What do employers really think of your career break or sabbatical?  In this episode, we are joined by Anika Stokes.  Anika wears two hats today as someone who has personally experienced the benefits of two career breaks and as a recruiter and hiring manager. Anika talks us through her two career breaks both of which involved the magic of travel yet luckily only one a near death experience!  We discuss amongst other topics: Perceptions of employers when it comes to sabbaticals and career breaks How to position your career break once you are back in the job market How to talk about your time off at interview Why it’s important to own your break Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:13 Annika's Two Sabbatical Stories 11:20 Memorable Experiences and Challenges 18:07 Personal Growth and Development Through Travel 20:27 Perceptions of Career Breaks in the Job Market 24:45 Positioning Your Career Break in the Job Market 27:12 Exploring and Integrating into a New Country 29:54 Tips for Considering and Embarking on a Career Break 31:40 Conclusion and Closing Remarks Guest bio: Anika is Co-Founder of Oaktree Talent & Future State Consulting a specialist strategy recruitment agency in Australia and host of the "Strategy Bites" podcast. Through her work Anika helps Strategy and Transformation Leaders build teams that thrive by placing the very best candidates in the market with them. For more details and to get in touch with Anika visit her LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinamcghee222/ Additional resources:  Strategy bites podcast - https://oaktreetalent.com/our-strategy-bites-podcast/ Oaktree Talent Group - https://oaktreetalent.com/ Episode transcript: Include a link to the (edited) podcast transcript. Use timestamped headings to break up the transcript into different sections. Other episodes you may enjoy:  Taking a career break to change professional direction and find fun again with Steve Duke Kicking things off with the Queen of Career Breaks and Sabbaticals Katrina McGhee Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you.  Buzz us a DM on Instagram - @Sabbatical_Stories or reach out on LinkedIn - Rebecca Thomas Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching:  I’m a coach who supports individuals through pivotal moments of transition in both their personal and professional lives. I support those who are facing a crossroads to discover clarity. Working with you I empower you to invest in a future version of yourself that will make you proud. Through personalised coaching sessions and my signature career transition and sabbatical programs I aim to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for you to explore your values, strengths and goals. More importantly I coach you to intentionally design your next chapter by redefining what success looks like to you and then implementing it. Feel Good Getaways - https://feelgood-getaways.com/ With special thanks to:  Aunty B at the Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine.  Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/