In a world that celebrates constant motion, a career pause can feel more like a career disruption. Career pauses happen for many reasons—caregiving, parenthood, burnout, health issues, relocation, or personal loss. At certain times, this pause is something that we choose: At other times, it’s chosen for us due to unforeseen circumstances. In either case, deciding to pursue a career pause is rarely simple or straightforward—and it comes with much thought (Akkermans et al., 2024).
Throughout this article, I use the term career pause intentionally: You often hear the phrase career break, but let’s be real: Caring for a baby, battling health issues, or recovering from burnout is not a “break.” Rather, your career is on pause so you can give your time and energy to another pressing priority. Sometimes, that priority is finally choosing to focus on you.
Along with that decision may come judgment by others—and, sometimes, even our own internal judgment—about what it means to step away. Yet, the reality is this: Career pauses are common. They’re a natural part of many professionals’ journeys.
In a LinkedIn study of 30,000 employees, 62% said that they had taken a career pause at some point in their professional lives (LinkedIn Talent Solutions, 2022). Returning to work after time away can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be a setback. It can be a chance to realign, refocus, and return wiser than before.
A career pause can become a powerful classroom—a time to learn new things about yourself, determine what you truly want (and don’t want), and recalibrate your priorities. Research shows that structured time away from work can improve decision making, increase innovation, and boost career satisfaction (DiDonna, 2025).
In 2019, I faced an unexpected career pause due to health issues. During and after that experience, I gained some insights on the benefits of this unexpected, unplanned-for pause. I was diagnosed with severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a debilitating pregnancy condition that left me on a feeding tube, fighting for not only my life but my daughter’s, too. My daughter survived, and so did I, but it was a tough season: As I navigated my healing journey while simultaneously adjusting to my role as a new mom, I ended up being out of the workforce for more than 2 years.
As brutal as that experience was, at times, it taught me incredibly valuable lessons. For example, I learned that most of us live in a world of dualities. You can be sad and grateful, uncertain and committed, exhausted and hopeful. Two things can be true at the same time. I also learned that asking for help is not weakness, it’s actually one of the most courageous things you can do. Letting people see you when you’re not “strong” is strength. As evidence by my own experience, career pauses can reveal strengths that you never knew you had—and can reshape the ways in which you lead, think, and live.
Here are a few insights that often emerge from a career pause that can add value when reentering the workforce.
These insights and lessons learned will make you a valuable leader and an asset to any team when you return to work.
After a career pause, many professionals find themselves asking, “Who am I now?” or “What is my current professional identity?”
The reality is that you might not be the same version of yourself that you were before your career pause—and that’s not a bad thing. You’ve experienced different things, seen different sides of life, and are bringing those experiences to your professional identity now. Just like a computer updates its software, you’re allowed to upgrade your own “internal software.” Career pauses can reveal and open the door to new possibilities. Our identity isn’t just who we were or who we are now—it’s who we’re becoming as well (Bak et al., 2015). After a career pause, the vision you had for your career might change. You get to write your own story—one that blends what you’ve learned with what matters most to you now.
If you’re in this phase right now, ask yourself:
Many professionals reentering the workforce after a career pause experience a drop in confidence, feelings of imposter syndrome, or a fear of being “behind” (Schindelheim, 2023). It’s common to worry about skill gaps or to question whether you still belong in your field. Give yourself grace, patience, and plenty of self-compassion. Studies actually show that more than half of professionals say they are better at their jobs after leaving the workplace, and 69% say that their pause gave them perspective and helped them figure out what they wanted from life (LinkedIn Corporate Communications, 2022).
Rebuilding confidence doesn’t happen overnight: It comes from small, intentional actions. It comes from allowing yourself to start where you are with no judgement—and from giving yourself the same kindness you’d offer a friend. For high-achieving, high-functioning professionals, this can feel especially challenging.
As you’re considering your transition back into the workplace, and what that will look like, break it down into small, manageable steps:
Here are a few ways to begin rebuilding your confidence after a career pause:
Returning to the workforce after a career pause doesn’t have to be about picking up where you left off—you can move forward on an entirely new path using everything that you’ve gained along the way.
Although career pauses can feel scary and sometimes filled with unknowns, they also offer something unique—a beautiful opportunity to redefine who you are, reset your priorities, and maybe even explore parts of yourself that you never had space for until now. Career pauses are not detours—in fact, they can actually be professional accelerators (Ruch, 2025).
Nothing in life is static—including who you are. As Dr. Susan David states in her book, Emotional Agility (2016), “Transitions are not just periods of change—they’re invitations to grow.”
You’ve got this! And we’re cheering you on every step of the way.
Akkermans, J., da Motta Veiga, S. P., Hirschi, A., & Marciniak, J. (2024). Career transitions across the lifespan: A review and research agenda. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 148, Article 103957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2023.103957
Bak, W. (2015). Possible selves: Implications for psychotherapy. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 13(5), 650–658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9553-2
David, S. (2016). Emotional agility: Get unstuck, embrace change, and thrive in work and life. Avery, Penguin Random House. https://www.susandavid.com/book/
LinkedIn Corporate Communications. (2022, March 1). A new way to represent career breaks on LinkedIn. https://news.linkedin.com/2022/march/new-way-to-represent-career-breaks-on-linkedin
LinkedIn Talent Solutions. (2022, March 1). LinkedIn members can now spotlight career breaks on their profiles. https://www.linkedin.com/business/talent/blog/product-tips/linkedin-members-spotlight-career-breaks-on-profiles
Ruch, N. (2025). The power pause: How to plan a career break after kids—and come back stronger than ever. Putnam, Penguin Random House. https://www.thepowerpause.com/thepowerpause
Schindelheim, R. (2023, June 15). Employers are seeking out professionals returning to work after a career break. WorkingNation. https://workingnation.com/employers-are-seeking-out-professionals-returning-to-work-after-a-career-break/
Scott, E. (2023, March 3). Women face greater risk of ‘career gap stigma’, says study. Stylist. https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/careers/women-career-gap-stigma-study/767138
DiDonna, D. J. (2025, February 4). The case for sabbaticals—and how to take a successful one. Harvard Business Review [The Big Idea digital series]. https://hbr.org/2025/02/the-case-for-sabbaticals-and-how-to-take-a-successful-one
Kari Dermer, AuD, CPC, is a certified career and leadership coach and co-owner of dB Coaching Group—where she supports audiologists and speech-language pathologists in building meaningful careers without sacrificing their well-being. She brings more than 15 years of experience in leadership, mentorship, and coaching to the communication sciences and disorders community.