Sabbatical after PE
I've been working in MBB and PE for 6 years+ and am considering taking a career break before searching for new jobs. The alternative would be to keep grinding where I am (I have runway) or find another job and then quit, but I'm burned out and frankly unsure if this is what I want to do with my life. I think the time to reset and feel like a human again would be invaluable to me in the long run.
I'd love to hear from people who've done something similar coming from PE / finance. How did you spend your time? Is there anything you would have done differently? and what did you end up doing afterwards? Some other factors to help frame the situation:
-I like investing and ideally would like to reenter the space at a SA / VP level. I'm flexible on type of fund (PE, growth, VC open to others), but focused on finding something with a better culture as opposed to maximizing comp. However, I'm open to tech and corporate as well. I'm willing to trade comp for better hours. I'm also very curious about the idea of switching to a more reasonable corporate job and using that as a launch pad to get back into investing eventually.
-Money is a secondary priority to me, but is a consideration (want to live well but don't need PE partner money). I have comfortable runway for at least a few years without really eating into my savings.
Just came back from a 6 month travel trip. Was previously in IB and other roles. I quit with nothing lined up. Honestly wouldn’t trade anything in the world for that trip. A job is just a job - what’s the point of living life if you don’t get to enjoy the fruits of it?
anyway I came back and came into a mid market PE role with good hours, with that career break itch scratched and feel like I’ve maximised my youth before moving on.
As someone who was let go a few months ago, the fact that it's been 3+ months and I have nothing to show for it is causing some serious downward spiraling. I've got 8 years IB > MM PE & Growth, but I'm just not seeing many opportunities and have struck out on the low amount I have gotten.
I'm starting to think this will be a 6 month + endeavor and that scares the hell out of me...would also be curious about how you positioned the timeline.
I had a three month gap after getting laid off. I kind of wish I had taken some time to travel before getting back into it. I couldn’t justify the cost though since my runway was so short. If you can afford, you should try to take a month break to travel.
Thank you for this. May I ask how you handled recruiting? Was it an uphill battle to explain why you took the time off? How did you handle things with recruiters?
It feels like career breaks are definitely more in vogue than they used to be, but I'm not sure how it is looked upon within finance.
No commentary to add, but curious about this topic as well. 8 years in IB + Growth, not happy with my life and want a change.
I've seen a total of 3 of these posts today. What is going on?!
For me at least, bonuses were paid out on 6/30…
Just resigned as well, also taking a break before heading back into recruiting
Why? How long did you work
I took a ~9 month sabbatical to sail around the Bahamas. Didn't ask permission so much as told them I was going and that it'd be cool if I could work PT while gone and have a job when I got back. And that's what happened. It would have been longer if not for Hurricane Dorian, which destroyed our boat and remaining possessions, and left us stranded for several days on ruined Great Abaco, with our pit bull and kitty cat. Most of the evacuation planes wouldn't take us back to the USA with the animals, but one good Samaritan flew us to neighboring Eleuthera/Harbour Island, which hadn't been hit so bad, and we found a hotel to rest up / clean up and plot our way back home. No sooner had we checked in, the owner comes to say there is a call for me at the front desk. It was the big boss from my firm, asking if I was OK and if he should send a plane! He must have been calling around because we hadn't told anyone where we'd ended up (phones had died). We flew home commercially a few days later and did not require a private jet rescue in the event - but I will always remember his call with gratitude. Even with the hurricane, I would do it all again. Taking that break and learning totally new skills (sailing, navigation, diesel maintenance, living with spouse in a small floating apartment) is exactly what my brain and creative centers needed to continue growing and seeing problems from new angles. One should undertake hobbies or passions that "scramble one's eggs" and push one's boundaries. All the more important when you've had a measure of success to do new things that you can be bad at - a beginner. Golf is that thing for many of us. For me it is sailing.
This is a phenomenal story. What gave you the confidence to just do it and tell them vs. asking?
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