Laura Duksaitė-Išskauskienė | Executive career break – how is it perceived by the market?

Leave a good job for nowhere and take a career break. We talked about this trend on LRT Labas rytas, Lietuva.

First of all, it shows that we have confidence in ourselves, in the country and in the economy. It shows that we are confident enough to get a job.

However, the reasons for leaving are not peace of mind about the job ahead.

CEOs usually leave when they and their shareholders’ values are not aligned. Or they feel they have done everything they wanted to do in this company and are looking for new challenges.

Younger managers are much more likely to leave than older ones. It seems strange, because there is more experience and a financial cushion. But this is also a result of our labour market, age makes us less attractive to recruiters.

Meanwhile, young managers are particularly competitive, so while they do not have a serious financial cushion, they can take risks more easily.

In some sectors, managers are more likely and braver to go nowhere. The more active the sector, the more companies it has, the more courageous the exit. For example, the IT sector is bigger and more diverse, and we have few banks, so it is harder for high-level managers to change jobs, but fintech is a lifesaver.

The manufacturing sector is active, but geography is a contributing factor: manufacturing companies are scattered all over Lithuania. And it can be easier to make a career in Kaunas than in Klaipėda or Vilnius.

So it has become quite normal for managers to take a pause in the market to change jobs. It shows management awareness and gives me the opportunity to think about where I really want to work, what industry I am attracted to and what I want to do in it. On the other hand, if the pause is too long (more than 12 months), it raises questions about market fit and reputation.

If you are considering a career break or returning from one – Watch the full interview on LRT Labas rytas, Lithuania, from 36:17.