If you have reached a plateau in your career development and are unsure what route to take next, you could benefit from taking a break from the workplace while you consider your options.

According to Rachel Morgan-Trimmer, founder of thecareerbreaksite.com, leaving work for a while to take stock of your professional development "can help you tremendously", as you will be getting valuable experience of a kind you cannot get in your day job.

"You'll also develop a wide range of skills, both practical skills - like learning a language - and soft skills such as teamwork or problem-solving. Some employers now say that soft skills are more important than qualifications," she pointed out.

Individuals who are worried about what a gap on their CV would look like to future employers should understand that taking a career break shows "confidence and initiative to get out there and do something different", which could help them stand out when it comes to job-seeking again.

"A slow job market is a great time for a career break. If you've been made redundant or you're struggling to find a new job, a career break can reinvigorate you, while helping you develop new skills. You can also do paid work on a career break, meaning money is less of a worry," added Ms Morgan-Trimmer.

She noted that it is not only in the best interests of disillusioned staff members to take time out of the workplace, it can benefit employers too because they can save on salaries while retaining skilled workers.

However, those thinking of opting for a career break should use their time wisely. "It doesn't matter a great deal what you do on your career break, as long as you obey the golden rule - do something constructive," said Ms Morgan-Trimmer.

This could include volunteer work, travelling or taking up paid work in a completely different occupation.