we all want to think that we have someone who’d look out for us in our hour of need.

If you took time out to go travelling, that’s fine too. Whatever the reason, find something positive that you’ve learned from it that will be an advantage to your new employer. For example, rather than making your two-year world tour sound like a hedonistic experience, highlight the educational aspects and how it has improved your understanding of different cultures and so forth.

Same company

If you are returning to the same company, you will need to show them that you can hit the ground running as they will normally expect you to go back to the same role. It’s always a good idea to get back in touch with your employer a few months before you return, if you can, to start catching up with what’s been going on. If you don’t think you will be a good fit for your old role, tell them early and ask them to help you put plans in place. One positive gesture might be to offer to take a reduction in pay while you do this.

Returners programme

Most companies will have some sort of returners programme, even if it’s just a repeat of the induction training you had when you joined. Embrace it wholeheartedly; you can give feedback and ways to improve it when you have re-established yourself.

Finally

People in your old company will remember you as you were, so re-connect with those who liked you / respected you as soon as you can. Find out who the current influencers are and get them on-side as soon as you can.