Reality Check Needed

[Kswiss]

Hey Man,

I was one of the guys that decided to live abroad right after University in Czech Republic and I never regretted it once. Long story short if I can offer my opinion. If its something that you have to do and is itching in your head you HAVE to do it. It is tough with societal pressures, yes, but from my experience everything works out in the end. Like you said, its kind of a first world problem so you cant lose Experiencing different cultures, living and surviving in different countires really gets you to know yourself (sounds cheesy I know, but its true), maybe when you come back you will decide to do something totally different etc. The point is going can never be a bad choice in my opinion.

Anywho...Good Luck!

[photon]

Originally Posted by habernac

I'm 43, wife and 2 kids and that window is now closed for me. I wasted my twenties in dead end jobs. Get out there and see the world. The workplace will still be here when you get back.

And tell us about it so we can live vicariously!

[Jbo]

I missed travel right out of University, and I am only now being able to travel more. I'm about the same as you. 29 years old, not married, working away.

However, you have a great oppurtunity to go to school, keep earning a good salary, etc.

I find that I now take more specific trips, rather then go backpack for 4 months, I pick a place I want to go and do it for 2-3 weeks. Is it ideal? Maybe not the same as just travelling around, but I have managed to do quite a few great trips every year.

Finally, one thing I did right was rather then negoatiate a high salary at year end review, I negotaiated an extra week vacations a year from 4 weeks to 5. That gives me a chance to do a longer 2-3 week trip, a get away down to somewhere warm and a few days to play with at Xmas etc.

Anyway, you gotta go with your heart, but unless the job is terrible, you will have to come back one day, and starting at the bottom of a company is not always great either (been there as well, but that is a different story)

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by fotze

If they are to send you to Rice I imagine you work for an American outfit. I doubt they will take the hippy find myself thing well, they probably already think 4 weeks is too much.

I think you already know the answer to this question.

Yeah, Americans get meager vacation time and in American corporate culture people get looked down upon for even taking close to all of it. "Oh that John in IT took 1.5 weeks of his allotted 2 weeks vacation, fire that slacker"

[missdpuck]

yeah if you decide to blog it, definitely let us know where to find you!

[Fobulous]

I share similar sentiments as previous posters.

One thing I have realized over the past few years is that life is way to short. Quit and go travel. You will never regret it. When you come back, you will be a better person having gone and experienced a few other cultures along your travels. Something a Rice education will never be able to provide.

If they are willing to put your through this program now, they will be willing to do the same when you get back as it sounds like you are on their future leaders radar.

I am married and have a kid and never got to experience something like this. Although I have no regrets, if I could go back in time I would definitely have taken some time off to experience the world.

-FoB.

[topfiverecords]

I'm assuming you're living in NA...why not look to get transferred to the UK division? Can get to a lot of Europe in short trips from a UK base.

[blankall]

I'm giong to be the stick in the mud here and say that the travelling after/during college thing is not all its talked up to be. I did some travelling after University, and quite frankly it wasn't a cultural experience. I did not find myself. I just partied and hung out with a lot of other back packers.

The travelling that I've done since then, has been a lot more cultural IMO. Even if only for 2-3 weeks at a time, I've taken more from it. Not only am I more mature now, but I've got the funds to visit local restaurants, museams, etc... where the actual culture occurs.

I've never worked abroad, which is something I regret. I think that would be a different scenario entirely than just backpacking.

[Muta]

I took the time off after Uni in 2006, and it was the best thing I ever did. Hell, I still save up my vacation to do 2-month benders abroad every so often.

Take habernac's advice, just go. The workforce will be here when you get back, and someone with proven experience will always be in demand.

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by blankall

I'm giong to be the stick in the mud here and say that the travelling after/during college thing is not all its talked up to be. I did some travelling after University, and quite frankly it wasn't a cultural experience. I did not find myself. I just partied and hung out with a lot of other back packers.

The travelling that I've done since then, has been a lot more cultural IMO. Even if only for 2-3 weeks at a time, I've taken more from it. Not only am I more mature now, but I've got the funds to visit local restaurants, museams, etc... where the actual culture occurs.

I've never worked abroad, which is something I regret. I think that would be a different scenario entirely than just backpacking.

I agree that just backpacking and drinking isn't a very valuable cultural experience (though it can still be fun), but there's no reason that you have to travel like that even if you're staying in hostels and/or broke. Anyone can afford a trip to the market, some cheap meals in comfort food restaurants and a bunch of food from street vendors, and that will give you more culture than the museums and fine dining restaurants ever will. Just because some people don't get as much out of travelling (culturally speaking) as they could doesn't mean that travelling is overrated or that you need money to do it "right."

[Kswiss]

Originally Posted by blankall

I'm giong to be the stick in the mud here and say that the travelling after/during college thing is not all its talked up to be. I did some travelling after University, and quite frankly it wasn't a cultural experience. I did not find myself. I just partied and hung out with a lot of other back packers.

The travelling that I've done since then, has been a lot more cultural IMO. Even if only for 2-3 weeks at a time, I've taken more from it. Not only am I more mature now, but I've got the funds to visit local restaurants, museams, etc... where the actual culture occurs.

I've never worked abroad, which is something I regret. I think that would be a different scenario entirely than just backpacking.

Agree with you here. There is a big different between living in a different country as opposed to backpacking. I never had the chance to just go backpacking (something I still need to do) but like you said, its good to have the money to fully immerse yourself into the culture as much as possible.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by surferguy

I have done the year off thing twice. The last time was a complete job quit and subsequently career change. It is amongst the best decisions I have ever made (right up there with lasik and sliding a note under on the girl upstairs door - she is now my wife).

An education is not complete until you go live and work somewhere else. Getting a work visa would allow you to stay put for a little bit of time - this is important when you go on an extended trip, otherwise the grind of constantly experiencing new things can get difficult.

The facts:
You are not married
you are under thirty
you have 9 years experience
you are educated

Finding a job will not be a problem for you upon return at all

I promise you, today will be a day you will never forget.

Buy the ticket... take the ride.

I'd be very cautious about taking this advice.

Not being employed trying to find a new job is much harder than just changing jobs. You are in a far superior position finding a better paying job if you are currently employed in a similar job. If you have that break in employment, expect to take a step back in your career. If that isn't a big deal for you, then go for it.

There has been some research done on this and just about everything points to currently working > unemployed in terms of getting comparable work.

[JD]

Yeah, I tend to lean away from the "drop everything and just travel" advice myself. I get why people do it, but it seems like you can have your cake and eat too, especially when no spouse or kids are in the picture. As many of us know, those minor details can change everything!

Have you had your conversation with your boss yet?

[REDVAN]

Ask yourself: do you want to take the training course and follow that particular career path.

If yes, then don't quit- just take as much vacation you can or try to go for a time-unpaid sabbatical as well.

If NO, you don't want that career path, then WTF are you doing there? Quit immediately and get on with your life- travelling or not.

[Table 5]

Usually the people who are against these big once-in-a-life-time travel decisions, are ones who have never done it. Those who have moved across the world, or taken some massive trip...very few people seem to ever regret them. In fact, it often times, defines their life or their next career move.

Yes, your career may be thrown off the perfect path for a bit (although sometimes this is for the better), but you will grow as a person and will have a lifetime of memories. If it takes you a year to get back on the same track after you come back, so be it. You're still young and responsibilities are pretty minor compared to where you could be 5 or 10 years from now. Do it while you can.

[CaptainYooh]

I see no downside in discussing your thoughts with your bosses. This is honest and will be perceived as a responsible/accountable thing to do. As an employer, I would much rather re-hire someone that told me they're not going to take advantage of sponsored training than someone who took free training and left. You could frame the conversation around your plans as tentative ("I've been thinking about taking some time off in the spring. It's not finalized yet but if I do, it would be unfair to the company to take the training now").

[worth]

So some additional background:

For 7.5 of the 9 years I worked for a small/medium company (50-75 people). I know the owners very well. In 2012, we were acquired by a massive US company and amalgamated into one of their divisions. The upper management is still in tact and the company let's us operate unimpeded, so I am still very loyal to the original owners as they are still around.

What I am doing now is the career path I want, and I enjoy working here. If I were to leave and then look for another job in a year, I would be looking for the same type of thing.

I spoke with my boss this morning (he is the General Manager of the Calgary division). He is very supportive of me and the decisions I make. He said it is up to me to decide what I want to do and he will do his best to support me. I like working for him and there is potential for me to move up within the organization obviously.

He told me there are only two people that he has identified for this course, of which I am one. He said that he has no one to replace me with if I leave, and if I decide to do so, he would appreciate giving as much notice as possible because he will not be able to fill my position from within the company.

I don't think a sabbatical or leave of absence will be accepted, and even if it was, it leaves them in a tough position. They would need to find someone to do my job in the meantime regardless.

I have experienced backpacking. I have been to Japan, Egypt and Europe solo for 2-3 weeks at a time. I could continue doing this every year or two as suggested and try new places each time.

I don't have any debt and have the money to travel for a while.

My boss said I can have until Friday to decide if I would like to take the course or not. It's actually not a given I will get in. He has nominated me and if I accept, I have to go through a selection process. They run the course once or twice a year and it comes highly recommended but there are only 30 spots for a company of 50,000.

I'm going to do some more soul searching and talk to some friends as well. Thanks very much for your opinions guys, they are greatly appreciated.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Usually the people who are against these big once-in-a-life-time travel decisions, are ones who have never done it. Those who have moved across the world, or taken some massive trip...very few people seem to ever regret them. In fact, it often times, defines their life or their next career move.

Yes, your career may be thrown off the perfect path for a bit (although sometimes this is for the better), but you will grow as a person and will have a lifetime of memories. If it takes you a year to get back on the same track after you come back, so be it. You're still young and responsibilities are pretty minor compared to where you could be 5 or 10 years from now. Do it while you can.

This is the golden post right here.

[WhiteTiger]

I'm of two minds of this. While I have not "taken a year off and slummed around"...I have done a lot of traveling via being a military child. I like traveling, but I like the security of a job more, honestly.

I have known several people to take a "sabbatical", and not one ever had their old job back for more than a couple months after returning. They have always been released for some reason or another.

It sounds to me like you are well on the path you currently want, and now want to see what you might have "missed". I would ask yourself what you really want from a trip like this. We can't answer that for you. Once you have your answer, decide if you can get what you want from the 'standard' vacation or if you really HAVE to take a year off to get it.

I'd also be very wary of folks saying "You'll get a job right away in the exact same field, no problem!" upon your return. Maybe do some research into what the opportunities in the field you want are, and the sort of availability of them and try to project that a year forward. If the answer is favorable and what you want will take you taking a year off...go for it. If the answer isn't favorable, consider that your single year sabbatical may cost you your chosen career (the "year off to travel" is generally best left to unemployed-just-out-of-university folks for a reason).

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

Just remembering at a past big American outfit. An employee did the same thing, supervisors were all for hiring back at the end, HR was definitely not and it was a non-starter.

I've never been directly employed by a big corporation before, but I have spent several weeks at quite a few of them as a vendor... and I've noticed that they are not that different for each other despite what they like to think. If you leave a a job at some big American outfit, chances are there are 100 places exactly like it that you would be suitable for. It seems like people in downtown Calgary hop jobs all the time from one oil company to another. I have friends who job hop every 2 years within the publishing industry...it's like musical chairs, and nobody misses a beat.

I think if you're job is highly specialized, or it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity, then you have some tough decisions. But leaving a corporate gig because you don't think you could get another corporate gig? I'd take that chance any day of the week if it meant a life-altering type of trip...especially if I was good enough that I was singled out to be fast-tracked. If you're good, you're good...employers will notice that. If you suck, thats another thing.