Will Taking 6 Months Off to Travel Kill My Career?

Currently working as a second year Associate in PE. Super burned out and unhappy and want to move onto my next role after my bonus is paid out in Q1. Currently thinking I want to move away from PE and more into more of a corp dev  / strategy / ops role, but feel like I can't even think properly while in this current job. 

I have always wanted to do a big travel (and now is likely the best time to do so from a life planning stand point), and would use the time to really think about what I want to do next. 

Has anyone done anything similar to this? Is this a really bad idea given the state of the market? Is taking time off to travel going to significantly impact my future job prospects? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

15 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Just do it bro. We all have to stop thinking so long-term all the time. Always a chance that we don't live to see tomorrow. 

 

Agreed ^ that b-school is the best risk-adjusted way to travel a lot and get a nice gig at the end. Market isn't always forgiving of taking time off (especially this market).

If you're ok with maybe moving downstream or a different finance role, though, by all means. And even if you do, there's still a decent chance you can re-recruit for a similar PE job as the one you have.

 

If you were to die tomorrow or even in a year or two’s time, would you regret continuing working like a dog or taking a break and visiting the Himalayas?

Plus you might have a few months of non-compete in your contract - always a good excuse. 
Lastly, what sustainable career would you have anyway if you are already on the verge of burning out? 
Work to live, don’t live to work. 

 

Non rem id maxime. Aliquam explicabo consequatur amet exercitationem similique. Iste sapiente ab nihil consequatur. Repellat sunt molestiae quo nihil.

Sequi deleniti et vel. Deleniti molestiae temporibus eligendi quia voluptates ipsam. Eos qui illo asperiores vel sint officiis.

Officiis alias laboriosam animi ipsa. Voluptas consequuntur voluptas dolore dolorem sunt placeat corporis.

Et temporibus totam nesciunt facere sed qui. Omnis quisquam totam maiores quaerat omnis possimus esse praesentium. Sunt omnis facilis quam numquam quo dolorem architecto aspernatur. Et cumque aut laboriosam minima.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 04 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”