FOR 30 year-old James Koh, going on a sabbatical last December was an easy decision. The former investment banker at a foreign financial institution had collapsed at a carpark one evening after work.
'One moment I was walking to my car, the next I woke up in hospital,' said the avid runner who represented his junior college in track and field events.
'The doctor told me it was exhaustion but I knew what it really was - I was just burnt out.'
Working 10 to 12 hour days since he joined the bank four years earlier finally took its toil on Mr Koh that night in the carpark. But he said it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
'I quit my job to the surprise of my family, friends and colleagues, but guess what, I actually got to spend Christmas, Chinese New Year and Easter with my family and friends.'
It was not all just a sunny holiday. After a two-week break in Bali, he came back, refreshed and decided that he still wanted to work in banking.
'I missed the buzz of banking but felt a switch to consumer banking would give me a chance to interact with more people,' he said.
The banking and finance graduate then embarked on a self-study course to complete his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification.
'I just got the results for my CFA Level I exams and I passed, something I can safely say would not have happened if I had studied for it when I was still working full-time,' he said.
The break was his chance to not only recharge physically, but also for him to attain an additional qualification to bump up his employability.
That, however, was something that Mrs Belinda Chew, 31, never considered.
'The birth of my daughter changed my perspective in life at the time,' said the public relations associate.
'And after a discussion with my husband, I decided to become a full-time mother,' she added. 'But in just one year, I was itching to get back to work again. However, to my surprise, it was not as easy as I thought.'
On her return to work, she realised that she had lost touch with her work contacts and had fallen behind in terms of industry developments.
'That was certainly not an ideal situation,' she added. 'In fact, it was rather embarrassing, especially since my boss actually gave me my old position back,' she added.
Mrs Chew, however, was lucky to get her job back - while Mr Aldrin Khoo, 39, is still searching.
'The plan was simple: Take six months, explore the Americas and then come back to work when I am done,' said Mr Khoo who had worked as an industrial designer.
'My sabbatical has since been extended by another six months - I don't know how long I can go on, especially since I have already spent most of my savings on my trip,' he added.
His difficulty was made even more challenging because he wanted to make a career switch from design to photography.
His lack of qualifications and formal experience in the field, coupled with his unwillingness to take a big pay cut from his previous job, did not help either.
Mr Dexter Li, 33, faced a similar problem - the former trader wanted to become a private banker after realising that a career on the trading floor was not for him.
He took a one-year break and returned to university to finish his degree in business management - something he had put on hold for two years.
'It was unfinished business in a way so I went back and got my degree,' he said. 'I also thought that with my experience as a trader, I should not have any difficulties getting a job in banking.'
But Mr Li said that since graduating in July this year, he has turned down entry-level banking positions because he did not want to start at 'the bottom'.
'It was hard to stomach the fact that I had to start from scratch and compete with fresh graduates,' he said.
According to Mr Colin Lim, editor of JobsCentral, an online resource for jobseekers, expectations of jobseekers who are returning to the workforce after a lengthy break must be managed - especially in the current economic climate.
'If you're going back to the same company, a pay cut may be less acceptable - no matter what, your experience on the job should work for you,' he said.
'But if you're changing industries, or if you're entering one that you don't have much experience in, then you should be prepared for a pay cut.'
Mr Lim, however, said that sabbaticals or breaks from work are not always frowned upon by employers.
'It can be viewed as a good thing,' he said. 'For example, if you went away for further education, employers might view that as a positive step on the part of the candidate.'
What about women who are concerned about losing out after taking an extended break to care for their newborns? Mr Lim said the 'situation is getting better'. Citing the recent extension of maternity leave as one important factor, he said the Government has implemented changes that promise to improve the working environment here.
'Bearing in mind the Government's recent efforts to create a more conducive working environment, employers here must recognise that jobseekers have commitments outside of their jobs as well,' he added.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on October 06, 2008.
