If you're unhappy in your job or have to move on for other reasons, then a career break is an opportunity to take stock or acquire experience in a new field. So, what happens when you take a career break and don't have a job to go back to?Michelle Hawkins has taken two career breaks and resigned both times. Before you go into discussions, think through all the pros and cons of your career break from an employer's point of view and have practical answers or solutions for the disadvantages. The more flexible you can be, the easier it is to negotiate.You need to show what new skills you will learn, what goals you will achieve and how these will benefit your company when you return. For instance, many placements as a volunteer help improve leadership, communication and people skills as well as self-confidence and resourcefulness. Learning a language can be a valuable business tool too.Most career-breakers opt to open negotiations between three to six months ahead of their ideal departure dates.

This gives them and their employer enough time to work out all the details and put temporary replacement plans into operation.If your negotiations are successful then you can expect a relatively soft professional landing when you return home (ie a comparable job and salary to the one you are temporarily leaving) If not, you'll need to resign. However, if you are committed to returning, your most important tool is a well-prepared and well-argued business case. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONSThe Year Out Group ( ) represents 30 of the leading organisations offering gap year and career break placements, including Venture Co ( ); Teaching & Projects Abroad ( ); Coral Cay ( ) and i-to-i ( ). Making a difference can be highly rewarding, but living conditions are often basic and the daily business of volunteering can be physically and emotionally draining. Most volunteer organisations provide counselling for their volunteers to protect them from burning out.Although volunteering might seem far removed from the world of work, the ability to adapt quickly to new situations is a valuable business skill. Many employers see volunteering as a positive learning experience, providing skills that translate easily back into the workplace. "It's hard to manage a project when people just appear for a month at a time," explains Glynn Williams at VSO "People who join VSO want to use their professional skills.