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At some point most of us hit a
wall in our careers. We wonder if there is more to life than spreadsheets, rubber-chicken
dinners and corporate tap dancing. The daydream of early
retirement quickly goes bust when you wake up to the reality: That's not an
option for most early and midcareer professionals.
But there is hope. You may be able to take a sabbatical from the everyday grind, which may be just enough to recharge your batteries.
Professionals across the board are taking a breather to do an array of interesting things. Sabbaticals can take the form of a structured program in your field, such as a fellowship, or a personal long- or short-term leave from your job to pursue a specific goal. Since most sabbatical leave is unpaid by employers, starting on solid financial ground is key.
Learn company policies
Start by investigating your company's leave-of-absence policies. Some companies, particularly in the law, media, education and nonprofit industries, have personal development components that allow for a leave after working for a certain length of time with the company. By knowing your company's policy, you can determine how long you can take a leave and under which circumstances.
It can't hurt to try to negotiate for your employer to cover some benefits during your leave. Often health insurance, 401(k) plans and salary are postponed during personal leave.
Do your research
Next comes the fun part: plotting your course. The Web has endless
information about various fellowships and programs to fit any interest
or profession. Look for programs that fit into the time frame of
your planned leave of absence and jive with your finances. There
are a number of programs that will pay a stipend or salary to cover
housing and other living expenses.
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