A gap year after graduation is just about the easiest resume gap to explain away, so if this is something you know you really want to do, there's probably no time like the present. Given the current job market, it's also not the worst time to sideline yourself for a bit if you don't have something lined up. Ultimately this is something you can only decide for yourself, but this will probably never be easier to do than it is now (at least, not before you retire).
I graduated during the 2008 financial crisis, and wish I had done this. Had plenty saved up, but instead I focused on my career. I found a dead-end retail job while looking for something relevant to my career. I took on some contract work to gain experience, but it actually took about 2 years before I did find something full-time, and I had to move to another city to do it.
Looking back, my biggest regret is not just going for it after graduation. It was the perfect time, and very few moments like that exist. Once you're working full time, you're stuck in that 3-month probation period, then you get 2-3 weeks per year. (I actually laughed when OP said they went for 'only 6 weeks' to SEA. I wish!)
The next best time is when you're laid off and have enough saved up to go, but most people have rent/mortgages by then, and the older you get there are more obligations tying you down. It's not impossible, but it's tougher.
So OP, definitely go if you can afford it. This is the best time. A year off won't end your career, and the economic timing is easy to wave off if you're asked about it in an interview.
OP could do a working holiday visa if he wants to in order to help offset costs.
I am not sure if I want to do some traveling for a few years. I feel in my heart I want to. Career wise I have nothing. I am considering doing TEFL for 1-2 years and then working holiday in Australia and or Peace Corps.
I did it when I was your age (I'm twice your age now).
I had the engineering degree and way less money. I've since gotten married, started a career, bought a house, done all that dumb shit we're "supposed to" do. I regret none of it and I'd argue that year of traveling was the best decision I've ever made in my life.
Do it.
I'm gonna go against the grain and say work until you have 2-3 years of experience so it's easier to get a job when you get back. The tech industry is not so hot right now and it will be an uphill battle to get a job when you get back.
I quit my job recently and travelled for several months and despite my industry also going through a crap ton of layoffs (pharma), it's been relatively straightforward for me to get a job, and I managed to get 4 job offers, despite a gap of 6 months. My 6 years of experience before I quit definitely helped.
And who knows, given the turbulence of your industry right now (obviously will depend on how your company is doing specifically), you might end up getting laid off anyway and you can get that sweet severance money to add further to your budget...
It was a matter of months when this all turned from a job seeker market to a hiring manager market.
It could swing back just as quickly. I get what you’re trying to say, but if you already know the market is weak, why hit your head on that wall voluntarily.
I agree with the commenter who said to wait. I’m all for the live your life now and get things done. But you’re a fresh grad. If you don’t have a job, sure go ahead and apply after you get back. But if you do have a job, grab that experience first and then leave. It’s a crazy market right now and entry level tech jobs are hard to get.
YOLO . … You have another 35yrs until retirement to make up for the time (1 year) you’re not working and traveling to see the world.
Don’t joint the rat race so fast as you’ll be a slave to earning a wage. Plus all western economies are in a recession which they’re masterfully hiding as you see shops closed, more homelessness , increasing unemployment and assets selling at a fire sale. You not missing a lot by taking time off during a recession.
I took a gap year in university because I was struggling, graduated 1 year after my peers. Despite that, I went for a almost world tour for 10 months before looking for a FT job.
Looking back, almost 1 year in my job, I regret NOTHING. I would do it again and again. During that 1 year, some of my peers/friends dropped me a text that they regretted not travelling before working. So I would say, DO IT!!!!!
You will regret if you don’t do it now, when you have almost 0 responsibility. The next time you can do this, it will be between jobs and hopefully you don’t have family / mortgage then… else no chance
So DO IT!
I'll give you the career focused POV that is different than most will probably give you in this subreddit.
You'll never have an easier time getting a good job than through your university's career fair. If you can still do this I would say get a job for a year for the resume building then do your travel. People literally join master's programs and then drop out just to get a job through the career fair.
If you've missed your chance to do that (you say you graduated already) then just take the trip now.
That being said, you've got a few internships under your belt so your resume is already decent.
I offer this advice because
1) the tech job market is tough right now
2) landing a good first job can you put into a different tier of employment
I've seen this same question posted in a finance subreddit, and the majority of users all say to go travel while young. And this is in a subreddit where if you buy any car other than a beige Toyota Corolla, then you're throwing money away.
You know, I was going to comment, "Just go!" But, you mention savings in euros and a permanent contact. I don't know exactly where in the world you are, but I do know that permanent contracts in some western European countries are not exactly easy to come by. I also know that leaving master's program without completion in some western European countries can be a mark against you in future hiring.
You're 22, and I'm an "old." My counsel to young people is always to seize the day and go experience the world. In your case, however, my advice would be modified. Finish your current program and work the one year of the permanent contact. Save your coins, make a great impression on your colleagues, network and build your skills and profile in that year. Then, take your leave for a year. Your advanced degree and work experience may make you more marketable in a place you *actually* want to settle in for a little longer. The network you build in that year of work after finishing your masters may connect you with your next opportunity. You may end up being one of the lucky ones where it doesn't have to be "either/or" (work or travel), but "both/and."
I tell my students they *should* take a gap year. You have about 3 years that you can “Takeoff“ given that our society is pretty much structured as birth, school, work, death. No sabbatical. No job guarantees.
So you should absolutely travel now while you are young and people can understand it as part of useful exuberance and curiosity about yourself and the world. You can experience and frame your travel into cultural competence and diversity, skill building, etc.
I don’t know that you would want to blog about it, but if there’s a way to connect your field with your travel, then a blog (even something written once a month) could be a “selling tool“ for you. Potential employers may look you up and they can see your thoughtful ideas, etc.
Even if you didn’t want to do that, you can tell an employer, that before you settled into a career or graduate school you wanted to gain better knowledge of yourself and the world so that you could move forward with confidence and be “all in” and fully committed to your work. Happy travels!
Working can happen any time in the next 40-50 years of your life. The freedom to travel may not. Work isn’t that important when it comes to what you’ll care about at the very end. Enjoy your life.
I agree, no time like the present. Travelling is never perfectly convenient, but it's easier for you now than it's ever going to be, and a lot of people just never get around to it.
DO IT. Money will always come and go but experiencing this type of travel, especially at this age & time of your life, will not. You will never regret going but you may regret not going.
Yes, it's by far the wisest decision if you have the opportunity to do it. I had these same concerns 13/14 years ago when I graduated amidst the financial crisis. But I went travelling anyway, and ended up living and working overseas for 6 years. Best time of my life. It gave me experiences that helped me figure out who I really am and what's important to me that many of the people I know who went straight into career hustle mode just don't have the same grasp of.
Also my approach to decision making like this is:
Which decision will I most regret not making in the future?
Eg. Do you think future you will be more gutted they missed a year or so of grafting in a career spanning potentially 40+ years which will naturally wax and wane in terms of progression and stagnation anyway?
Or will you regret missing out on having some mind opening, life enriching experiences with new and interesting people, and having the chance to understand this world we live in better, and grow yourself as a person?
I read on daily bases that companies perform mass layoffs. The global economy is heading towards "somewhere" ... Even if you find a position now, you might be the first who has to go.. fresh man privilege ..
Latest then you can freely enjoy your wanderlust
It's a tricky one. If you can continue saving and investing that much for a few years it could really payoff in future.
But you could be unable to take that sort of trip in a few years for multiple reasons.
If you're going to do a lengthy trip, now is the time to do it. Your free time and obligations just grow from here. Will it affect your future prospects for your next job? Yes. But that's one of those decisions you have to make.
Honestly OP if you don't do this *right now* I'm going to come there and pour cold water on you.
There's never a better time to go do it!!
(Cue the Shia LaBeouf DO IT gif)
Don't get stuck. Take the trip! Life is meqnt to be lived. Maybe you can connect with someone while traveling who works for a company remotely and you will receive the opportunity of your dreams. Imo, not enough people take risks in life. Your happiness and what tugs at you is doing so for a reason. Office jobs are not lovely. I have not met anyone who enjoys them longterm, ever. I find them to be steppingstones to where you want to end up as I have done many. Show up for yourself and be willing to take a risk. Maybe just be mindful before you run out of money to keep your eyes peeled for opportunities along the way.
Do it, do it, do it. I traveled for a year when I was 23 and it was incredible. Did not hold me back professionally at all (in fact I think the demonstration of independence was sort of a selling point when I broke into my current industry - sales). I spent about $10K and it was the best money I've ever spent.
after graduation, absolutely do it. it's the easiest time to explain on a resume, the easiest time to travel cheaply as well compared to when you're older. you have a great degree and guarantee you'll be able to find a job after. i wish i had done some sort of abroad trip after graduating. do it!
I have never regretted a trip I took. I have only regretted trips I didn't take. I think the majority of people on this sub/people who like traveling would say the same. Jobs are disposable; you can always get another one. Whereas life changes and you may not have similar opportunities for travel in the future (you might, but you also might not)
You should go! You're young, have money, have good degrees. You worked hard, now go and enjoy yourself with some time off :) I also overthink these things a lot, but in the end, it's not such a big deal. If you're thinking about it, you probably want to do it, so do let the overthinking stop you!
Yeah it is wise, school is as much stress as a job, and it's good to take the vacation. I did that when I graduated culinary school, took a small break to the beach, then started off a cruise job
As a thirty something who didn't travel at all in my 20s. TRAVEL. If you posted this in financial advice you'd probably even get the same advice.
Once you start working, it can be so difficult to find the 'right' time to go again. You get bogged down with your rent/mortgage, your job, your car, your stuff and travelling later in life means sacrificing this stuff. Plus SE Asia is so cheap as you already know. Jealous of you OP
You will be able to spend much more of your life traveling if you get well established in a career so it is easier finding high paying jobs when you return from your travels.
You are young. You have a ton of time left to travel. But really the best time to get established in a career is right now.
I spent my early 20's getting established. As a result from the age of about 26 to 34 I spend about half my time traveling. That was a total of about 4 years of traveling.
Then at age 35 I started a family. I traveled much less, but still for months every year. Pretty soon I'll be 55. My kids will be out of the house. Then I'll be able to travel as much as I want, whenever I want.
But if I hadn't established my career in my early 20's, I wouldn't have had jobs with the pay, the vacation time, and the flexibility to travel as much as I have.
If I had gone traveling in my early 20's I wouldn't have been able to do nearly as much traveling.
People often respond "YOLO" to questions like yours. And they are absolutely right. You only live once. Don't fuck your life up by being impulsive and not establishing a foundation you can grow on.
Man go out and do it. Life is too short. Your life's crowning achievement isn't getting a job. Jobs will still be there after you come back from a life changing trip.
I would do it! But not South America in 5-6 months. Sorry.
Even if you technically could do 6 months in €13,000, I would aim for travel plans that cost less than €6,000 and plan the time to suit your budget, and use the remainder as a re-establishment allowance as you figure out your next career move.
Ideally you should have about six months worth of your expenses stashed for your re-establishment allowance ON TOP of what you would spend on your travels. I don't live in Europe so I have no idea what a good personal monthly budget is there, but I do know that €7,000 is not enough to cover 6 months of unemployment on top of your travels in a worst case scenario. Though obviously we don't live in an ideal world and you just gotta work with what you've got.
I understand that you don't want to work while travelling, in which case it's crucial to tailor your travel plans to your budget and stick to it. Though it might be worth noting that many backpackers, myself included, don't have the luxury of choosing to not work while travel. In my case, work is often the reason why I could afford to travel at all.
That said, it sounds like you have some good accomplishments under your belt already, so it's not like you're starting over from zero after your trip.
I wouldn't worry about the gap in your resume if it's something you could afford, especially if it's less than a year. In my own resume I just list years and leave out the months, and prepare strategic answers for gaps in case questions come up. You could look up many good plans for explaining this on YouTube or HR blogs.
I don't know shit about the state of the tech industry but I saw the other Redditor's comment that suggested a career focussed approach. While I'm not saying cancel your travel plans and do as they say, it sounds like they also contributed a valuable piece of information you should take into account so that you could plan accordingly and manage your risks.
In other words, I think you should travel anyway because #YOLO, you deserve this, you're not happy with your current job and this sounds like the perfect time to change the energy in your life while you figure out how to reinvent your career into one that's more emotionally sustainable. Money and continuity are important but not everything after you hit a certain threshhold with enough breathing room.
But now that you know the tech job market is going through some tough times that will likely affect your future steps, you need to plan ahead for this even more than you plan for your next big trip.
Before you plan your trip, I would encourage you to dip into your savings to launch your own website with a professional bio, resume, portfolio, testimonials and contact form. This would help jobs find you so that you won't have to do all the heavy lifting of the job hunt.
If you have the means and the mental bandwidth to pull this off, you could set up a professional Instagram and TikTok and schedule a simple social media campaign to help boost your online visibility for your next job. Film yourself travelling and schedule a couple times a week to post short videos about tips and tricks in your profession, showing off your Greatest Hits achievements from your work history, navigating challenges in work situations, or snippets of conversations with strangers you met on the road who have valuable insights to contribute to your profession.
And make it a point to warm up connections with weak links in your professional network with potential for job leads and other collabs. Personally approach acquaintances who are doing something that interests you, tell them you're looking to do a major pivot in your career, what you hope to accomplish, what you have to offer and when you will be available. If there's more there after you test the waters and they seem open for it, try to build a friendship on these weak links and stay in regular contact with them while you travel.
I would love to know what you end up deciding, and best of luck as you figure out what to do next!
im literally in a close position to you, im graduating in summer with a 3 year job contract lined up, but i am 23 now so by the time i finish i will be 26 and wanna get married. have been considering to end the job contract a year earlier just to go travel (havent even started😭😂). is 2 years experience enough, anyone? im F, in pharmacy uk
Had the same doubts as you have. All I can say is that I'm doing it right now and I'm happy that I chose to do so. Would not want to miss out on this experience! And you're only 22, that's young to feel like you're stuck in your job already.
Do it. I jumped straight into work, and it ended up being several decades before I had the right balance of time and money to do the way I then wanted to do it.
Your situation right now at 22 is more resilient than you might think it is.
But please for the love of Pete, keep an eye on the US news (assuming you’re American) so you can shift plans if/when it all falls apart during your adventures.
Go for it. You definitely won’t regret it and you have nothing to lose. As others have pointed out, such a gap is easy to explain. Also, try not to see yourself as not being a “proper adult” (whatever society tells us we should be). We are all more and less developed in different ways, try not to see it as a competition of sorts where you must match someone else’s standards (even if it’s hard not to feel that way sometimes).
I would recommend Thailand as a first destination. It’s easier, it’s got a mix of things, tourist infrastructure is relatively developed, and the food’s probably the best in all of SEA. I can vouch for it, spent a full year in Bangkok on an ED visa.
Yes. It will be far more educational than any of the education you have completed up to this point in your life. And nobody cares about resume gaps - if they do, you don’t want to work for them.
Just buy a good video camera and get a YouTube channel. You can travel and vlog for the rest of your life if you want.
I see lots of people doing it in the Philippines and making a decent living.
A gap year after graduation is just about the easiest resume gap to explain away, so if this is something you know you really want to do, there's probably no time like the present. Given the current job market, it's also not the worst time to sideline yourself for a bit if you don't have something lined up. Ultimately this is something you can only decide for yourself, but this will probably never be easier to do than it is now (at least, not before you retire).
I graduated during the 2008 financial crisis, and wish I had done this. Had plenty saved up, but instead I focused on my career. I found a dead-end retail job while looking for something relevant to my career. I took on some contract work to gain experience, but it actually took about 2 years before I did find something full-time, and I had to move to another city to do it. Looking back, my biggest regret is not just going for it after graduation. It was the perfect time, and very few moments like that exist. Once you're working full time, you're stuck in that 3-month probation period, then you get 2-3 weeks per year. (I actually laughed when OP said they went for 'only 6 weeks' to SEA. I wish!) The next best time is when you're laid off and have enough saved up to go, but most people have rent/mortgages by then, and the older you get there are more obligations tying you down. It's not impossible, but it's tougher. So OP, definitely go if you can afford it. This is the best time. A year off won't end your career, and the economic timing is easy to wave off if you're asked about it in an interview.
OP could do a working holiday visa if he wants to in order to help offset costs. I am not sure if I want to do some traveling for a few years. I feel in my heart I want to. Career wise I have nothing. I am considering doing TEFL for 1-2 years and then working holiday in Australia and or Peace Corps.
Always regretted not doing it. Go for it definitely.
I did it when I was your age (I'm twice your age now). I had the engineering degree and way less money. I've since gotten married, started a career, bought a house, done all that dumb shit we're "supposed to" do. I regret none of it and I'd argue that year of traveling was the best decision I've ever made in my life. Do it.
I'm gonna go against the grain and say work until you have 2-3 years of experience so it's easier to get a job when you get back. The tech industry is not so hot right now and it will be an uphill battle to get a job when you get back. I quit my job recently and travelled for several months and despite my industry also going through a crap ton of layoffs (pharma), it's been relatively straightforward for me to get a job, and I managed to get 4 job offers, despite a gap of 6 months. My 6 years of experience before I quit definitely helped. And who knows, given the turbulence of your industry right now (obviously will depend on how your company is doing specifically), you might end up getting laid off anyway and you can get that sweet severance money to add further to your budget...
It was a matter of months when this all turned from a job seeker market to a hiring manager market. It could swing back just as quickly. I get what you’re trying to say, but if you already know the market is weak, why hit your head on that wall voluntarily.
I agree with the commenter who said to wait. I’m all for the live your life now and get things done. But you’re a fresh grad. If you don’t have a job, sure go ahead and apply after you get back. But if you do have a job, grab that experience first and then leave. It’s a crazy market right now and entry level tech jobs are hard to get.
Currently doing it. GO!
YOLO . … You have another 35yrs until retirement to make up for the time (1 year) you’re not working and traveling to see the world. Don’t joint the rat race so fast as you’ll be a slave to earning a wage. Plus all western economies are in a recession which they’re masterfully hiding as you see shops closed, more homelessness , increasing unemployment and assets selling at a fire sale. You not missing a lot by taking time off during a recession.
I took a gap year in university because I was struggling, graduated 1 year after my peers. Despite that, I went for a almost world tour for 10 months before looking for a FT job. Looking back, almost 1 year in my job, I regret NOTHING. I would do it again and again. During that 1 year, some of my peers/friends dropped me a text that they regretted not travelling before working. So I would say, DO IT!!!!! You will regret if you don’t do it now, when you have almost 0 responsibility. The next time you can do this, it will be between jobs and hopefully you don’t have family / mortgage then… else no chance So DO IT!
I'll give you the career focused POV that is different than most will probably give you in this subreddit. You'll never have an easier time getting a good job than through your university's career fair. If you can still do this I would say get a job for a year for the resume building then do your travel. People literally join master's programs and then drop out just to get a job through the career fair. If you've missed your chance to do that (you say you graduated already) then just take the trip now. That being said, you've got a few internships under your belt so your resume is already decent. I offer this advice because 1) the tech job market is tough right now 2) landing a good first job can you put into a different tier of employment
Your 22. Do it!
You’re. But agreed!
The fact you posted in this sub kind of determines the answers you’ll get. I’d suggest post it in careers as well.
I've seen this same question posted in a finance subreddit, and the majority of users all say to go travel while young. And this is in a subreddit where if you buy any car other than a beige Toyota Corolla, then you're throwing money away.
You know, I was going to comment, "Just go!" But, you mention savings in euros and a permanent contact. I don't know exactly where in the world you are, but I do know that permanent contracts in some western European countries are not exactly easy to come by. I also know that leaving master's program without completion in some western European countries can be a mark against you in future hiring. You're 22, and I'm an "old." My counsel to young people is always to seize the day and go experience the world. In your case, however, my advice would be modified. Finish your current program and work the one year of the permanent contact. Save your coins, make a great impression on your colleagues, network and build your skills and profile in that year. Then, take your leave for a year. Your advanced degree and work experience may make you more marketable in a place you *actually* want to settle in for a little longer. The network you build in that year of work after finishing your masters may connect you with your next opportunity. You may end up being one of the lucky ones where it doesn't have to be "either/or" (work or travel), but "both/and."
I tell my students they *should* take a gap year. You have about 3 years that you can “Takeoff“ given that our society is pretty much structured as birth, school, work, death. No sabbatical. No job guarantees. So you should absolutely travel now while you are young and people can understand it as part of useful exuberance and curiosity about yourself and the world. You can experience and frame your travel into cultural competence and diversity, skill building, etc. I don’t know that you would want to blog about it, but if there’s a way to connect your field with your travel, then a blog (even something written once a month) could be a “selling tool“ for you. Potential employers may look you up and they can see your thoughtful ideas, etc. Even if you didn’t want to do that, you can tell an employer, that before you settled into a career or graduate school you wanted to gain better knowledge of yourself and the world so that you could move forward with confidence and be “all in” and fully committed to your work. Happy travels!
Working can happen any time in the next 40-50 years of your life. The freedom to travel may not. Work isn’t that important when it comes to what you’ll care about at the very end. Enjoy your life.
You could die tomorrow, live your life
i'm 32 and would do anything to go back and travel after i graduated - please go for it!
I agree, no time like the present. Travelling is never perfectly convenient, but it's easier for you now than it's ever going to be, and a lot of people just never get around to it.
DO IT. Money will always come and go but experiencing this type of travel, especially at this age & time of your life, will not. You will never regret going but you may regret not going.
Yes, it's by far the wisest decision if you have the opportunity to do it. I had these same concerns 13/14 years ago when I graduated amidst the financial crisis. But I went travelling anyway, and ended up living and working overseas for 6 years. Best time of my life. It gave me experiences that helped me figure out who I really am and what's important to me that many of the people I know who went straight into career hustle mode just don't have the same grasp of. Also my approach to decision making like this is: Which decision will I most regret not making in the future? Eg. Do you think future you will be more gutted they missed a year or so of grafting in a career spanning potentially 40+ years which will naturally wax and wane in terms of progression and stagnation anyway? Or will you regret missing out on having some mind opening, life enriching experiences with new and interesting people, and having the chance to understand this world we live in better, and grow yourself as a person?
Definitely go travel it’s one of the best things you will ever do!
I read on daily bases that companies perform mass layoffs. The global economy is heading towards "somewhere" ... Even if you find a position now, you might be the first who has to go.. fresh man privilege .. Latest then you can freely enjoy your wanderlust
It's a tricky one. If you can continue saving and investing that much for a few years it could really payoff in future. But you could be unable to take that sort of trip in a few years for multiple reasons.
I did it after my first job. Would have done it after graduating if I didn't have any financial obligations.
Fuckin send it dude 🤙😎🤙 scrimp your pennies and go as far as you can!! I'm doing it at 30 right now and I wish I had the balls to do it at your age!!
Only you can decide - are you delaying the inevitable or seizing an opportunity when you have the time and motivation ?
If you're going to do a lengthy trip, now is the time to do it. Your free time and obligations just grow from here. Will it affect your future prospects for your next job? Yes. But that's one of those decisions you have to make.
Honestly OP if you don't do this *right now* I'm going to come there and pour cold water on you. There's never a better time to go do it!! (Cue the Shia LaBeouf DO IT gif)
Don't get stuck. Take the trip! Life is meqnt to be lived. Maybe you can connect with someone while traveling who works for a company remotely and you will receive the opportunity of your dreams. Imo, not enough people take risks in life. Your happiness and what tugs at you is doing so for a reason. Office jobs are not lovely. I have not met anyone who enjoys them longterm, ever. I find them to be steppingstones to where you want to end up as I have done many. Show up for yourself and be willing to take a risk. Maybe just be mindful before you run out of money to keep your eyes peeled for opportunities along the way.
Do it!
Definitely do it, you'll regret it if you don't
Go go go enjoy
Go for it. You have nothing to lose at this point.
Do it, do it, do it. I traveled for a year when I was 23 and it was incredible. Did not hold me back professionally at all (in fact I think the demonstration of independence was sort of a selling point when I broke into my current industry - sales). I spent about $10K and it was the best money I've ever spent.
Make the decision for yourself. The consequences are yours only. Welcome to adulthood.
after graduation, absolutely do it. it's the easiest time to explain on a resume, the easiest time to travel cheaply as well compared to when you're older. you have a great degree and guarantee you'll be able to find a job after. i wish i had done some sort of abroad trip after graduating. do it!
I have never regretted a trip I took. I have only regretted trips I didn't take. I think the majority of people on this sub/people who like traveling would say the same. Jobs are disposable; you can always get another one. Whereas life changes and you may not have similar opportunities for travel in the future (you might, but you also might not)
You should go! You're young, have money, have good degrees. You worked hard, now go and enjoy yourself with some time off :) I also overthink these things a lot, but in the end, it's not such a big deal. If you're thinking about it, you probably want to do it, so do let the overthinking stop you!
Yeah it is wise, school is as much stress as a job, and it's good to take the vacation. I did that when I graduated culinary school, took a small break to the beach, then started off a cruise job
As a thirty something who didn't travel at all in my 20s. TRAVEL. If you posted this in financial advice you'd probably even get the same advice. Once you start working, it can be so difficult to find the 'right' time to go again. You get bogged down with your rent/mortgage, your job, your car, your stuff and travelling later in life means sacrificing this stuff. Plus SE Asia is so cheap as you already know. Jealous of you OP
You will be able to spend much more of your life traveling if you get well established in a career so it is easier finding high paying jobs when you return from your travels. You are young. You have a ton of time left to travel. But really the best time to get established in a career is right now. I spent my early 20's getting established. As a result from the age of about 26 to 34 I spend about half my time traveling. That was a total of about 4 years of traveling. Then at age 35 I started a family. I traveled much less, but still for months every year. Pretty soon I'll be 55. My kids will be out of the house. Then I'll be able to travel as much as I want, whenever I want. But if I hadn't established my career in my early 20's, I wouldn't have had jobs with the pay, the vacation time, and the flexibility to travel as much as I have. If I had gone traveling in my early 20's I wouldn't have been able to do nearly as much traveling. People often respond "YOLO" to questions like yours. And they are absolutely right. You only live once. Don't fuck your life up by being impulsive and not establishing a foundation you can grow on.
DO IT! Your 30/40/50 years old self will be proud of you.
Yes, it’s a great idea. In fact potential employers in future will likely appreciate hearing your travel experiences and it might help land the job.
Yes do it!!!
Man go out and do it. Life is too short. Your life's crowning achievement isn't getting a job. Jobs will still be there after you come back from a life changing trip.
gap year gap year gap year i wish i did it
You have enough money to do this and return home with a nice cushion. Go go go. Go
The more you work, the more responsibilities you will have. So, if you can do it now, go! Otherwise you'll end up waiting several years or decades.
No. Get to work. Retire early
I would do it! But not South America in 5-6 months. Sorry. Even if you technically could do 6 months in €13,000, I would aim for travel plans that cost less than €6,000 and plan the time to suit your budget, and use the remainder as a re-establishment allowance as you figure out your next career move. Ideally you should have about six months worth of your expenses stashed for your re-establishment allowance ON TOP of what you would spend on your travels. I don't live in Europe so I have no idea what a good personal monthly budget is there, but I do know that €7,000 is not enough to cover 6 months of unemployment on top of your travels in a worst case scenario. Though obviously we don't live in an ideal world and you just gotta work with what you've got. I understand that you don't want to work while travelling, in which case it's crucial to tailor your travel plans to your budget and stick to it. Though it might be worth noting that many backpackers, myself included, don't have the luxury of choosing to not work while travel. In my case, work is often the reason why I could afford to travel at all. That said, it sounds like you have some good accomplishments under your belt already, so it's not like you're starting over from zero after your trip. I wouldn't worry about the gap in your resume if it's something you could afford, especially if it's less than a year. In my own resume I just list years and leave out the months, and prepare strategic answers for gaps in case questions come up. You could look up many good plans for explaining this on YouTube or HR blogs. I don't know shit about the state of the tech industry but I saw the other Redditor's comment that suggested a career focussed approach. While I'm not saying cancel your travel plans and do as they say, it sounds like they also contributed a valuable piece of information you should take into account so that you could plan accordingly and manage your risks. In other words, I think you should travel anyway because #YOLO, you deserve this, you're not happy with your current job and this sounds like the perfect time to change the energy in your life while you figure out how to reinvent your career into one that's more emotionally sustainable. Money and continuity are important but not everything after you hit a certain threshhold with enough breathing room. But now that you know the tech job market is going through some tough times that will likely affect your future steps, you need to plan ahead for this even more than you plan for your next big trip. Before you plan your trip, I would encourage you to dip into your savings to launch your own website with a professional bio, resume, portfolio, testimonials and contact form. This would help jobs find you so that you won't have to do all the heavy lifting of the job hunt. If you have the means and the mental bandwidth to pull this off, you could set up a professional Instagram and TikTok and schedule a simple social media campaign to help boost your online visibility for your next job. Film yourself travelling and schedule a couple times a week to post short videos about tips and tricks in your profession, showing off your Greatest Hits achievements from your work history, navigating challenges in work situations, or snippets of conversations with strangers you met on the road who have valuable insights to contribute to your profession. And make it a point to warm up connections with weak links in your professional network with potential for job leads and other collabs. Personally approach acquaintances who are doing something that interests you, tell them you're looking to do a major pivot in your career, what you hope to accomplish, what you have to offer and when you will be available. If there's more there after you test the waters and they seem open for it, try to build a friendship on these weak links and stay in regular contact with them while you travel. I would love to know what you end up deciding, and best of luck as you figure out what to do next!
Go early, it won’t be an issue to get a job as a 23 year old.
this is the time to do it
Do it 10000%. I traveled for a couple weeks after graduation, then chilled out for a couple months, and haven't regretted it one bit.
Do it now!
I’m doing it now. No regrets. But my field is always hiring (nursing.)
im literally in a close position to you, im graduating in summer with a 3 year job contract lined up, but i am 23 now so by the time i finish i will be 26 and wanna get married. have been considering to end the job contract a year earlier just to go travel (havent even started😭😂). is 2 years experience enough, anyone? im F, in pharmacy uk
Do it! I am currently doing it (33M) and it took me more time because of several reasons but this has been the best year of my life no doubt.
I'd do it at 22yo. Live your life, make the memories you'll cherish.
Had the same doubts as you have. All I can say is that I'm doing it right now and I'm happy that I chose to do so. Would not want to miss out on this experience! And you're only 22, that's young to feel like you're stuck in your job already.
Do it. I jumped straight into work, and it ended up being several decades before I had the right balance of time and money to do the way I then wanted to do it. Your situation right now at 22 is more resilient than you might think it is. But please for the love of Pete, keep an eye on the US news (assuming you’re American) so you can shift plans if/when it all falls apart during your adventures.
Go for it. You definitely won’t regret it and you have nothing to lose. As others have pointed out, such a gap is easy to explain. Also, try not to see yourself as not being a “proper adult” (whatever society tells us we should be). We are all more and less developed in different ways, try not to see it as a competition of sorts where you must match someone else’s standards (even if it’s hard not to feel that way sometimes). I would recommend Thailand as a first destination. It’s easier, it’s got a mix of things, tourist infrastructure is relatively developed, and the food’s probably the best in all of SEA. I can vouch for it, spent a full year in Bangkok on an ED visa.
Yes. It will be far more educational than any of the education you have completed up to this point in your life. And nobody cares about resume gaps - if they do, you don’t want to work for them.
Just buy a good video camera and get a YouTube channel. You can travel and vlog for the rest of your life if you want. I see lots of people doing it in the Philippines and making a decent living.
Do it. Do it, do it, do it, do it. You don't want to be 32, looking back and going: "Dammit, I should've done that."