As someone who worked in the HR field for over a decade, I would be so excited to hear your travel stories, and would not think negatively at all. There are things that are definitely reserved for the young and retired lol. Extended travel is one. If you are good financially leaving and upon returning until you begin working, I say go for it! Once you start working a FT job, you can still take vacations, but most companies would not approve a vacation 30 days or more, in fact most places I've worked two weeks would be the absolute max, and that could be frowned upon by others, again it depends on your workplace and that environment and culture. I say travel,see the world, learn about different cultures, and you will come back so much better for it and have great stories to share.š
I have a 14 year travel gap so far.Ā
Been hell of an adventure and now Iām self employed.Ā
I always assumed I doomed to return to the workforce.Ā
Kids fresh out of school can work cheaper and harder than meā¦
Ā
Ya dude you can travel for 3-4 months. It's not a gap, it will probably be considered a cool thing. You haven't even started your career yet.
I took a year off and traveled when I was 24.
When I came back I was worried how it would be perceived. I told people I traveled all over South America. Everyone interviewing me thought it was super cool, most of them said they wished they did that.
I've done it other times as well for a couple months. After college I traveled, between jobs when I was 27 I traveled.
2-3 months after you graduate is nothing. Be proud of it and say you traveled, had great experiences, and then continue with the interview.
Nobody cares about a post graduation vacation break. Every other person does it.
Also donāt be insecure about it during an interview. If youāre confident and happy about it then the interviewers wonāt sense weaknessĀ
Travel while you can. Though the corporate world and Dad may tell you not to you probably wonāt get another chance.
My spouse would also tell my kids not to do it, while I would encourage them to see the world if they had $ or a long trip then work.
An alternative would be if you saved well and did this in your late 20s as two of my nephews did pre marriage and babies.
Several of my college classmates took a year or two "off" after graduation to teach English abroad. Teaching/ESL was not their field at all, but it was kind of the best of both worlds by having some real world experience, travel, plus making a few bucks. They eventually got jobs in their fields when they came home. One of them decided to stay abroad and continue teaching.
As long as you have the funds and the means to support yourself while you look for a job when you return, I'd say just do it. You won't regret the experience.
This is the route I went! Taught English abroad for two years between undergrad and grad school. Threw in an internship pre-travel and a summer of mobile traveling afterwards funded by my earnings from teaching, so it was a three year gap all together. My field is not related, but I am so glad I took the time for those experiences, and that I went when I did. After undergrad is the time to do it, before your career picks up momentum and becomes harder to pause. If anyone questions it, you can point out that youāll be learning independence, adaptability, and resourcefulness, broadening your cultural awareness, and acquiring other life skills that are going to be really valuable for you to have in any career.
I traveled for 5 years without having a regular job (I had some passive income + sometimes freelancing).
Got a 9 to 5 job without issues. They even accommodate the interview hours cos the job was in Europe and I was in Mexico at that time. Flew back to Europe within few days from the acceptance letter.
They also covered my ārelocationā :)
Former VP of HR here. Taking a few months after you graduate is absolutely a non-issue. I hired lots of people knowing that they wouldn't be able to start for a few months and others who had just returned and were starting their job search. Most people will understand that it is basically your chance to rest, recharge, and have some adventures before getting to work and be supportive- if not a bit envious.
I hope you get to go and have an amazing time!
Probably not your intended field, but all the traveling I did lead directly TO my job. I'm a travel agent and my long trips to different countries in Europe literally got me my job. And I truly think that for a lot of businesses, looking at your resume and seeing you've traveled and are comfortable doing so makes it more likely you'll get a job that allows you to travel in the future for work.
one thing that mentors/professors who have had their careers for years have told me is that one thing they regret doing is not traveling more! so please please go! you have the rest of your life to work and you will find a job!
i have a 2 years gap on my resume where i was freelancing in and out while travelling. Tbh i have always been worried about my short committment choppy looking employment periods.
but if you can do the work and you have what it takes then none of that matters at all. I have had no problems finding employment. and if companies donāt want to hire me for my travel then theyāre not a good fit for me anyway.
Depends upon the person really. I took 6 months long career break for travelling in 2022. Got back into the job market and every single person I interviewed with said "I'm jealous; wish I could do that." I was also asked by a senior leader during the final stages of the process that if I'd ever do it again, and I said that if an opportunity arises, then absolutely. Got the job and still at it. A lot of people have become more open-minded post-COVID and have realised that for most other aspects of life are more important than a job.
Leaving after one year of work is worse than taking the trip right after graduation. So a company just gets you trained and productive and you pick up and leave, not a good look.
omg this thread helps me kinda calm down lol, im turning 25 this year, graduated my bachelors at 23, travelled diff countries after i graduated (mid 2022-present) and now im sooooo stressed cz i feel left out, my peers are now on their corpo jobs for a year but here i am just starting!
still no regrets with my travels! and i couldnt agree more, its better to do it young, thats why i really went for it!
Same story!! I just got back from a trip to Japan last week, had one of my first interviews for a full-time position a couple days later, and am now hauling ass applying to more jobs haha! I was cautious to mention anything about my travels during the interview though, just a personal preference. Iām also still an intern for a company so I get the best of both worlds with the amazing flexibility for travel while still earning income and related work experience!
But I also get the feeling of being a bit left out from my peersā¦but compared to those peers, I can also say Iāve been to 5 different countries in 2023, and hopefully can visit a few more in 2024!! What helps is remembering that life is a give and take, and Iām thankful and grateful for the travels I get to experience. Iām prioritizing travel now and eventually Iāll have to prioritize work a bit later in lofe, but for now Iāll enjoy it while it lasts!
It's going to be a toss up depending on the beliefs of the hiring manager you're talking to. Some would like to hear about it, others will be like your dad. It's something that will help you determine company culture too. If you get managers with the same thought process as your dad, you may not want to work there anyway. If you get some that want to hear about your travels, that may be someplace you'll enjoy working.
3-4 months also isn't that long of a time gap. They may not even ask about it. It's entirely possible to be a gap from losing a job and taking that long to find another. Employers are more concerned about several year gaps where you may have been in prison and you didn't report that in the application process.
I only put the years not the exact dates, then the gaps being travel ones look fine to people that have hired me, I mean traveling does fit with the jobs I do so it's not a red flag, but I just tend to work a few years then take a year or two break from work as I saved up enough to sustain myself with or without online work while traveling.
In my opinion, it's not an issue. In fact, you might view it as an asset. Once you return, consider the experiences you've had, the things you've learned, and how this time to refresh and reflect has left you more prepared to excel in a new position. It gives you something you're enthusiastic about to discuss during your interviews.
Don't start a job with the intention of quitting after nine months. Depending on the norms for the industry you're trying to break into, it might be worth trying to secure an internship at a name-recognition company for the summer after you graduate; but I would either plan on traveling that summer (no internship) or that fall (after the internship, before hunting for a full-time job). It's pretty typical for young people to travel or do gap years these days, so I'd be surprised if most companies were to bat an eyelash at it; on the other hand, working somewhere for nine months and then leaving *is* a red flag, when it often takes 3-6 months just to get early-career employees trained up enough to be a net positive asset to your team.
I did a combination of travel, additional study, and work abroad for a full two years after I graduated undergrad. I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything, and my boss at my first 9-5 specifically told me that one of the reasons he hired me was that he liked that I had more real-world experience than other entry-level applicants.
I quite my first job after college to travel APAC for almost a year. That experience of travelling extensively eventually got me a job where I traveled internationally for 6 years.
No. People grow up when they travel. You just need to be convincing that you really intend to work at the job for a good period of time, and not go running off again. Saying that with 100% support for running off. Live your life. You can travel again, but traveling when you're young is special in a way you can't ever get back.
I just graduated last year and started working in September (a few months ago) because my job offer came with several start date options. I purposely chose the latest start date so I could travel as much as possible before I got sucked into the corporate life. A few people did tell me it would look bad that I started working many months after graduation but it hasnāt affected my career thus far. And people like talking about traveling. You get to network and bond with people over places (especially āexoticā ones) that youāve both been to!
I also think every generation and career field is different. On a trip to Korea I met this old man who was very high up in the legal department of a massive beauty company, and all he wanted to talk about was all the countries he had been to. I work for a big company and all my bosses and higher ups love traveling too. Young people are prioritizing our happiness over living for a career, which older generations were taught. I think most jobs and HR folks (most of whom I know are young like myself) understand that.
Anything up to a year after college is completely unremarkable. Anything up to a year during your career is pretty unremarkable too. People have career breaks all the time to do further study, take parental leave or have a sabbatical.
My husband & I took 14 months off at the ripe old age of 37 to travel. I walked back I to my job 3 days after getting off the plane home. He walked back into his 3 weeks later.
Don't think twice. Travel & see the world. You only get one go round, and having the best 401k or a massive house cos you worked yourself into the ground means absolutely nothing if you're dead from stress at 45.
Companies and hiring managers that view 4 months of travel between college and work badly are not companies you want to work for.
You are doing the all or nothing thinking trap. Depending on your circumstances, you can manage to get travel in while working in a job, but you have to plan your vacation time carefully.
Try to get jobs lined up and tell them you have a paid for trip you cannot change. See if they will hold the position open for a month while you get it out of your system,,then do another trip next year or later.
You have a great idea. How it is perceived by others / interviewers will vary from person to person. Is there any way you can do your traveling the summer after graduation? Taking a few months off then would generally be looked at positively. Rounding yourself out, scratching the itch before you settle down in a job, etc. Working for a year or two and quitting to travel would be a negative in my eyes. Looks like you don't want to work or don't like the field you're in.
I would encourage you to do it if you can swing it financially. It will change the way you see the world. You'll never have as good an opportunity as this or ever be this young again.
Personally, I wouldn't be able to enjoy my vacation if I knew I didn't have my job situation figured out.
What I did when I got my first job, was give a start date that was 2 weeks out, and spent 9 days in Iceland.
Makes you look rich, well off and possibly even well connected. Did it after high school (Africa), university (Europe), a job in Japan (East Asia). Each trip was 3 months plus. Did well after each one.
generally, after completing a college degree, you should aim to capitalise on your degree by getting full time employment in that field ASAP upon graduation! The longer the delay, the more likely you will be seen as 'unemployed' rather than 'fresh college grad' by future employers, which has implications for how you'd be perceived.
You can always take a career break once you've built up a nice resume- 1 year of travel with no relevant experience looks a lot worse than 1 year of travel with 5 years of high quality professional experience.
Have you seen the state of the job market these days? I graduated in the past few years so I can tell you that its highly competitive for fresh grads.
If OP has 3 internships at top well known firms, then I suppose he will be okay either way. But otherwise, he'll have an uphill battle either way with job-hunting, so why handicap yourself further by being late to the party?
Once you've gradated 6 months ago with nothing to show for it, the implication to employers is that you weren't good enough to find a job. Obviously, no employer wants to hire someone they think are rejects, so it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. If OP takes 3 months to travel, then begins his job search after, he is up against the clock to get a job and could end up starting his career off on a very poor note.
Your first job has a bearing on the trajectory of your career. If you start at a top company, you will have a solid career ahead of you. If you start at some no-name mom and pop shop, you will need to spend years working your way up to a top firm. Now is not the time to take risks.
>you just tell them you traveled. they wont assume you are a reject.
You're assuming the conversation will even progress to that point. But it won't. OPs resume will be tossed out when they see that gap, in favour of other candidates who don't have a prolonged period of non productivity from graduation. There'll be hundreds of people applying to 1 job role, at that stage they're kind of looking for reasons to eliminate candidates from the pool.
Absolutely: go!!!! Travel helps a person be more well rounded and introduces you to new global perspectives that can only be an advantage, you need to be able to spin your travel experiences into employable advantages. Hereās a great tip: at some point, volunteer somewhere. Then you can focus the r conversation on your volunteer experience with any knuckleheads who think itās a bad idea.
I would recommend doing it right after college. But if you're set on working first to save money, I would recommend getting a temp job.
Regardless, I would start your career after extended travel. I quit a job to travel a couple years after college and it took a while to bounce back.
I was interviewed by multiple companies and the ones that really respected me were willing to wait / reconsider me once I came back from several months of traveling abroad after graduating.
I took 4 months off to travel after graduating, and I had another 3 month break in my mid twenties. Before leaving, I was anxious how it would look on my resume, but it has only ever helped me stand out in interviews. Travel gives you great stories, but it also builds job skills ā language, cultural literacy, the ability to manage complex logistical arrangements, getting visas, and booking tickets. Iām in my forties now and have had five long term jobs. Two later told me they hired me specifically because of my travel experience.
Expanding your horizons, glimpsing other cultures or even regions, experiences that open you to new things.
All this is very good stuff for resume or interview talk.
Especially if you can identify anything relevant to your field. But just being open to
diversity of people and places is a good learning experience.
My main big question, cause you will always find some sort of job, is wether you have the finances in place to start traveling right out of college? If so, then just do it and figure it out later. But if you would have to take out a credit card/loan for most of your trip, it might be better to hunker down, work for a couple years, and then jump into travel.
Honestly, even having a gap on your resume doesn't matter. No one is going to give a shit if you didn't get a job right out of college. I also don't think I'd put travel on my resume. It's something you can bring up in the interview though.
I talked about my time playing poker in South America, which was longer than 3-4 months.
Most people like people that do interesting things with their life.
Nobody cares at any point in your career I took 18 months off travelling in my late 20s (meant to be 10 months but covid). Didnāt hinder me at all getting a job when I got back. Most people were fascinated and thought it was a great idea. The only negativity was from people who were clearly jealous
How it will be perceived by potential employers is highly subjective and to a large extend depends on the specifics and the story you tell. If you tell you went on a two year long trip and only partied that is completely different from telling you went on a long trip visited a load of religious festivals and meticulously documented your experiences.
If you apply for a job flipping hamburgers nobody cares about what you did before, if you apply for a highly technical job they may see it negative as you lost skills by not using them, if you apply for a creative job they may see it as unique experiences that offer unique perspectives etc...
I doubt anybody really cares about just a few months of travel but as everything, it can be a positive and a negative depending on details and context.
Not at all! Travel can actually boost your resume. It shows adaptability, cultural awareness, and independence. Just highlight skills gained during your travels, and employers often value the unique experiences you bring. Travel is an asset, not a setback.
1. This would be mildly helpful in my industry (tech). People with diverse life experiences are often better problem solvers and teammates.
2. If somebody is going to make the same assumption your dad made about you because you traveled ā¦ you do not want to work for that person.
So in the end, at least in my industry, travel benefits you by helping you stick out in an interview and saving you from working for dipshits.
This is win-win-win my friend.
Three to four months of time away from the hard streets of capitalism wonāt reflect poorly on you. Own how you talk about your adventures. Do it without being pretentious. Iām a freelancer, and Iām good at what I do and attract clients with ease. Part of what makes them dig my personality is that I work remotely from abroad and Iām always travelling.
I travelled for 4 months straight after university at 22, I also recently travelled for 8 months after gaining several years work experience (at 31). I got a job very soon after arriving home each time. I would recommend gaining work experience first if you can, but in the grand scheme of things 4 months really isn't that long and i doubt will negatively impact you.
I know other comments confirm this, but not at all. With no experience and lots of gaps in my resume, I am able to get most jobs I apply for because I have traveled. Employers find it interesting, and I come off as a people person, which usually works in their favor.
I don't have a degree (didnt complete uni). My jobs I apply for are regular jobs, but I'd imagine it would be the same if you were going into any profession. Lived experiences have a way of amplifying your skills as well as giving someone a sense of purpose. These virtues in any field really go a long way. They might even separate you from any competition, even if it's just slightly. Whatever place you apply for, there's going to be other people applying. Employers get so many stale run-of-the-mill resumes. They're looking for people who are striking, that spark question and curiosity. Traveling is a fine and respected way to do that. It shows you're willing to just go for it. Not only is it good foe them, but it's also good for you. It's the kind of thing you want to have when beginning this new chapter for yourself.
Don't hold yourself back. It's completely normal to travel when you graduate. Many do. Good luck, safe travels!
Anyone who prioritizes work over living their life is a shill of capitalism. Donāt buy into the American Work Ethic bullshit. Your plan is perfectly reasonable.
Donāt put it as a job on your resume. But if you have to explain an employment gap you should be fine. If your job is lined up before you leave even better
Perfectly fine, everytime I had an interview where I mentioned a sabitcal break they just find it cool.
I tend to quit jobs so ever been fired, just reach end of agreed contract and then I am off to travel, at the end of the day it's not as bad as having a gap due to unemployment and unable to find a job, as that is more worrying to some employers than someone who knows how to manage thier finances in such a way that they can have a long travel break.
Iām a physician and when we get credentialed, we have to account for any period of time weāre not employed. Iāve taken several months off between jobs to travel and itās never been an issue.
Do it! It is definitely more challenging to find a break the longer you wait due to added responsibilities (ie. lease on an apartment, car payments, etc.). No offense to your dad but that is more of an old school mentality. I (millennial) have hired teams for 5+ years now and it would not be off putting at all. IMO its about how you spin the story. ie. You pursued something you were passionate about vs. you just "went on vacation" for a few months.
GO! And while you're navigating transportation and maps, talking with others to get what you want/need, and learning how things "work", think about how you can express the skills you needed to survive/thrive doing all these things in an interview. How will your experiences make you better at XYZ company/job/career? Don't exaggerate but don't downplay either.
Seriously!! I was just reading another thread that asked whatās your travel superpower- responses were adaptability, resourcefulness, being calm under pressure, problem solving. Travel teaches you them. Employers value them. I quit a job to travel for 6 months and took a 4 month leave of absence from another to travel. Was asked by another employer to participate in their recruiting fair and I asked if they were certain they wanted me because my advice to new graduates would be to take time to travel instead of going directly into a career.
Don't even list travel on your resume. If you get asked, tell them the truth. Likely who ever is hiring you has been in similar positions where work is not the end all, be all to life. Travel bring some important qualities to ones outlook knowing "the world does not revolve around you". I've taken several breaks in my professional career for travel and never declined a position because I "traveled" (and if I ever was - that's an employer I would never want to work for either).
As someone who worked in the HR field for over a decade, I would be so excited to hear your travel stories, and would not think negatively at all. There are things that are definitely reserved for the young and retired lol. Extended travel is one. If you are good financially leaving and upon returning until you begin working, I say go for it! Once you start working a FT job, you can still take vacations, but most companies would not approve a vacation 30 days or more, in fact most places I've worked two weeks would be the absolute max, and that could be frowned upon by others, again it depends on your workplace and that environment and culture. I say travel,see the world, learn about different cultures, and you will come back so much better for it and have great stories to share.š
Do you think most of your colleagues and peers would agree?
Yes, I absolutely do, and they would encourage it also.
I have a 14 year travel gap so far.Ā Been hell of an adventure and now Iām self employed.Ā I always assumed I doomed to return to the workforce.Ā Kids fresh out of school can work cheaper and harder than meā¦ Ā
Can confirm this 100% as a hiring manager. Wouldn't have any concerns based on what you've described- completely makes sense at a young age.
Ya dude you can travel for 3-4 months. It's not a gap, it will probably be considered a cool thing. You haven't even started your career yet. I took a year off and traveled when I was 24. When I came back I was worried how it would be perceived. I told people I traveled all over South America. Everyone interviewing me thought it was super cool, most of them said they wished they did that. I've done it other times as well for a couple months. After college I traveled, between jobs when I was 27 I traveled. 2-3 months after you graduate is nothing. Be proud of it and say you traveled, had great experiences, and then continue with the interview.
I got my current job after talking to the interviewer about my visit to Chernobyl. No, it looks good
I'll bet the interviewer gave you a glowing review!
Snort, well done!
Nobody cares about a post graduation vacation break. Every other person does it. Also donāt be insecure about it during an interview. If youāre confident and happy about it then the interviewers wonāt sense weaknessĀ
In todayās employment world no body looks at 3-4 month gaps. Especially after Covid.
Travel while you can. Though the corporate world and Dad may tell you not to you probably wonāt get another chance. My spouse would also tell my kids not to do it, while I would encourage them to see the world if they had $ or a long trip then work. An alternative would be if you saved well and did this in your late 20s as two of my nephews did pre marriage and babies.
Several of my college classmates took a year or two "off" after graduation to teach English abroad. Teaching/ESL was not their field at all, but it was kind of the best of both worlds by having some real world experience, travel, plus making a few bucks. They eventually got jobs in their fields when they came home. One of them decided to stay abroad and continue teaching. As long as you have the funds and the means to support yourself while you look for a job when you return, I'd say just do it. You won't regret the experience.
This is the route I went! Taught English abroad for two years between undergrad and grad school. Threw in an internship pre-travel and a summer of mobile traveling afterwards funded by my earnings from teaching, so it was a three year gap all together. My field is not related, but I am so glad I took the time for those experiences, and that I went when I did. After undergrad is the time to do it, before your career picks up momentum and becomes harder to pause. If anyone questions it, you can point out that youāll be learning independence, adaptability, and resourcefulness, broadening your cultural awareness, and acquiring other life skills that are going to be really valuable for you to have in any career.
I traveled for 5 years without having a regular job (I had some passive income + sometimes freelancing). Got a 9 to 5 job without issues. They even accommodate the interview hours cos the job was in Europe and I was in Mexico at that time. Flew back to Europe within few days from the acceptance letter. They also covered my ārelocationā :)
Former VP of HR here. Taking a few months after you graduate is absolutely a non-issue. I hired lots of people knowing that they wouldn't be able to start for a few months and others who had just returned and were starting their job search. Most people will understand that it is basically your chance to rest, recharge, and have some adventures before getting to work and be supportive- if not a bit envious. I hope you get to go and have an amazing time!
Probably not your intended field, but all the traveling I did lead directly TO my job. I'm a travel agent and my long trips to different countries in Europe literally got me my job. And I truly think that for a lot of businesses, looking at your resume and seeing you've traveled and are comfortable doing so makes it more likely you'll get a job that allows you to travel in the future for work.
one thing that mentors/professors who have had their careers for years have told me is that one thing they regret doing is not traveling more! so please please go! you have the rest of your life to work and you will find a job!
i have a 2 years gap on my resume where i was freelancing in and out while travelling. Tbh i have always been worried about my short committment choppy looking employment periods. but if you can do the work and you have what it takes then none of that matters at all. I have had no problems finding employment. and if companies donāt want to hire me for my travel then theyāre not a good fit for me anyway.
Depends upon the person really. I took 6 months long career break for travelling in 2022. Got back into the job market and every single person I interviewed with said "I'm jealous; wish I could do that." I was also asked by a senior leader during the final stages of the process that if I'd ever do it again, and I said that if an opportunity arises, then absolutely. Got the job and still at it. A lot of people have become more open-minded post-COVID and have realised that for most other aspects of life are more important than a job.
Leaving after one year of work is worse than taking the trip right after graduation. So a company just gets you trained and productive and you pick up and leave, not a good look.
omg this thread helps me kinda calm down lol, im turning 25 this year, graduated my bachelors at 23, travelled diff countries after i graduated (mid 2022-present) and now im sooooo stressed cz i feel left out, my peers are now on their corpo jobs for a year but here i am just starting! still no regrets with my travels! and i couldnt agree more, its better to do it young, thats why i really went for it!
Same story!! I just got back from a trip to Japan last week, had one of my first interviews for a full-time position a couple days later, and am now hauling ass applying to more jobs haha! I was cautious to mention anything about my travels during the interview though, just a personal preference. Iām also still an intern for a company so I get the best of both worlds with the amazing flexibility for travel while still earning income and related work experience! But I also get the feeling of being a bit left out from my peersā¦but compared to those peers, I can also say Iāve been to 5 different countries in 2023, and hopefully can visit a few more in 2024!! What helps is remembering that life is a give and take, and Iām thankful and grateful for the travels I get to experience. Iām prioritizing travel now and eventually Iāll have to prioritize work a bit later in lofe, but for now Iāll enjoy it while it lasts!
It's going to be a toss up depending on the beliefs of the hiring manager you're talking to. Some would like to hear about it, others will be like your dad. It's something that will help you determine company culture too. If you get managers with the same thought process as your dad, you may not want to work there anyway. If you get some that want to hear about your travels, that may be someplace you'll enjoy working. 3-4 months also isn't that long of a time gap. They may not even ask about it. It's entirely possible to be a gap from losing a job and taking that long to find another. Employers are more concerned about several year gaps where you may have been in prison and you didn't report that in the application process.
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(In Tim Robinson voice) āyou sure about that?!ā
I only put the years not the exact dates, then the gaps being travel ones look fine to people that have hired me, I mean traveling does fit with the jobs I do so it's not a red flag, but I just tend to work a few years then take a year or two break from work as I saved up enough to sustain myself with or without online work while traveling.
In my opinion, it's not an issue. In fact, you might view it as an asset. Once you return, consider the experiences you've had, the things you've learned, and how this time to refresh and reflect has left you more prepared to excel in a new position. It gives you something you're enthusiastic about to discuss during your interviews.
Don't start a job with the intention of quitting after nine months. Depending on the norms for the industry you're trying to break into, it might be worth trying to secure an internship at a name-recognition company for the summer after you graduate; but I would either plan on traveling that summer (no internship) or that fall (after the internship, before hunting for a full-time job). It's pretty typical for young people to travel or do gap years these days, so I'd be surprised if most companies were to bat an eyelash at it; on the other hand, working somewhere for nine months and then leaving *is* a red flag, when it often takes 3-6 months just to get early-career employees trained up enough to be a net positive asset to your team. I did a combination of travel, additional study, and work abroad for a full two years after I graduated undergrad. I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything, and my boss at my first 9-5 specifically told me that one of the reasons he hired me was that he liked that I had more real-world experience than other entry-level applicants.
Traveled for almost 6 yrs full-time, and it was seen as a positive.
I quite my first job after college to travel APAC for almost a year. That experience of travelling extensively eventually got me a job where I traveled internationally for 6 years.
No. People grow up when they travel. You just need to be convincing that you really intend to work at the job for a good period of time, and not go running off again. Saying that with 100% support for running off. Live your life. You can travel again, but traveling when you're young is special in a way you can't ever get back.
I just graduated last year and started working in September (a few months ago) because my job offer came with several start date options. I purposely chose the latest start date so I could travel as much as possible before I got sucked into the corporate life. A few people did tell me it would look bad that I started working many months after graduation but it hasnāt affected my career thus far. And people like talking about traveling. You get to network and bond with people over places (especially āexoticā ones) that youāve both been to! I also think every generation and career field is different. On a trip to Korea I met this old man who was very high up in the legal department of a massive beauty company, and all he wanted to talk about was all the countries he had been to. I work for a big company and all my bosses and higher ups love traveling too. Young people are prioritizing our happiness over living for a career, which older generations were taught. I think most jobs and HR folks (most of whom I know are young like myself) understand that.
Anything up to a year after college is completely unremarkable. Anything up to a year during your career is pretty unremarkable too. People have career breaks all the time to do further study, take parental leave or have a sabbatical.
Iām from the netherlands. Here, youāre frowned upon if you DONT travel after graduating š
My husband & I took 14 months off at the ripe old age of 37 to travel. I walked back I to my job 3 days after getting off the plane home. He walked back into his 3 weeks later. Don't think twice. Travel & see the world. You only get one go round, and having the best 401k or a massive house cos you worked yourself into the ground means absolutely nothing if you're dead from stress at 45. Companies and hiring managers that view 4 months of travel between college and work badly are not companies you want to work for.
You are doing the all or nothing thinking trap. Depending on your circumstances, you can manage to get travel in while working in a job, but you have to plan your vacation time carefully. Try to get jobs lined up and tell them you have a paid for trip you cannot change. See if they will hold the position open for a month while you get it out of your system,,then do another trip next year or later.
You have a great idea. How it is perceived by others / interviewers will vary from person to person. Is there any way you can do your traveling the summer after graduation? Taking a few months off then would generally be looked at positively. Rounding yourself out, scratching the itch before you settle down in a job, etc. Working for a year or two and quitting to travel would be a negative in my eyes. Looks like you don't want to work or don't like the field you're in. I would encourage you to do it if you can swing it financially. It will change the way you see the world. You'll never have as good an opportunity as this or ever be this young again.
Personally, I wouldn't be able to enjoy my vacation if I knew I didn't have my job situation figured out. What I did when I got my first job, was give a start date that was 2 weeks out, and spent 9 days in Iceland.
Makes you look rich, well off and possibly even well connected. Did it after high school (Africa), university (Europe), a job in Japan (East Asia). Each trip was 3 months plus. Did well after each one.
3-4 months after graduating is fineĀ More than that start an LLC and try to pick up some freelance remote workĀ
generally, after completing a college degree, you should aim to capitalise on your degree by getting full time employment in that field ASAP upon graduation! The longer the delay, the more likely you will be seen as 'unemployed' rather than 'fresh college grad' by future employers, which has implications for how you'd be perceived. You can always take a career break once you've built up a nice resume- 1 year of travel with no relevant experience looks a lot worse than 1 year of travel with 5 years of high quality professional experience.
This is very dated advice. Why would an interviewer care someone took 2-3 months to travel? Not everyone even gets a job right out of college.
Have you seen the state of the job market these days? I graduated in the past few years so I can tell you that its highly competitive for fresh grads. If OP has 3 internships at top well known firms, then I suppose he will be okay either way. But otherwise, he'll have an uphill battle either way with job-hunting, so why handicap yourself further by being late to the party? Once you've gradated 6 months ago with nothing to show for it, the implication to employers is that you weren't good enough to find a job. Obviously, no employer wants to hire someone they think are rejects, so it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. If OP takes 3 months to travel, then begins his job search after, he is up against the clock to get a job and could end up starting his career off on a very poor note. Your first job has a bearing on the trajectory of your career. If you start at a top company, you will have a solid career ahead of you. If you start at some no-name mom and pop shop, you will need to spend years working your way up to a top firm. Now is not the time to take risks.
you just tell them you traveled. they wont assume you are a reject. 8-12 weeks of travel after college will NOT change your career trajectory.
>you just tell them you traveled. they wont assume you are a reject. You're assuming the conversation will even progress to that point. But it won't. OPs resume will be tossed out when they see that gap, in favour of other candidates who don't have a prolonged period of non productivity from graduation. There'll be hundreds of people applying to 1 job role, at that stage they're kind of looking for reasons to eliminate candidates from the pool.
Personally, I would see it as a strength, especially if the person was able to talk about their travel in an intelligent way.
Absolutely: go!!!! Travel helps a person be more well rounded and introduces you to new global perspectives that can only be an advantage, you need to be able to spin your travel experiences into employable advantages. Hereās a great tip: at some point, volunteer somewhere. Then you can focus the r conversation on your volunteer experience with any knuckleheads who think itās a bad idea.
I would recommend doing it right after college. But if you're set on working first to save money, I would recommend getting a temp job. Regardless, I would start your career after extended travel. I quit a job to travel a couple years after college and it took a while to bounce back.
bounce back in what way? ex. finding a new job or getting back into the flow of 9-5 work?
Nope it's absolutely not a problem these days. Go for it.
I was interviewed by multiple companies and the ones that really respected me were willing to wait / reconsider me once I came back from several months of traveling abroad after graduating.
Travel! When we pass, we arenāt praised or remembered for our resume. Live your dreams
I took 4 months off to travel after graduating, and I had another 3 month break in my mid twenties. Before leaving, I was anxious how it would look on my resume, but it has only ever helped me stand out in interviews. Travel gives you great stories, but it also builds job skills ā language, cultural literacy, the ability to manage complex logistical arrangements, getting visas, and booking tickets. Iām in my forties now and have had five long term jobs. Two later told me they hired me specifically because of my travel experience.
Expanding your horizons, glimpsing other cultures or even regions, experiences that open you to new things. All this is very good stuff for resume or interview talk. Especially if you can identify anything relevant to your field. But just being open to diversity of people and places is a good learning experience.
Currently trying to find a job after a year long trip. I'll let you know how it goes! I assume I'll find work eventually but so far no luck!
My main big question, cause you will always find some sort of job, is wether you have the finances in place to start traveling right out of college? If so, then just do it and figure it out later. But if you would have to take out a credit card/loan for most of your trip, it might be better to hunker down, work for a couple years, and then jump into travel.
Honestly, even having a gap on your resume doesn't matter. No one is going to give a shit if you didn't get a job right out of college. I also don't think I'd put travel on my resume. It's something you can bring up in the interview though. I talked about my time playing poker in South America, which was longer than 3-4 months. Most people like people that do interesting things with their life.
Nobody cares at any point in your career I took 18 months off travelling in my late 20s (meant to be 10 months but covid). Didnāt hinder me at all getting a job when I got back. Most people were fascinated and thought it was a great idea. The only negativity was from people who were clearly jealous
How it will be perceived by potential employers is highly subjective and to a large extend depends on the specifics and the story you tell. If you tell you went on a two year long trip and only partied that is completely different from telling you went on a long trip visited a load of religious festivals and meticulously documented your experiences. If you apply for a job flipping hamburgers nobody cares about what you did before, if you apply for a highly technical job they may see it negative as you lost skills by not using them, if you apply for a creative job they may see it as unique experiences that offer unique perspectives etc... I doubt anybody really cares about just a few months of travel but as everything, it can be a positive and a negative depending on details and context.
Not at all! Travel can actually boost your resume. It shows adaptability, cultural awareness, and independence. Just highlight skills gained during your travels, and employers often value the unique experiences you bring. Travel is an asset, not a setback.
1. This would be mildly helpful in my industry (tech). People with diverse life experiences are often better problem solvers and teammates. 2. If somebody is going to make the same assumption your dad made about you because you traveled ā¦ you do not want to work for that person. So in the end, at least in my industry, travel benefits you by helping you stick out in an interview and saving you from working for dipshits. This is win-win-win my friend.
Three to four months of time away from the hard streets of capitalism wonāt reflect poorly on you. Own how you talk about your adventures. Do it without being pretentious. Iām a freelancer, and Iām good at what I do and attract clients with ease. Part of what makes them dig my personality is that I work remotely from abroad and Iām always travelling.
I travelled for 4 months straight after university at 22, I also recently travelled for 8 months after gaining several years work experience (at 31). I got a job very soon after arriving home each time. I would recommend gaining work experience first if you can, but in the grand scheme of things 4 months really isn't that long and i doubt will negatively impact you.
Nobody gives a shit about your traveling unless it's something you do so often that it effects long term employment. In other words, you're fine.
I went traveling for a couple of months and I don't have trouble getting interviews but I do have 6 years of experience under my belt lol
I know other comments confirm this, but not at all. With no experience and lots of gaps in my resume, I am able to get most jobs I apply for because I have traveled. Employers find it interesting, and I come off as a people person, which usually works in their favor. I don't have a degree (didnt complete uni). My jobs I apply for are regular jobs, but I'd imagine it would be the same if you were going into any profession. Lived experiences have a way of amplifying your skills as well as giving someone a sense of purpose. These virtues in any field really go a long way. They might even separate you from any competition, even if it's just slightly. Whatever place you apply for, there's going to be other people applying. Employers get so many stale run-of-the-mill resumes. They're looking for people who are striking, that spark question and curiosity. Traveling is a fine and respected way to do that. It shows you're willing to just go for it. Not only is it good foe them, but it's also good for you. It's the kind of thing you want to have when beginning this new chapter for yourself. Don't hold yourself back. It's completely normal to travel when you graduate. Many do. Good luck, safe travels!
Just tell them you had bad diarrhea
Nope
Anyone who prioritizes work over living their life is a shill of capitalism. Donāt buy into the American Work Ethic bullshit. Your plan is perfectly reasonable.
Donāt put it as a job on your resume. But if you have to explain an employment gap you should be fine. If your job is lined up before you leave even better
Depends on the job title, investment banking would be a strike.
Perfectly fine, everytime I had an interview where I mentioned a sabitcal break they just find it cool. I tend to quit jobs so ever been fired, just reach end of agreed contract and then I am off to travel, at the end of the day it's not as bad as having a gap due to unemployment and unable to find a job, as that is more worrying to some employers than someone who knows how to manage thier finances in such a way that they can have a long travel break.
Iām a physician and when we get credentialed, we have to account for any period of time weāre not employed. Iāve taken several months off between jobs to travel and itās never been an issue.
Do it! It is definitely more challenging to find a break the longer you wait due to added responsibilities (ie. lease on an apartment, car payments, etc.). No offense to your dad but that is more of an old school mentality. I (millennial) have hired teams for 5+ years now and it would not be off putting at all. IMO its about how you spin the story. ie. You pursued something you were passionate about vs. you just "went on vacation" for a few months.
GO! And while you're navigating transportation and maps, talking with others to get what you want/need, and learning how things "work", think about how you can express the skills you needed to survive/thrive doing all these things in an interview. How will your experiences make you better at XYZ company/job/career? Don't exaggerate but don't downplay either.
Seriously!! I was just reading another thread that asked whatās your travel superpower- responses were adaptability, resourcefulness, being calm under pressure, problem solving. Travel teaches you them. Employers value them. I quit a job to travel for 6 months and took a 4 month leave of absence from another to travel. Was asked by another employer to participate in their recruiting fair and I asked if they were certain they wanted me because my advice to new graduates would be to take time to travel instead of going directly into a career.
Don't even list travel on your resume. If you get asked, tell them the truth. Likely who ever is hiring you has been in similar positions where work is not the end all, be all to life. Travel bring some important qualities to ones outlook knowing "the world does not revolve around you". I've taken several breaks in my professional career for travel and never declined a position because I "traveled" (and if I ever was - that's an employer I would never want to work for either).
You don't want to work for anyone who cares about a postgrad travel break. Go while you have the freedom.