I would like to take a year off from work without pay, im currently on break already since the last week and planning to travel overseas soon…
how should i tell my boss about this without making him sad?
Taking a Year off from Work
newbiesh on 04/01/2016 - 05:27
Comments
and depending on what you do, don't expect any more shifts before you go. Business will start planning for life without you, so don't count on any final income.
If you need some more work before you go, don't give any more notice than you have to. The employer has to put the business first, it's up to you whether you put yourself first or the business.
Goes with your heart,don't worry too much,but prepare to look for another job when you get back,by the way where are you going ? Lucky you,I love travelling too,just came back after a month safari camping trip in Africa,love it,just don't know if I can travel for whole year,lol
Sounds like you might be the sad one, because it doesn't sound like enough notice.
To salvage the situation, you could offer to telecommute until he finds a replacement. He is going to be pissed regardless.
If you're taking a year off and travelling start a travel blog http://www.startablog.info/how-to-start-a-blog-and-make-mone… and try to build it up over the next year. If you're posting a few time a week, you'll soon build the audience.
Who knows you might not even need to go back to work after that time.
You need to think outside the box a little and make it work in your favour. Tim Ferris in the 4-hourworkweek describes exactly how to take time off from work and get paid, although you need a little lead time. Time that you don't have.
I'm working on a youtube channel that discovers legit ways to make money online. And there are plenty of them https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFEgU4vJWDfJwSsf1W2ihOQ do you really need to go back to your job?
Hopefully, there aren't too many links in this post, but it sounds like you need some direction.
Good Luck!!
What makes you think your boss will be sad?
Some people go the extra mile ;)
am starting a new job soon
Boss might be a bit sad, as OP appears to have just started at job.
Especially after this Feeling unlucky job hunting
Good find.. I suppose this is where we can take a swipe at the Gen-Y stereotype now.
sounds like you'd still be under probation and prob don't need to give notice to leave. "Sorry, I've decided that I'd rather travel than work. No offence." Yeah, they'll be annoyed that they turned down their 2nd choice and now have to recruit again. Don't mention that you did this when you try to find your next job.
Boss won't be sad, but they will be annoyed (even angered) if you don't give them appropriate notice of your intentions. Give them appropriate time to source a replacement — this time may depend on the field you work in and the complexity of your position. While you may work in a particular field which may grant you the ability to do so — it would be unsurprising to find that your boss may not be keen to hold your position for you.
A year is a long time, and your replacement for this period may in fact become the new "you". Just don't be surprised.
i decided to take a break for a year like you and i've struggled to get back in to work. it's really depressing not being able to find a job and become productive. beware.
I just took 2 weeks off and 2.5 hours into work only just opened my email … and now I'm back on OzBargain. Couldn't imagine how hard 1 year would be.
This is why I can't just go ahead and take the year off…it seems very risky. But I still think about doing it a lot.
Did anything positive come out of it?
Well a year actually ended up being six months - half of it was travelling around asia and the other half just doing things I like like reading, learning new things and just chilling. I've applied for many jobs but 20/20 have been rejections so I've become depressed and a little suicidal.
R u ok?
What the heck man!!?? You need something more than work to make life worthwhile. Did you see nothing in Asia to make you think this world isn't actually that bad… it's just the people that spoil it :)
@SlickMick: it's not that; i just need money to survive and maintain the basic necessities like food and shelter.
@rogr: Keep applying and try to remain positive. I applied for nearly 50 jobs before being successful. In the current job market, perseverance is key to gaining employment. Maybe try CentreLink whilst you keep looking for jobs. Now is the best time of year to start applying as there are more jobs and opportunities. Good Luck with your job hunt, I'm sure you will find one :)
@rogr: Have you tried looking overseas? I know this isn't an ideal thing, but short term could be viable?
Otherwise get onto centrelink which provides $1000/month for searching for a job.
@ShamelessBargains: What I've found is that it's mentally tough to summon the effort to keep on applying after each rejection. You put in effort in writing a cover letter, attending the interview etc. then you get that dreaded rejection call or email. The frustrating this is, I actually have experience unlike most young people in this field.
@rogr: Yep I know how you feel. Receiving repeated rejection emails and calls makes you feel awful. However you just have to think that in the future you will be successful as you have experience in the field and are motivated. I take each interview as a learning curve and use it to help with the next one.
@rogr: Unfortunately many interviews is about how 'likable' you're. Would you consider yourself friendly and can talk up conversation with strangers easily?
@GameChanger: Yeah I definitely am, but I get done on the behavioural questions or aptitude tests. They'll ask me things I can't really answer which throws me off.
my wife could see she was going to be made redundant, so jumped ship for a short term contract then found nothing for 6 months.
Then out of the blue something came up and we've pretty much forgotten how bleak things were before Xmas.Tough times only seem that way while you're going through them. They lose their significance quickly from the other side. You just need to not quit!
Sounds like you have a pretty decent life - a bit of travel, a bit of leisure. You mightn't choose a bit of poverty, but it's another life experience before getting make into the rat race.
Easy for me to say 'eh :)@rogr: Yeah its a load of bs, HR shouldn't exist imo. You just have to practice from online sources and especially with aptitude tests you can somewhat improve.
I assume you have been job less for more than 1 year now?
Have you tried asking your contacts/past clients for potential work?
@GameChanger: 6-8 months really, the first few months of the year were deliberately taken off. I've asked friends and colleagues but there hasn't been much luck - friends are in their mid-late 20s and are more preoccupied with stuff like getting married, buying a house and all that Jones crap so they don't have the time. Colleagues have been some help, I even interviewed for a role at client company I worked for three years but still got rejected. Tried everything from being honest to bending the truth to near-breaking point but no results.
@rogr: Ah I see, you're stuck in a patch. Have you tried cold calling places for vacancies? How about a move interstate/overseas? Not an ideal things, but its better to be working then apply back in your home town after awhile.
What job you do?
white collar management work in IT
I dont know what you do and what skills you have but your ability to leave and come back easily will probably depend upon the leverage you have in the situation. All about supply and demand. If you are hard to replace then you might be able to walk back into your job after a year off but it is a risk.
I also want to do this but there are some factors preventing me taking the plunge:
-Will I be broke after
-Will I have a hard time looking for a job when I get back
-Will that 1 year off achieve anything significantI think your boss will be more irritated? than sad… but I've heard of someone who was able to take a year off and go back to her job.
I was like you as well in 2014, sitting at my desk and thinking 'how nice it would be to leave this desk job and stop dealing with pricks, start my own business etc.' but when you go out and do it, the first couple of months are great but it steadily goes downhill after if you're not occupied. I saved up a large emergency fund because I knew I would eventually quit, and am still comfortable now but the feeling of doing nothing weighs on you. The rat race isn't easy to leave, despite dreams and books suggesting otherwise.
OP what job you do?
You should have spoke with your boss in advance, so that he could get a contract worker. But of course the risk is that they're better than you lol
Lol op just started a new job, not even a month had passed and now wants to take a year off. Furthermore, op had difficulty finding this first job. Op has no skills, no experience and no leverage. Very risky move, I would expect it to be harder to find a job one you're back.
Yeah you're right, but I am going to have a bet the job he is doing isn't related to his degree.
Lucky OP said he's taking a year off with no pay. Boss might be sad if he asked for paid leave.
Just do it, I have many times. Good bosses like some notice ad they will appreciate that.
But they will also admire your ambition.
Bad bosses don't care a shit.unless he's Harvey Specter, he won't be going back to that company
Im sorry but there are too many negatives here.
YES there is RISK in leaving your job and you can prevaricate for ever. Either you want to or you don't.
I did it 3 times when I was 30, 40 and 50. and EACH time people wanted me back or new jobs came up.
Now at 57 nobody wants me. I did more in this 3 years than I dd in 35 years of working.
You are a long time dead so what is the worry.
You are either a DO IT Person or
Id like to BUT, if you are one of these you will always will be ( until eternity )
Good luck to those that DO IT
A mentor I am
Agreed, the risk adverse amongst us are likely to be working for 'the man' until they retire. They call that a good life.
It's not until you get outside your bubble, you realise life can offer so much more.
There is no risk in taking a year off work to travel, as long as you spend that time broadening your horizons.
I think it depends on your circumstances, if you have a family taking a year off for travel is impossible unless you're debt free.
There's a difference between working 10 years between 6 month breaks and working 1 month before feeling the need for 6 months off.
Give him as much notice as possible so he can replace you. Also don't be surprised if you don't have a job when you get back.