How much time should I take off between jobs?

“How much time can I get away with taking off between jobs?”

This is a question I frequently hear in my role as Executive Recruiter. No doubt you’ll get a different answer depending on whom you ask, but in my opinion, changing jobs is the perfect time to take some much-needed time off.

We’ve all been working harder and longer and under much more stress for the last few years. Burnout is a real issue!

I recently read about a school teacher at a private school. After a long tenure, she’s up for a sabbatical. Not only will her school give her a paid year off, they’re also encouraging her to learn something new, travel, or expand her education — and footing the bill.

Taking time off in between jobs is a sort of sabbatical — albeit one where you have to foot your own bill. I see this sort of down time as critical to self-growth and wellness.

However, exactly how MUCH time you can get away with depends larger on your personal situation and your finances. In addition, you probably don’t want to miss out on certain opportunities in your field. So you’ll need to make this decision on your own, but as a recruiter, I’m here to tell you that taking time off is A-OK.