Career Break: should you hide it or not?

Bonjour!

I hope you are all having a great weekend wherever you are in the world🌍!

Did you know that LinkedIn added the “Career Break” feature in March 2022?
It’s a way to mark your time away from work (certainly strongly influenced post Covid…) whether for maternity, study or relocation, so you can frame it confidently, highlight what you learned, and leave gaps feeling normal instead of.. awkward or suspicious . Nowadays, gaps no longer carry stigma… as long as you can confidently own your story.

If you were to remember only one thing from this email, it’s just this: The break is NOT the problem, but how you talk about can be.

1-Keep it short and calm

When it comes up - in an interview, on a call, at a networking event - just say it plainly and move on. No big build-up, no apologetic tone, no obvious nervous energy. The way you deliver it sets the tone for how people receive it.

Try something like: "After my company restructured, I took some time to step back and get clear on my next move." That's ENOUGH. When you act like it's no big deal, people treat it like no big deal. The moment you tense up, you will see them being suspicious.

2-Don't over-explain.

This is where I know most people get confused: they think more context = more credibility. It doesn't, that’s the opposite: It just makes you sound like you're trying to convince someone, and that raises even more questions than it answers.

❌ Don't say: "So basically the company was going through a lot of changes and honestly the culture wasn't so great, and I had some personal stuff going on too, and the market was really tough so I figured..."

✅ Do say: "I used that time to reassess what I wanted and get focused on moving into X."

One sounds grounded. The other sounds like you're still processing it. Know the difference.

3-Don't go silent either.

A blank gap on your CV doesn't make people forget about it, it makes them fill it in themselves. And people's imaginations are rarely kind.

Just name it simply: Career Break | 2024–2025 : relocation / parental leave / certification . You don't need to write an essay. A clear, short label tells people you're self-aware and in control of your own story, which is exactly the energy you want to bring.

A career break only becomes a problem when you treat it like one.

So stop defending. Start talking about what's ahead.

I know that some of you might feel unsure about navigating this transition. If that sound familiar, a short-term support can make all the difference.

Reach out for a free 1:1 conversation: 30 minutes of very focused insights that could give you the exact boost you need Make an appointment by sending me a DM.

Have a great week ahead!

Stephanie