If you're considering a career break, it's easy to be put off by practical hurdles such as paying the mortgage while you're away, or the fear of not having a job to return to. But don't be deterred from taking the idea to your boss. The odds are, you may well get a better reception than you expect.
Sell your vision
Far from seeing a sabbatical as just an extended holiday, savvy employers realise how much they have to gain from enabling their employees to gain experience in the developing world. In a recent survey, diversity management and communication emerged as two key areas where companies felt they lacked expertise. Those who are able to take time to work in a different culture have a unique opportunity to develop these skills, and will pass the benefits on to their employer when they return.
Before you approach your boss, it's a good idea to do some internal research. For example, if you work for a large company, there may already be a formal sabbatical scheme in place. The voluntary organisation VSO has created partnerships with some of the UK's largest organisations - including Accenture, Shell and Morgan Stanley - allowing employees to take a sabbatical in the developing world secure in the knowledge that they will receive help with their bills while they're away, and that their job will be waiting for them when they come back.
Even if your firm doesn't have a policy on sabbaticals, it may be prepared to help you. When you go to discuss this with your boss, make sure you have specific information at your fingertips about the skills and experience you expect to gain and how these are relevant to projects you're working on.
Finding the right opportunity
Ideally a sabbatical should be a 'triple win' situation; your expertise should benefit a developing country, the experience should be personally rewarding, and you should gain new skills to take back to your employer. Typically volunteers are motivated by altruistic considerations, so service to the developing country is their main consideration. But don't forget to think about the wider benefits when you're choosing a voluntary placement. Good questions to ask yourself include:
How will the placement give me scope to build networks?
What new skills will I learn?
What expertise will I gain that is not available to me in the UK?
Think broadly - any work placement in a developing country is bound to build your confidence, problem-solving capabilities, influencing skills and ability to handle different cultures. You may also learn something specific, such as a new language.
How can I help?
Voluntary organisations may well be looking for a precise set of skills, so it's worth interviewing with as many as possible to find the best fit. Generally speaking the need in the developing world is for people who can help create sustainable economic growth that will survive long after they've gone home. Any experience you have in helping organisations to run more smoothly, monitoring growth and benchmarking progress could be put to use. You'll also need the ability to think creatively about how to pass on your expertise so that it makes sense in the context of a developing country.
Coming home
According to the Chartered Management Institute, while companies are increasingly aware of the advantages of employing people who've done sabbaticals, volunteers are not always good at marketing their voluntary achievements. Plan ahead by asking your overseas employer to provide a detailed reference detailing the impact you made on the project you worked on. When you return, think about how your new skills dovetail with your previous experience to open doors in your career. Volunteering abroad is something to be proud of - so make sure you do it justice on your CV.
