Is it an unwise move to quit my job and spend months travelling while job searching?
Single M in my early 30s. Doing the so called iron rice bowl job now but it’s stressful and I am not doing well.
Figured I might as well take the opportunity to change to another job that I’ll be passionate about. Next career will be something I’ll need to explore since I’m not in the lucrative IT sector.
I also want to take the chance to travel for 3 months around the world. Since I couldn’t afford it when I was younger. Currently I have enough savings to manage for a year with no issues.
But I keep reading about terrible job market, seems like it’s always a terrible market out there.
Alternatively I could slog for another 3 to 5 months while job searching and request the future HR to give me a longer gap period before starting work, which would be subjected to their agreement.
How wise/unwise is this decision?
Netizens’ comments
- Considering you have enough savings to manage a year, if you die next year, would you regret not travelling around the world?
- If you have an iron rice bowl job, try to see if you can work out a no pay leave arrangement. Then when you come back you can search for a new job elsewhere
- If the job market is good, people start worrying about the huge opportunity cost in not finding their next job now. Good or bad, there’s always a reason to not take a break for fear of unemployment.
I’d just go ahead and travel while you are still relatively free, instead of switching jobs and end up asking your new employer to make special accommodations for you.
Who knows – maybe the market will be better in 2024? - I did it in my late 20s back in 2018 when I left my job to travel the world for 3 months. From my experience, you should have 2 considerations before quitting:
– a story that you can tell your employer on this move in your life, if they ask;
– sufficient connections to bridge you too your next job In the meantime as others have mentioned, we are probably near a recession so that makes it harder to find a job. It depends on your comfort level. - Please. if you are younger than 35. TRAVEL. there are visas for this. find it. I missed my chance. Don’t miss yours.