What is a sabbatical

What is a sabbatical by Amber Rolfe Need a break? Why not take a sabbatical?No matter how much you love your job, everyone can benefit from a change of scenery from time to time. And if a two week holiday just doesn’t cut it anymore â€" it might be time to look into an extended period away from work.To help you understand what they’re all about (and how to bring them up with your employer), here’s everything you need to know about sabbaticals from work:  What is a sabbatical? A sabbatical is an extended period away from work â€" organised and agreed upon by you and your employer.It’s sometimes also referred to as an ‘adult gap year’, and is commonly used to explore new areas of your life (both professionally and personally).  How long is a sabbatical? The length of a sabbatical will vary depending on your employer’s preference â€" but will generally last longer than your regular periods of annual leave.They could last anywhere from two months to up to a year, and you’ll be able to return to your old job after your sabbatical is completed.  Will I get paid to go on sabbatical? The majority of sabbaticals are unpaid, although there are exceptions.For example, if the purpose of your break is to do work-related research, or if you’ve been at an organisation for a long period of time â€" you may be offered a paid sabbatical.However, these will usually be shorter than unpaid breaks (e.g. a maximum of six months).  Why take a sabbatical? Although a sabbatical isn’t for everyone, taking time out from work has its perks.Here are a few reasons you could choose to pursue a sabbatical:To get out of a rut. Taking a sabbatical can be a great way to put the spark back into your job. By taking time out, you’ll be able to return with a clear head and a new sense of purpose.To make a difference. Sabbaticals are the perfect opportunity to do any charity or voluntary work you may not have previously had time for â€" without sacrificing your career.To learn new skills. You could choose to do anything from taking a course to starting your own individual project. No matter what you choose to do, you’ll be working on your personal and career development.To travel. One of the most popular reasons for taking a sabbatical is travel. Not only could you see the world, experience new cultures, or learn a new language â€" you might even be able to gain practical skills you can bring back to the workplace.Careers in travel  How do I ask for a sabbatical? To be given a sabbatical, you’ll usually need to have worked at your company for at least two years.There may also be other policies in place which could affect your eligibility, such as seniority and current workload. However, these will vary from business to business.To make sure you have all the information, it’s worth getting in touch with a member of your HR team or checking your company handbook (and contract) before you formally request one.Here are a few things to do when you ask for a sabbatical: Test the water. If your company hasn’t previously offered sabbaticals, it might be a good idea to see how they feel about the concept. You could also use any facts and benefits you’ve researched to sell the idea, and let them know it’s something you’re considering.Set up a meeting. Once you’re ready to formally request a sabbatical, it’s vital to set up a one-to-one meeting with your manager to talk through your proposal. Just make sure you prepare what you’re going to sayMake a case. To make sure your boss can see the positives of you taking a sabbatical, it’s vital to think about how it would benefit them. Focus on the relevant skills and experience you’ll gain from your time out, and explain how you productivity could improve as a result (for example, if you plan to take a course).Be flexible. OK, so you might be set on taking exactly a year out on a date you’ve selected. But unfortunately, this might not always work for your employer â€" so be prepared to mak e some alterations if necessary.Don’t boast. Bragging to your colleagues about your year out could lead to them wanting to do the same thing as you â€" which might not be what your employer needs right now. Instead, only discuss your plans in a professional manner.  Could I be refused a sabbatical? Although an employer might have policies in place for sabbaticals â€" they have no legal obligation to offer one, so there is a chance your request won’t be accepted.This can be due to a number of reasons, including:Your attendance and/or performance is poorYour workload is too high, or it’s a busy time for the businessYour employer can’t find cover for your roleYou’re receiving disciplinary actionIf you’re set on taking one and your employer isn’t able to accept â€" it might be worth seeing if a compromise is available. This could mean ensuring you find someone to cover role, or taking your sabbatical at a different date.Tips on taking a sabbatical OK, so you’ve mentally committed to taking time off â€" but do you know how you’re going to spend it?Before you jump into taking a sabbatical, it’s vital to do some essential planning in advance.That way, you won’t have to spend half of your break working out what you want to do (or how you’re going to afford it).Research what you’re passionate about (whether it’s travelling or volunteering)Figure out what you want to doFind the moneySet a (rough) dateMake a planFactor everything in (from accommodation to transport)  Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Deve lopment Work-life balance

Starting a Blog How The Classy Career Girl Started [CCG Podcast #3]

Starting a Blog How The Classy Career Girl Started [CCG Podcast #3] Listen to the Podcast Click play above or right click here and save link as to download or subscribe on iTunes here on this link.   Show Topics: Starting a blog Decorating your office Using social media for professional success How to address cover letters How Did The Classy Career Girl Blog Started Starting a Blog Podcast Transcript Hey, this is Anna Runyan from classycareergirl.com and welcome to podcast #3. I would love to hear what you are thinking of the podcast so feel free to tell me what you like and what you do dont like, any suggestions or your questions. Just leave me a comment on the blog or send me an email. Today I wanted to go over a little about why and how the Classy Career Girl Blog started, because this week I celebrated my two year anniversary as a blogger, which is really exciting! I wrote a post about it and it got a lot of great responses so I wanted to also talk about it on the podcast so you know where I am coming from. We will also cover information about starting a blog, how to address a cover letter, and I will also be playing an interview with a successful business women. When  did you start the Classy Career Girl blog? The Classy Career Girl blog started  blog in March 2010 when I was in my second year of business school.  I had absolutely no time to be blogging since I was juggling my job and business school but for some reason over Spring break (when I had no classes or homework) I thought it would be a good idea. How did you come up with the name? I am an introvert and it is often hard for me sometimes to let the true me come out.  So I knew that I wanted to be anonymous and I needed a name to go by.  I wanted it to be about career advice so I listed all of the topics that I wanted to write about and all of the possible names.  I always brainstorm with my husband overthings like this because he is always good at jingles and putting words together:)  I think he thought I was crazy for starting a blog since I had no free time. But, like the great husband that he is, he encouraged me to do it because he knew it was something that I really wanted to do.  I am not sure which one of us said the name Classy Career Girl first.  All I know is, one of us said it and it stuck.  I never ever looked back because it perfectly described me and the advice I wanted to give.  I looked up the definition of class:  elegance, style,  high standards of personal behavior, skill and grace.  Name: check!  Now what to blog about….. Why did you start your blog? To be honest, I never ever would have thought of myself as a blogger. In high school I HATED writing and reading. It was the worst. My strengths were in math and I don’t even remember reading a good book in high school. It is terrible to say it but I think I may have gotten away with a lot of Cliff notes (sorry mom). In college, my roommate would laugh at how many times I would write something and then hit the delete key over and over. I hated to write and if my English teachers knew I was a blogger, they would probably laugh. Fortunately, after college my friend convinced me to join a book club and I realized that I loved to read and went on a reading frenzy.  In business school, I had a marketing class where we had to write 2-3 page papers every week. The first couple of weeks I just stared at the screen and it took me HOURS to do one paper!  I soon realized that I didn’t have time to waste so I decided to just write whatever I thought and see how fast I could get the stupid papers done. The more I wrote, the easier it became and at the end of that marketing class, we had a project where we had to complete a marketing project on selling children’s clothing. My job on my team was to analyze what blogs we could market and advertise with.  My friends sent me some blog recommendations and I started to become obsessed with reading A Cup of Jo, Oh Happy Day  and Black Eiffel. The best part of this is that it was for a school project so I could read blogs all I wanted to! ?? I started thinking that if they can write these blogs, then I can write a blog. I knew I had a creative side somewhere inside but I never knew how much of a creative side I really did have. How did you start your blog? I started with Blogger. Simple design because I knew nothing about widgets.  It was so easy and so addicting. After 6 months, I won a blog design from the fabulous Angie at Strosgirl’s Designs.  It was perfect and my site finally got the look that I wanted it to. After a year and a half, I decided to transfer from Blogger to WordPress only because I knew I wanted to grow my blog and there were things in Blogger that I couldn’t control.  For instance, I didn’t own my blog, Blogger did. I now am self-hosted on WordPress.org and I highly recommend it. I will be answering your questions later on in the podcast but first we are going to listen to my interview with Ashley Ranger. Ashley gives us a lot of great tips on social media and networking and I really enjoyed my conversation with her, so let’s listen and learn! Using Social Media For Professional Success Watch the video and get the transcript of my interview with Ashley Ranger here. I hope you enjoyed the interview with Ashley.   The parts I loved best were when she said she was nervous to network, because I never would have though that in my interview with her!  She also  had some great advice about just taking the first step and going and then the second time you will be less nervous.   And I love how she said to look at everyone at an equal level even the executive at your company and don’t be intimidated because I totally feel the same way. Office Decoration Ideas Now let’s answer your questions! Hey Classy Career  Girl, Ive recently started a position at a law firm with mostly all women, and I am at a loss of how to decorate my office. Luckily, Ive already been provided with a desk, an office chair and two extra client chairs. However, even my boss commented on my lack of color and the diplomas on the wall look quite lonely. Any advice for cute accessories that can spice up my office while keeping it classy and not cutesy? Thanks! I definitely know how you feel I have a pretty boring gray cubicle myself at work. Definitely bring in some photos first of all to make it more homey and personal. A nice calendar with pretty photos and scenery is also great to have. I love colored photos that bring color to the dreary office. You could always bring in a plant that is easy to take care of. Previously when I had a larger office, I had a bookcase with my favorite business books and people always came by to borrow them and return them. So that is a great idea if you have the room. If you have any medals or awards like for a sporting event, that is a great conversation starter, too. Or letters you have received from co-workers that you want to share in your space. There is nothing wrong with some color in your mouse pad or pencil holder or filing cabinets. Since you have a lot of room on your walls, you could bring in some nice framed photos.   Just make sure it is appropriate photos for the office not for your house at home.   I know my husband took into work some paintings of sailboats that we had in our house because we didn’t want them anymore.   They work perfectly in his office, though. One thing I would make sure you don’t do though is put too much effort into decorating unless your job is an interior designer.   You don’t want people to think you are spending work time just decorating your office and you want to be known as the  person who does great work and not for the girl with the best decorated office. Also, I know for me, we always are moving around offices and I spent so much time decorating and organizing my office last year around this time only to have to move offices over the Summer. So you don’t want to appear like you are settling in, either, because you never know where you might be or what other job you might get in the future. You might have the corner office next year so don’t get comfortable. I will also link in the show notes on the blog about my office organization project last year and it shows photos of when I organized my office. I wish I could say it is still as nice and neat and clean as it was then but I think it is definitely time for another round of Spring cleaning. The book that I highly recommend if you want to do some Spring Cleaning is Unclutter Your Life in One Week by Erin Doland. Other Classy Career Girl posts to reference: My new, uncluttered, organized and efficient office Unclutter Your Life in One Week Addressing Cover Letters I am applying for a job that does not reference who the position reports to or give any indication of the interviewer. I have searched all over their website for a staff directory and checked linkedin to try to figure out who the correct person to address the cover letter to would be. The best I can figure out the closest person in a leadership role to the position I am applying for is the VP. Is it better to address the cover letter to someone (even if it turns out that I am wrong as to who the position reports to) or to leave it as Dear Sir or Madam? Because anyone in the company could potential receiving you email and looking at it, I would not recommend addressing the cover letter to a specific person.   Instead, if it was me I would address it as “To whom it may concern,”   For me, Dear Sir or Madam is very formal and unless the position you are applying to is very formal, I would keep it more casual like to whom it may concern. Another popular way you could address it is to say, Dear Hiring Manager. Thanks so much for listening today and learning about how the Classy  Career  Girl blog started.. And I look forward to celebrating a two year anniversary of this podcast someday as well! That will be fun and I don’t want to even think about how many podcasts that is if I continue to do this weekly so I am just going to take it one day at a time. ??