Left a mid-sized agency due to burnout and took a six-month sabbatical to care for a sick parent. Aiming to get into a bigger agency this time. Would you suggest addressing this gap head-on in job applications? Also, have you seen candidates return to the industry successfully after a break like this?

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Yeah, address the gap head-on; a brief, honest line explaining your sabbatical for family reasons, with a focus on what you did to stay relevant (even informally), is usually well received. Many candidates return successfully after a break—just demonstrate you’re refreshed, motivated, and up-to-date on industry trends.

I wouldn’t care about a six month break for those reasons. But if it concerns you that some people may, you can just say you were freelancing.

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