Slow jobs market 'is the perfect time for a career break'

A career break can help provide new skills and experiences that may come in useful when you return

With the UK's current economic difficulties making new job opportunities hard to come by, now may be the perfect time to consider taking a career break and heading off on an overland adventure trip abroad.

That is the opinion of Rachel Morgan-Trimmer, founder of information and advice site thecareerbreaksite.com, who argues that taking time out of work to travel could be a good way to build skills and experience while seeing out the worst of the economic downturn.

"A slow job market is a great time for a career break. If you've been made redundant or you're struggling to find a new job, a career break can reinvigorate you, while helping you develop new skills," she commented.

Employers could also benefit from offering their staff sabbaticals as these are unpaid and so allow companies to save on salaries while retaining skilled staff, added Ms Morgan-Trimmer.

When taking time out from your career, however, it is important to do something that will add to your overall life experience or skill-set, she advised.

"It doesn't matter a great deal what you do on your career break, as long as you obey the golden rule - do something constructive."

For those who opt to spend their career break travelling, Ms Morgan-Trimmer recommended keeping a blog or photo-journal of your trip.

Heading off on an overland trip to unusual or challenging destinations, such as tours in south east Asia or an adventure holiday in Africa, can help those on a career break learn new skills and experience new cultures and lifestyles, something which could prove useful in their careers when they return.

This is an opinion shared by Tim Fenton, general manager of social network and advice site gapyear.com, who recently told the Guardian that travelling to "more challenging destinations like south east Asia and South America" is a good way to impress employers.

"It is important when you sit down in front of a prospective employer to have a good story to tell and a well-spent gap year is a great way to create that story," he said.