Comments on: Next Steps: Getting Back to ‘Reality’ and Resumes

By: Slice from iBackpacker Travel

Slice from iBackpacker Travel — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:48:34 +0000

Hi Sherry! New lifestyle hopefully! I’m trying to become a ‘digital nomad’ as they say. I’m doing ok at the moment, I have a few travel sites going quite well. Wish me luck!

By: Sherry Ott

Sherry Ott — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:41:14 +0000

Slice – yes – one the travel bug hits and starts coursing through you – you are in trouble! Sounds like you have some exciting plans! Is this all still part of a career break – or a new lifestyle?

By: Slice from iBackpacker travel

Slice from iBackpacker travel — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:38:45 +0000

I got back to reality, and all I’ve wanted to do is go travelling again, so after trips to Norway and Italy in a couple of weeks, in Feb I’ll be back backpacking in SEAsia!

By: Jason of Two Backpackers

Jason of Two Backpackers — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:22:24 +0000

Thanks for the advice. I am sure I will be dealing with this resume dilemma someday too. I also believe its the best experience you can have, an experience most people never have.

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:32:54 +0000

Great article. I’m now finding myself back from extensive work and travels in a remote part of China and conventional wisdom seems to say that I’m worse off for it. It’s encouraging to read how I can use my new language and life skills to market myself as a “great hire”.

Thanks!

By: Mark H

Mark H — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:53:01 +0000

Thinking about what you have said, I’d employ folks with this experience as well. Excellent practical advice.

By: Cindy Peterson

Cindy Peterson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:47:49 +0000

Nicely articulated article! My husband and I have found all of your points to be true in “re-entry” after our 14 month career break. If you can articulate the skills you’ve gained appropriately, employers can really recognize your abilities to adapt, plan, and as you said “go with the flow”. Of course, we found hiring managers or companies here and there that just didn’t get it – but you have to ask yourself if that is the kind of person or company you would be happy working for anyway.

Another skill that we found useful highlighting is the ability to make a long-term plan and budget. When we tell potential employers that we were able to budget ahead of time for 12 months of travel, and in the end not only extend our travel to 14 months but come within $1000 of our original budget, they see the value of being able to apply those same skills to the companies planning and budgeting. A big plus!

By: Sherry Ott

Sherry Ott — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:19:38 +0000

Tatiana – did you recently do a career break? Trust me – it will be an asset on your resume! Just get a friend who can play ‘devil’s advocate’ and ask you questions about the gap in your resume due to your career break. It will be great practice on how to ensure you can relate your career break experiences to positive work experiences! Good luck – I have complete confidence in you!

By: Tatiana

Tatiana — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:36:40 +0000

Sherry,
Oh the mind of a traveler! Our sentiments could not be more the same! I feel EXACTLY the same way when people refer to “getting back to reality.” I’ve also been known to ramble about following the path less traveled and how much more difficult it is to live a life outside of the career-following norm. I have also many times spoken on not waiting until I’m 60 to live the life I want, but rather live it now.

Thank you for articulating what I already knew, but with my current job search was a bit anxious to remember. Thank you also for the optimistic push on how my traveling may help get me employed. With all the rif-raf questioning my ‘career choices’ it is refreshing to hear that my travel experiences do not make me unemployable.

A fellow travel junkie,
Tatiana