Episode 21: What Most Career Coaches Get WRONG About Career Breaks

This episode is a rant with purpose. Katrina McGhee is back on the mic to call out the outdated, fear-driven, and downright misguided advice often handed out by traditional career coaches when it comes to taking a career break.

From staying “relevant” to upskilling nonstop and obsessing over your resume during a break — Katrina and James tear into these myths and explain why it’s time to re-center your break around YOU, not your job.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting time off, or unsure how to “justify” your break, this episode is the permission slip and pep talk you didn’t know you needed.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• You’re not taking a break to become a better cog in the machine — you’re taking it to live a better life.

• Let go of productivity guilt and give yourself permission to truly disconnect.

• Reframing your career break as a life investment shifts the whole narrative.

• Not every moment of your break needs to serve your next job — it should serve you.

🎧 In This Episode

• Why career coaches often give bad advice about career breaks

• The problem with “staying connected to your network” during time off

• Why obsessing over your resume and professional development defeats the purpose of a break

• The myth of “falling behind” in your industry — and what to focus on instead

• How to deal with unsolicited job offers or pressure from your LinkedIn network

• The power of real rest, reflection, and self-guided growth

• Why you don’t need to justify your break to anyone

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Welcome to the Rant Episode
James and Katrina set the tone for today’s discussion—myth-busting common (and harmful) career break advice.

01:28 – The Truth About “Staying Connected” to Your Network
Why trying to stay visible on LinkedIn during your break is a mistake—and what to do instead.

04:56 – Dealing with Job Offers and Messages While on Break
How to handle messages from recruiters or coworkers while you’re trying to disconnect.

07:05 – The “Stay Up to Date” Trap
Why obsessing over your industry during your break defeats the purpose—and how to reframe what “falling behind” really means.

10:07 – The Pressure to Upskill Immediately
Katrina unpacks why you don’t need to jump into courses or certifications right away—and how to tell if self-improvement is coming from fear or curiosity.

14:37 – Resume Justification is Overrated
Stop designing your break for your future boss—what to do instead of chasing resume-worthy activities.

17:30 – Final Thoughts: Center Yourself, Not Your Job
Katrina’s closing message about why you deserve a break centered on you—not productivity, optics, or career milestones.

19:53 – BreakSpace Community Call-Out
Find your people! Katrina introduces BreakSpace, her career break coaching and community platform.

🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into career growth, work-life balance, and mental resilience.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and every podcast app!

📩 Got a story about your own career break journey? DM us or leave a review—we’d love to hear from you!

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch today to start your journey!

Book a coaching session - https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/schedule.php

Join the waitlist for the BreakSpace community - www.gobreakspace.com⁠

Purchase Taking a Career Break for Dummies - https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book

Email - takingacareerbreakwithkatrina@gmail.com