Rethinking Failure: 5 Powerful Ways Career Breaks Can Fuel Hidden Growth for Expats in Paris

When Mikhail relocated from Johannesburg to Paris with his wife, it was not a decision made for his own career advancement. As a talented UX designer, he had recently completed a major project for a leading fintech startup and was on track for a promotion. Yet the opportunity to support his partner's professional journey and raise their child in Europe became the priority.

Upon arriving in Paris, he began searching for new opportunities. Despite a strong resume, his applications received no response. One month passed. Then three. Eventually six.

He referred to this period as a “break,” though it did not feel restful. There was no travel or exploration, only the weight of uncertainty and a quiet voice in his mind asking: “Did I just end my career?”

The truth is quite the opposite. He had not ended anything. He was on the verge of building something entirely new.

The Hidden Reality of Career Pauses Among Expatriates

Career breaks are far more common among expatriate partners than often acknowledged. According to the 2023 Permits Foundation International Dual Careers Survey Report, nearly 80 percent of expat spouses are women, and more than half put their careers on hold due to relocation circumstances. Despite the frequency of these career interruptions, the emotional and professional implications are rarely addressed.

An expatriate’s arrival in Paris is often accompanied by optimism, fueled by the charm of French culture and the promise of new beginnings. However, behind the picturesque images of strolls along the Seine or café terraces lies a different narrative.

Language barriers, unfamiliar administrative processes, and limited professional networks often leave newly arrived professionals feeling isolated and invisible. Their former titles and qualifications may seem irrelevant in this new context. They may begin to question their value and wonder if their previous achievements hold any weight at all.

This internal questioning is commonly labeled as failure. Yet what is unfolding is not failure, but transition—a temporary, though often uncomfortable, space that precedes growth.

The Illusion of Linear Career Paths

Many of us were raised to believe in a linear career trajectory: education, employment, promotion, leadership, and retirement. In reality, expatriation often interrupts this pattern. The move to a new country frequently shifts career progression into unfamiliar territory, prompting questions rather than answers.

Instead of climbing a single ladder, expatriates begin to navigate a broader landscape, discovering new directions and opportunities. This shift requires a fundamental rethinking of what success looks like, especially during a career break.

A pause in professional activity can feel like a void, but it is also a rare opportunity for reflection, exploration, and reinvention.

Five Transformative Benefits of Career Breaks for Expatriates

1. Career Breaks Create Clarity

Continuous professional activity often limits the time and space needed to reflect on personal aspirations. A career break forces individuals to slow down and reevaluate their goals.

Expat partners frequently use this time to ask themselves essential questions. Do they still enjoy their field of work? Would they prefer to explore a new industry, or perhaps start a business of their own? What kind of working environment best suits their current lifestyle?

This clarity becomes the foundation for intentional decisions when re-entering the workforce.

2. Career Breaks Build Emotional Agility

Navigating a career break while adapting to life in a new country challenges individuals on multiple emotional levels. From confronting unfamiliar administrative systems to adjusting to new cultural norms, expatriates are regularly pushed outside their comfort zones.

These experiences cultivate a unique kind of resilience. Individuals learn to manage uncertainty, handle setbacks with composure, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances—all while maintaining a sense of direction and self-worth.

Such emotional agility is not only valuable on a personal level; it is increasingly recognized as a key strength in today’s professional landscape, particularly in global or remote work environments where adaptability and emotional intelligence are essential.

Moreover, emotional agility is a critical asset during job interviews, especially in intercultural contexts where empathy, self-awareness, and composure under pressure leave a lasting impression. To learn how to present these qualities effectively when job hunting in France, read our article: 5 Essential Skills to Shine in a Job Interview in France.

3. Career Breaks Foster a Global Mindset

Living in a multicultural city like Paris provides daily opportunities for cross-cultural engagement. Whether through a neighborhood association, a parent group, or a local volunteer activity, expatriates regularly practice intercultural communication.

These experiences develop global competencies that are increasingly valued by international employers. They include the ability to collaborate across cultures, navigate ambiguity, and demonstrate empathy in diverse professional settings.

According to the 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, intercultural fluency ranks among the top ten skills in demand worldwide.

What may appear on a résumé as a “gap” is, in fact, an intensive period of informal learning and cultural growth.

4. Career Breaks Strengthen Confidence Through Micro-Achievements

Professional confidence often diminishes during a career pause. Without the usual metrics of success, promotions, projects, or recognition, individuals may begin to question their value.

Yet progress during a career break does not need to be dramatic to be meaningful. At Absolutely French, we encourage our community to celebrate small victories, such as:

• Completing a French conversation without assistance

• Hosting a local networking event for other expatriate partners

• Finishing an online course in negotiation, marketing, or artificial intelligence

• Speaking publicly at a local cultural event or school

These achievements, while modest on their own, compound over time to restore confidence and motivation.

5. Career Breaks Inspire Purpose-Driven Careers

A career break often serves as a catalyst for change. Without the pressure to maintain a conventional path, expatriates are free to pursue meaningful work aligned with their evolving values.

Some return to their original fields with renewed clarity. Others discover new passions and launch businesses, become educators, or enter the non-profit sector.

What unites these diverse journeys is a sense of purpose. These individuals are no longer pursuing careers out of obligation, but out of conviction.

Mikhail, the UX designer mentioned earlier, eventually launched his own consultancy focused on ethical design for non-profit organizations. His first client was a French social impact start-up he met through a language exchange group.

You Are Not Behind. You Are Becoming.

If you are currently navigating a career pause in Paris, remember this: you are not broken. You are in the process of becoming.

While it may feel uncomfortable or uncertain at times, this chapter is not a detour. It is an essential part of your story, a chapter that holds wisdom, resilience, and transformation.

What you do with this time will shape your future in ways a linear career never could.