Bengaluru techie earning Rs 35 LPA asks: Will a career break hurt?

A Bengaluru tech professional earning Rs 30-35 lakh per annum asked Reddit whether taking a three-to-six-month break after burnout would hurt his return to the job market. The responses ranged from reassurance and practical advice to warnings that a short break can stretch amid hiring uncertainty.

In Short

• He said burnout pushed him to consider time off for health
• He wants to travel, reflect and spend more time with his wife
• The couple's expenses are covered, with savings for about a year

A 28-year-old Bengaluru-based tech professional earning Rs 30–35 lakh per annum is considering taking a three-to-six-month career break after feeling burned out at work. He turned to Reddit to ask other professionals whether taking a prolonged break could affect his career when he returns to the job market.

The professional, who said he has around six years of experience, wrote that he wanted to step away from work to focus on his health, spend time with his wife, travel and think about what he wants from the next phase of his career.

“I’m 28, based in Bangalore, with ~6 years of experience and currently earning Rs 30–35 LPA. I’m considering taking a 3–6 month break because I’ve been feeling burned out and want to focus on my health, spend time with my wife, travel, and think about what I want from the next phase of my work life,” he wrote on Reddit.

‘HAS SAVINGS TO COVER A YEAR OF EXPENSES’

According to his Reddit post, the tech professional said he was in a relatively comfortable financial position. His wife is working, his monthly household expenses are around Rs 1.25–1.5 lakh and his emergency savings can cover roughly a year of expenses.

He also said that he has no loans or debt and that his parents are financially independent and have pensions. Despite this financial cushion, he said the prospect of leaving a Rs 30–35 LPA job was making him reconsider the break.

“I’d be giving up a Rs 30–35 LPA income for several months and would eventually need to re-enter the PM job market,” he wrote.

His main concern was whether recruiters would view a three-to-six-month gap negatively when he starts looking for a job again.

“Would you recommend taking 3–6 months off or keeping it shorter, and what did you actually do during your break?” he asked other Reddit users.

REDDIT USERS REACT TO CAREER BREAK

The post drew varied responses from people discussing career breaks, burnout and the job market.

One Reddit user said a six-month gap was not necessarily significant for someone with six years of experience, provided the candidate could clearly explain the reason for taking the break. Another suggested not treating the period as six months of doing nothing and instead using the time for projects or other productive work.

A recruiter who responded to the discussion said that a three-to-six-month gap could be acceptable for product management roles and suggested building projects that could later be included in a portfolio or discussed during interviews.

Another user shared a different experience, saying their planned six-month break eventually stretched to around 18 months, during which they took up short consulting assignments. They claimed to have returned to the workforce two months earlier at a higher compensation.

However, some users cautioned about leaving a job without another offer, citing uncertainty in the job market and the possibility that a planned short break could become much longer.

The discussion reflects a broader dilemma for experienced professionals: whether to prioritise a period away from work after prolonged burnout or continue working while looking for another opportunity.

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