I could really use some advice. I am 25 years old and I
graduated a year and a half ago from college. I was
fortunate enough to be able to go traveling right after grad
for several months. Soon after I came home, I got a great
job with the government. I have recently asked my employer
for a year or two leave, so that I can travel more. So far,
I plan to return to the job, but who knows what awaits me
out there (I'd never tell my employer that though!).
My dilemma presents itself when I think about my employer
possibly saying no to my request for a leave approval. What
should I do? I have very mimimal debt,but no boyfriend,
mortgage, or student loans. I really want to travel, but if
"push comes to shove", should I quit my job? I think I'd
have a good chance of getting it back. I also would leave in
a very polite way. Sometimes I think that I have made my
mind up to quit, but on the other hand, I am risking quite a
bit by doing so. Can anyone else out there who has gone
through this let me know, and was it worth it? I generally
like my job, and I am living and working in a great city-
most of my friends and family live here. Do you other
travellers think that I will regret this decision to travel
if I have to quit my job? I should find out soon, but the
suspense is killing me and I would love to hear your
thoughts. This is the biggest decision I have ever
(possibly) had to make. Thank you....
[There are 22 posts - the latest was added on Mon 3 May, 7:31]
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Hi Briane - I can't tell you whether or not it's the right
decision to quit your job and take off travelling, but
that's exactly what I've decided to do! I quit my job, sold
my condo, got rid of my car, found someone to take care of
my cat, took a course in Teaching English as a Second
Language, and am heading off for a year or so of travel. You
have the rest of your life to play it safe, so you should
seize the opportunity to see what else may be out there for
you. In addition to that, you're only 25! All I can say is
that I followed the safe route for the last 10 years and it
just didn't satisfy me. It's only been since I've
decided to take this trip that things have started to
feel right - I'm happier and am looking forward to
something for the first time in years! Now, I say all this
even though I haven't actually gone away yet, but I know I'd
be worse off for not having tried it. Don't waste time
asking ``What if....'' just do it if it feels right and no
matter how it turns out, at least you tried! And if you read
through the postings on this site, you'll definitely want to
travel.... Good luck and I hope everything works out for
both of us!
The best job in the whole world and you could not imagine
ever not having it? Is it what you have always wanted to
do? A dream job? I'm thinking no otherwise you may not be
so keen to travel. As already mentioned, you are only 25.
Go for it girl or one day you may wake up with 3 kids and
no job and you would not have done your traveling. Feel the
fear and do it anyway!!!!!
with those above. There is a saying that goes something
like:
People usually regret not what they have done, but
what they HAVEN'T done.
Go for it, you're young and things will change. You'll make
your way through no matter what.
I am only 28, but so far I have given up several jobs just
to travel or to move from Germany to UK or back, I have
always found a good job again. If you don't do it now, you
might really regret it in a few years time. Just quit the
job if your employer wont give you a year off.
briane, first off, you are educated & you sound very
intelligent. second, you are obviously "good enough" to have
already landed a great job. therefore, it sounds like you
are very employable, and that will probably NOT change. in
fact, some international travel might even enhance your
qualifications, depending on your field of interest.
you sound very concerned about wanting your old job back when
you're ready. i say, go out & do what you want. when you're
ready for the next job, you'll probably find one just as good
as the one you left. and life has a way of surprising you
sometimes--you might come home to find something equally
wonderful but not at all what you would've expected. and
finally, after your travels, you might change your mind about
what you want to be doing, so it might not be a bad idea to
have that avenue open anyway!
good luck!!!
Briane. Honey. Get ahold of yourself for God's sake. Just
stay with your job and work the rest of your life like a
good little girl. Find a man and make babies and plan for
retirement and get old and die. That's what everybody
does! Don't rock the boat girl!
.
Obviously, I am kidding Briane...but just think about how
preposterous the above sounds and you will figure out the
answer to your dillema. I am a 25 year old male who is in a
very similar position....I'm a government worker, earning
beau coup bucks in a cush job, who is quiting in exactly 19
working days (March 19th) to go traveling in the Middle East
for 3 months. Now I'm going to school in the Fall, so its
not exactly the same, but quiting early and spending all of
my money before going in to debt big time for my graduate
degree is a big step for me....I read something in the
Washington Post magazine awhile back that struck me...it was
by a woman who was recounting some advice she got when she
was young and thinking about giving it all up and
traveling...the very wise man giving her advice told her
something like this..."if its between staying and going,
go! if you don't, you'll just spend three times as much
money trying to compensate for you boredom"...those words
rung true for me and thus I'm going....I hope you do the
same.
.
Ending on a simpler line of reasoning, but just as valuable,
a quote from the film the Shawshank Redemption:
.
"Get busy living, or get busy dying"
.
Its as simple as that....Eric
" An investment in life is an investment in change...When
you are changing all the time, you've got to continue to
keep adjusting to change, which means that you are going to
be constantly facing new obstacles. That's the joy of
living. And once you are involved in the process of
becoming, there is no stopping. You're DOOMED! You're GONE!
But what a FANTASTIC JOURNEY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Briane - I just left my family business for a trip to Europe
for a year - hopefully longer - I thought of staying in the
same old cushy job - no worries - well no the fun starts -
my job will always be waiting for me - no thanx - I'd rather
wait tables or wash dishes to be in a vibrant city/town &
meet tons of people - Its the greatest thing in the world
Im flying into Paris end of April to begin my journey -
Good luck -
Kindest regards,
Brent
If your employer lets you take 1-2 years leave, then I
would definitely take them up on it. It is great to have
something to come back to after a long trip if at all
possible. I wouldn't feel guilty about the possibility of
you not coming back. They probably realise that is a
possibility and are prepared to take the risk rather than
lose you altogether.
(I work for the government too and love the fact that I am
able to travel without kissing my career goodbye when I do
- it really is the best of both worlds.)
Hello briane,
All are correct.Could I suggest something different.
First don't quit the job,ask for 3 months leave and then
you plan your trip for that period.Then next year or two
you take another 6 months leave and plan accordingly.This
will keep your bank balance in healthy condition.
No government department will give such a long leave to
their staffs.
Look before you leap.We all can give ideas only.
Why to forego such good paying and secure job with the
government.Think over carefully and start your trip.
Travelling should be enjoyable and must be without any
disturbances of mind,of what to do when you return.
If you are prepared.Then resign today and leave tomorrow.
If Your family is rich enough to support you through your
travelling,then don't look back start now not even tomorrow.
Decision is yours.
Regards.
Everyone so far is correct - I made the same difficult
decision about 15 months ago giving up an amazing job offer
- chosen out of 3000 people for a job with a huge
international company, fabulous career prospects and great
money but I had always wanted to travel on a long term basis
not just for a month or so as in the past so after much
soul searching turned down the offer of the job, packed up
my life, sold all my possessions and took off. While I can
say yes I have had amazing experiences and met lots of
wonderful people I have been really limited by my working
holiday visa in the type of jobs I could take while abroad
and have had career panic attacks as a result. Maybe I would
have been better off travelling for the 4 months that they
offered before taking up the job as I would have seen loads
and been more satisfied. Anyway you can only do what is
right for you but I think the suggestion to take a few
months off now and a big trip later is a good one. Good luck
and have fun.
I just can't believe you people!
I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!! merci merci!
One day i just woke up and said to myself:" I HAVE lots of
places to see..lots of people to meet..There ain't no way
I'm going to Stay in the same city all my life, have a
steady job and take 2 weeks off every year to go down south
just like everybody else.!Life is the world sweetheart!
Life is all these people! That's what we were made for..
Not being slaves of our job and dieing of StReSS!!
Oh! I'm just so happy that finally I found LIFE out there
that thinks just like me! And we are the coolest people
cause we are well, we know how it goes. That's why I'm
planning a lifetime trip..on my bike with my life companion
that I've recently found...
I will not worry about a job... a job will never keep me
from my passion...
good luck :o)
.
Niki
Well, I am so happy that so many people responded....thank
you. I thought about taking a shorter leave and then asking
for a longer one, but I am from Canada and I am only able to
get a working/holiday visa until I am 26 years old (late
this year). I think I am going to go and work and travel.
I have minimal car payments, but that is really my only
stress and I already have the money saved for that. I am
NOT selling my car before I go though- if I come home and
decide to go away again, then I will rethink! It's really
great to get some encouragement from those of you who have
been where I am right now- my parents are trying to be
supportive, but they are having a really hard time with
their educated, well-employed daughter, possibly giving up
her job to go away with a backpack to meet a bunch of
strangers! So....thank you all! I'd love to hear more of
your experiences if you are willing to share them...
I know exactly how you feel as I went though the same
delimma 6 years ago when I left a secure job and life in
the UK to travel. 6 years later I am still abroad, (not
back-packing anymore) but living and working in Hong Kong,
and still travelling as much as I can in my spare time. I
am so much happier now for having travelled and I have
settled into a career much more easily having got some of
that burning wanderlust out of my system. If you are
anything like me then I think you won't really be able to
give your all to a career until you have done something for
yourself first. I really feel that you and your career
with BENEFIT if you go, when you return home (if you ever
do) you will appreciate the challenge and rewards of a good
job, and instead of focussing on the restrictions that go
with a career you'll be able to focus on what you can out
of it.
The best of luck, maybe see you here in Asia one day!
Veronica
I'm in the process of planning my 'world trip' where I'll be
gone for six months, and I'll be quitting my job for good.
And I'm looking forward to it, because I figure I've only
got one life, I need to make the most of it.
I can understand you not wanting to quit your job - the
final decision is up to you, but I think once you start
travelling, you'll have no regrets about being on the road!
good luck and happy travels!
When I was 24, I "left" my job/career to travel around the world for similar reasons. I'd started working immediately after college (21) & reasoned that if I didn't seize that opportunity, I might wait until retirement. My parents & many of my colleagues (at the time) thought I was nuts. My job was well-paying and I was on a fast-track career path in an in-demand field.
I will NEVER regret the 1 1/2 yrs. I spent travelling the world. It opened many doors, and was probably the best experience of my life. And, as it turned out, no doors were closed.
I ended up returning to my former company with a cost-of-living pay increase & a week later I was promoted! Then, I put in for & received an overseas assignment & another promotion ensued.
It turned out that I had different career goals & have had 2 different careers since then.
My basic advice is: Go for what you feel to be right & what you want. Be able to translate this into employers' terms. Don't approach your career in terms of fear, but be aware of employment realities. Keep in mind that this is something that is most easily done at an early age -- easily explainable. And it isn't going to get any easier with time.
Hello Briane,
I am also a 25 yr old Canadian, who HAS travelled and would
never have it any other way. Listen to the advice on this
posting; it is really supportive and invaluable. Basically
it comes down to the fact that there's lots of time to
develop your 'career' and it will not suffer from time-off
when you're developing your 'self'. Either way of life can
be rewarding, but the experiences gained through travelling
are unique and exceptional. And I'm still looking for work,
but am having a fun time doing it, if you can believe that
one!! Best of luck to you, and bon voyage ;)
Remember: "Follow your heart, and life will follow."
Oh my god, all of you are just great! Actually I am a 19
years old HK girl, not having lots of travelling experience,
but all my trips to China are just amazing. When I was 18, I
lied to my mum saying I went travelling with a group of
teachers and students from school, but in fact, I travelled
alone. I just could't believe I can make it and met so many
great people! I trully believe what it says in the movie of
" Dead poets society", (SEIZE THE DAY). Although I still
have 2 years to go in my tertiary study, but what I concern
now is not getting a good job, but where should I go
travelling once I graduate or few years after I work. I was
smiling and was so happy when I read all the messages above.
You guys really cheers me up!! Thanks, and Briane, hope you
will have a great trip!
Well, nothing new to add really, except that I understand
you sooooo well! Someone above said that you only regret
what you have NOT done, she's RIGHT!!! Consider that as
long as you are free from (family) responsibilities, you
can do a long trip, it helps you so much to find your
better self, really.
I'll be going (again) in one-two years' time, when I have
some cash on the side. In the meantime, I am so happy when
reading this travel bug site.
By the way, there is a place for you at my house should you
pass trough Switzerland.
Take care and go, go, go!
CΘcile
I definitely think it's easier to pursue travel dreams before your life is too comfortably settled...husband, kids, career, etc. Right now you have only your own goals and needs to consider, and, you have the rest of your life to work!
life is short
the more risks you take the stronger you will become
don't worry about career - there will always be opportunities for you
do not let the people around you inhibit your need to move
have fun !
Judy
Wow! You sound just like I did four years ago. I had just
transfered to a new city and was finally starting to make
progress with respect to my career. I was working in the
hotel industry, for a very well-respected Canadian company
at one of the country's most specatacular properties. Less
than a month after I started my new job (and signed a
lease on an apartment!), I found out that I'd been accepted
into the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. I'd been
applying to the program for two years, and I always knew
that if I was accepted, I'd go. There was never any
question about what to do, but it was so hard to give up
what looked like a very promising future with this company.
Three months later, I boarded a plane bound for Japan, and I
never looked back. Yes, I gave up alot, but I'd do it all
again without hesitation. I've gained so much from my
experiences, and in the end, it has made me much more
'employable' in the hotel industry. Now I'm back in Canada,
and guess what: that same company that I left in 1995 has
just re-hired me! All those opportunities that I turned my
back on, are now before me once again.
Bottom line: GO! And a word of warning: the more you
think about it, the more reasons you'll think of NOT TO GO.
Don't do that! You can always go home and start over
again after your adventures abroad.
Good luck!
Nicole
boyfriends are the hardest thing to leave, and you never
know when one will come along...