Just got laid off from my job. Should I just say frick it and spend 6 months travelling? How would I confront questions from HR roasties and boomers about muh resume gap question? Does anyone have experience applying to jobs from abroad and doing interviews? Is this a stupid idea to do in your 20s? I have no major expenses at the moment, and feel completely lost.
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As someone who's been laid off before...
If you have enough funds to travel go do so, just make sure you have somewhere to put a roof over your head and a game plan to get back into the industry when you're done.
For me my resume gap was something I overthought but it's easy if you have a legit excuse like Reduction in Force; most HR people are aware layoffs happen and things come up. Only college professors still hark this stupid meme because most people will try to "fake it till make it" giving so obviously lying answers that are an instant fail. Just state you were laid off in a round of reduction in force (RIF) and your position was given an ample severance pay, you had enough money that you've saved and had planned on a vacation but with new found time off decided to extend said vacation.
Just one protip: Don't try to over explain further for a gap than needed, saying "Oh I went to Japan for a few months then europe, then decided to get my head back in the game after a much needed vacation". Don't try to bring up how your grandma was dying as well so it also took more time off.
>Does anyone have experience applying to jobs from abroad and doing interviews?
Without knowing your exp, field, or foreign languages no one here can answer that.
>Without knowing your exp, field, or foreign languages no one here can answer that.
I didn't mean applying for jobs within a country, I meant applying for jobs in my area while traveling
>applying for jobs in my area while traveling
Literally me. Thought about being in Thailand in the middle of the night taking SWE interviews as needed. Could be an adventure.
Yeah just go travel dude. I had a 5 month gap on my CV due to covid and nobody cares.
Depends on your job market.
I have 4 gaps that are at least 1 year long and can still find a job in a few hours as a fricking bookseller, it's just because my country has sub 2% unemployment.
Even if it was a problem I wouldn't care and still travel though, I don't care about minmaxing my income or resume.
Only risk for you is to get addicted, do it regularly and become out of touch with the 9-5 lifestyle you're supposed to accept without question.
>How would I confront questions from HR roasties and boomers about muh resume gap question?
You were working, but you can't give them any more details because you signed an NDA.
Same position. Once that severance pay hits my account I'm going to have a serious look at my overall situation. I also have zero money worries. I could last years.
Six months isn't a major resume gap after being laid off.
If anyone asks, just tell them you travelled for awhile after being laid off. Resume gaps are either you quit and are unemployed for a long period, or multi year unemployment.
You guys who refuse to lie on your resume make me wanna slap you.
Just fricking lie. Just extend your tenure at your old job by 6 months. Who the frick cares. Go travel you little shit
Background checks will check your privilege hard if you do this.
For shitty jobs do they actually ever check?
No and even then, background checks happen AFTER an interview so unless you're being fricking moronic with your explanation and resume you should be fine
On resume, use the year only for employment date. You can hide gaps without lying this way. Also, just tell them you went traveling. Was never an issue for me, even with a 14 month gap. Employers are more concerned that you were unable to obtain a job than if you used the time to pursue personal interests. I think this is the ideal opportunity to go traveling. You should go and not worry about the job after (assuming you have money for the trip plus 3-6 month buffer after you get back).
>On resume, use the year only for employment date.
I use month/Year. Just year is too much (except on linkedin)
Adding 6 months is asking for trouble, but I have always been fattening 1-2 months the before/after date. Had SighSee&/hikikomori/ breaks of over a year and its nor a very big deal. People really overestimate the employment gap issue
>resume gap
Nobody fricking cares unless it's a couple years or more. Then at that point they're more curious if anything. Point is, they're only trying to be sure you can be accountable and get the job done. Literally nobody fricking cares if you take 5 years off unless you were on a drug or alcohol binge or serving a prison sentence.
Also Covid is the mother of all excuses for any gaps now
> Is this a stupid idea to do in your 20s?
imo there is no "good" time to travel, you'll always have competing priorities (building your career, starting a family, etc). it just needs to be a high enough priority that traveling won't significantly impact your other goals.
Do people really put every single job they've ever held on their resume? LOL no. You put the top three jobs with good references down, and leave out the shitty worthless jobs. Your entire resume should fit on one page.
One advantage of working one seasonal job for multiple years is that you don't have to show any of the interseasonal gaps.
After getting laid off from a good paying office job at 22 years old I went to Japan and it forever changed my life
Literally one of the best decisions I’ve ever made
Because i came back from that 3 month trip and felt completely unhappy living back in the west
So i left to China and ended up teaching English and getting a college degree ( 100% believed i would never have one ) and everything was dirt cheap including tuition , and slept around more than i could have back home
I will be using Chinese to import products from China now and i know i would have never went if that comfortable office job never let everyone go
You may not have a life changing experience going , but you will have a life long regret , a death bed regret if you don’t , always wondering what you missed
Answer the call
And in response to your worry about a gap in your resume
1) don’t be a pussy
2) most managers find that sense of adventure and bravery as a GOOD thing