I left Google after 10 years without another job lined up. An 8-month career break gave me the reset I needed.
A former Google executive shares his experience of taking an eight-month career break after two decades of continuous work. He describes the transition from a high-pressure corporate role to a period of personal reset, emphasizing the importance of routine and goal-setting during time off.
Why it matters
The article highlights the growing trend of 'career breaks' among high-level professionals and the psychological benefits of stepping away from the tech industry's fast-paced environment.
Nathaniel Smith for BI This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Adam Stewart, 43, who lives in the UK. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I worked for nearly 20 years straight before I took a career break . 10 of those years were at Google , which I loved, but it was a long time to be at the same company. I was aware there were other options, but when I looked for my next challenge, I didn't really know what I wanted to do next. In January 2024, I left Google and felt prepared to take anywhere between six months and two years out to think about my career. Any longer wouldn't have been financially comfortable. Plus, in the fast-moving world of technology, I thought it might be hard to get back into the field after taking more than two years off.
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