Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#1

Post by cheetos » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 8:08 PM UTC

I was recently laid off and am thinking about taking a year off to travel. Is this a bad idea in terms of my career? Will this be a red flag for employers when I apply for future work?

I am in my early thirties with no kids or mortgage. I have been working in tech for ten years and have decent savings. So in practical terms, I am OK.

However, I am having trouble feeling good about my decision. I rent a very affordable place that I really like in a very high COL city, so I will have to sell my stuff and shut down my home. I am worried that I will seem less attractive to future employers when I return. I am concerned about losing a year of salary. And part of me feels like I am pushing myself to travel not because I am truly excited about it, but because I fear I may not have such an opportunity again in the future (frankly, I am not really even sure where I would even go).

On the other hand, I am feeling a bit burned out and unmotivated, so the time off would do me good. I have lived abroad before and enjoyed it. I also have plenty of side projects I've been itching to work on. And I have a tendency to overthink things.

I realize this is a truly first world problem, but I am hoping the HN community can give me some good advice. What would you do?

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#2

Post by mod » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 8:31 PM UTC

Write down the worst-case scenario. Write down some other bad scenarios.

Write down the good scenarios.

Evaluate them, and keep in mind the worst-case.

It's probably not very bad. I hope you go.

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#3

Post by Mz » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 8:38 PM UTC

This is not really a decision you need to make now. Take a week or two to rest, ponder where you might go and do some tentative planning. If you start to get jazzed about a particular destination, hey, start making it happen. If not, start job hunting.

This is not a situation where you need to make some big, final decision today.

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#4

Post by regret_min » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 8:40 PM UTC

There is an idea known as the "Regret Minimization Principal". It seems particularly applicable here.

You have two options: travel or not travel.

Looking back, which choice might you regret least? Choose that one.

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#5

Post by bcbrown » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 8:55 PM UTC

I took a year off to travel in my late 20s. Five years later, it hasn't been an impediment in my career. My timing was in part because I was about to move out anyway, and hadn't yet bought much furniture, because I had roomates.

It doesn't sound like you really want to travel for a year. I'd suggest taking a month off to reflect and decide what you want before you commit yourself.

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#6

Post by bsvalley » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 8:58 PM UTC

Are you a developer? If so, at your age and in today's market - it's called a career suicide :)

It's gonna be tough to pass the recruitment process in a year from now for so many reasons. The competition is stronger than ever and will increase over time. Everyone applies for dev jobs today. Add-up a lack of practice, being outdated and wanting to take a year off. All these are red flags for recruiters (not even interviewers). Personally, it will feel even worse when you'll start re-applying if you're burnt out today. Dev interviews are ridiculously annoying now and require a few months of practice.

If I were you I'd do that if you have a strong plan coming back and not simply applying to jobs. Or, if you're planning on building products while traveling, you won't carry that one year gap in your resume.

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#7

Post by amerkhalid » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 9:13 PM UTC

regret_min wrote: post #4

There is an idea known as the "Regret Minimization Principal". It seems particularly applicable here. You have two options: travel or not travel. Looking back, which choice might you regret least? Choose that one.

Never heard of this before but it makes a lot of sense. I have been debating over something for a few days and using this principle, I think I know the answer now. :)

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#8

Post by akulbe » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 9:32 PM UTC

No. JUST DO IT.

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#9

Post by dennybritz » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 10:03 PM UTC

This has been said before by another commenter, but I'll say it again because I think it really is true: Most likely you will never regret taking the year off, but in a few years you probably WILL regret never taking that year off.

> I am worried that I will seem less attractive to future employers when I return

That's not my experience at all. Me and many people I now have huge gaps in their work history, either from travel or startups, and it hasn't hurt anyone.

Also, it's not a black and white decision. Start taking time off and go travel. If you decide it's not for you after a few months just go back early.

Re: Ask HN: Thinking about a year off from work to travel. Am I making a mistake?

#10

Post by partisan » Mon, Apr 17, 2017, 10:10 PM UTC

dennybritz wrote: post #9

This has been said before by another commenter, but I'll say it again because I think it really is true: Most likely you will never regret taking the year off, but in a few years you probably WILL regret never taking that year off. > I am worried that I will seem less attractive to future employers when I return That's not my experience at all. Me and many people I now have huge gaps in their work history, either fro…

There is so much truth in this. I would look at the situation as an opportunity. The freedom to live your life as you want, even for a short amount of time, can change your perspective forever.

And it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing situation. You might find that you are looking to get back to work a week after traveling. In fact, take a two week trip somewhere. Pretend you will be there for a while. Come back home and consider whether that is what you want from your life for the next N months. The rest will fall into place.

Safe and happy travels, and remember, no matter where you go, there you are.