Career Break / Gap Year

[ChimpMaster]

Your plan is great except for one thing - leave the Mrs behind.

[tay]

Mid life? OMG, that means I'll be dead by 60.

Yip, take my word for it.. you are doomed.

[Cheshire Cat]

There is a serious glut of orphanages in the Andes, apparently the over supply is due to the place being over run by do gooding westerners all having a mid life crisis.

Mid life? OMG, that means I'll be dead by 60.

[tay]

But you worked, whereas this guy is simply

I had contracts, and I invoiced for them.... I did not however do any of this 'work' thing you mention. Although apparently I was supposed to... but I lack any work ethic.
Being a project manager was great, just organise others do all the work and blag to upper mgmt.

When I say "bumming around" we do intend to do some productive stuff, like volunteering, helping build an orphanage in the Andes, that sort of stuff.

I understand that upon our return, some clients may be curious about what I have done with this time, but quite frankly I can't see what difference it makes to them whether I spent the last 12 months working for a hedge fund in mayfair, or knocking together a fence in Borneo.
My work is mostly non-technical test management stuff anyway, so it's not as though 12 months out of the scene will render my soft skills redundant.

There is a serious glut of orphanages in the Andes, apparently the over supply is due to the place being over run by do gooding westerners all having a mid life crisis.

[Cheshire Cat]

But you worked, whereas this guy is simply

When I say "bumming around" we do intend to do some productive stuff, like volunteering, helping build an orphanage in the Andes, that sort of stuff.

I understand that upon our return, some clients may be curious about what I have done with this time, but quite frankly I can't see what difference it makes to them whether I spent the last 12 months working for a hedge fund in mayfair, or knocking together a fence in Borneo.
My work is mostly non-technical test management stuff anyway, so it's not as though 12 months out of the scene will render my soft skills redundant.

[DodgyAgent]

New Zealanders call it an OE (Overseas Experience), age is irrelevant to it being called that.

But you worked, whereas this guy is simply

[b0redom]

Me and the Mrs did it in 2004 (when we were both 29). Had absolutely no problems when we got back (she's an accountant). In fact that's how I fell into contracting - it was the 1st thing I was offered.

[tay]

New Zealanders call it an OE (Overseas Experience), age is irrelevant to it being called that.

[rootsnall]

I did similar with the Mrs the wrong side of 30, also did it a few times previously. I've never had any problems getting back into the contract market, drop your rate and be a little less choosy for the initial contract. I used to gradually shrink the gaps in my CV but I don't think anybody gives a tulip to be honest if you are experienced and there are clients looking for your skillset. One top tip is to close down your Ltd and make sure all the loose ends such as VAT are well and truly closed. Leave as little admin as possible behind you in the UK, renting out your house is another potential bit of aggro as I found out.

[d000hg]

What a lot of bumming.
</ being 13 again>

[DodgyAgent]

I'm not sure what the correct term is for takign a year off work and bumming round the world when you're the wrong side of 30 (just) and going as a married couple. But anyway, this weekend the missus and I decided to do just that.
We're not rushing into it mind, and are giving ourselves until this time next year (when our fixed rate mortgage deal runs out) before we go.

We're currently in the VERY early stages of planning, but are looking to be away for about 12 months.

Not quite the same as doing it in your teens or fresh out of Uni, when you have no career to speak of.
Just wondered if anyone else had done similar and could offer their experience of work impact/ practicalities of stuff to sort before you go, and getting things back up and running when you get back (assuming we don't just settle on a goat farm in patagonia).

You need to allow for 24 months.. 12 months bumming around the world and 12 months bumming around recruitment agencies looking for a job

[d000hg]

I think the best term is a sabbatical?

[DimPrawn]

Most likely outcome is you will visit somewhere like New Zealand, Aus or Canada and then emigrate there some time later.

You'll realise what a miserable, debt laden, washed-up sh1tehole the UK is and never look back.

Good luck and enjoy.

[Cheshire Cat]

I'm not sure what the correct term is for takign a year off work and bumming round the world when you're the wrong side of 30 (just) and going as a married couple. But anyway, this weekend the missus and I decided to do just that.
We're not rushing into it mind, and are giving ourselves until this time next year (when our fixed rate mortgage deal runs out) before we go.

We're currently in the VERY early stages of planning, but are looking to be away for about 12 months.

Not quite the same as doing it in your teens or fresh out of Uni, when you have no career to speak of.
Just wondered if anyone else had done similar and could offer their experience of work impact/ practicalities of stuff to sort before you go, and getting things back up and running when you get back (assuming we don't just settle on a goat farm in patagonia).