Advice: Unemployed graduate thinking of taking a four week change of scenery. .Foolish, Risky, or Reasonable?

I have been unemployed for quite a while - putting out applications when I find entry level positions in the commercial banking.

I was thinking of taking a one month excursion to refresh my batteries and get a change of scenery. The change in scenery will disrupt my current routine and allow a perspective on my job search. I don't have an exact location yet, since I am determining what would be cheapest. Another side of the risk coin would be saving cash to re-locate and purchase a vehicle if needed.

I can't find any entry level jobs these days. Of course while backpacking I would take something like the WSO interview guide and look for networking opportunities.

Would that be too foolish or risky for my career search? I was wondering what your perspectives would be?

I can't find any entry level jobs these days. Of course while backpacking I would take something like the WSO interview guide and look for networking opportunities.

Thanks Ladies and Gents

11 Comments
 

Bump. I was told hiring slows down in the summer - my trip would be either September or October.

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No. If your job search takes 6 months or more what are you going to do? Conserve your cash. When you get a job and are on stable footing that's when you can take time off.

 

So are you saying this from a cash perspective, and the question is can i manage if i am unemployed for 6 months?

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Yes, but no the question isn't for a set period of time can you make it. It's conserving your limited resources for what you don't expect, like taking longer than you imagine to find a job or your car breaking down etc. Whatever they case may be, a change of scenery during a job hunt should probably only happen if you're sitting on a large severance package. Don't open yourself up to that right now.

 

Harambe didn't die for this....

But on a serious note, who says you need a change of scenery? Try connecting to the community you live in, find clubs you could join, you never know who you will meet. You don't have to travel far and wide to find the answers you seek.

Absolute truths don't exist... celebrated opinions do.
 

That is true I can find stuff around, and I have played with the idea that this desire to travel was some form of escapism. I was looking to get involved for a while through volunteering but most places asked for an extended time commitment. I can't be a valet guy because I can't drive stick (lol).

I am curious to go see new places and explore. I probably won't get the opportunity to venture out for an extended period of time for many years. And, walking around a country living out backpack is a significantly different experience as you get older. Maybe I will make meet a good connection or think up of some awesome idea to get a job. This is not a trip to go 'find myself' rather seeing a new culture and new land where I will not know the native tongue.

I see your a student/ prospective monkey. Look into study abroad programs if your still in college!

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The only experience I'm tryna have right now is making money bro.

Absolute truths don't exist... celebrated opinions do.
 
Best Response

Change of scene is a solid idea to recharge morale and reset attitude & expectations for your job search. However, you don't need a month: a long weekend or at most a week should be enough.

If you are so tight on $$ that you'll be backpacking and looking for the cheapest destination, keep your trip short. Getting some income has to happen soon. It really sucks to be flat broke.

For me, the sound of the door opening to my current job came right after realizing I was so broke I was smoking the last pack of cigs I could afford to buy. I've been in this situation several times. Financial desperation can be the key factor in closing on a job opportunity, but your head still has to be in the right place to get a job. A quick trip and some nature enjoyment can really help. And go someplace where nobody will ask, "How's the job search going?"

But trying to network professionally while in backpacking mode is probably a bad idea. It's finance, you should be clean, well groomed and wearing a suit when job hunting.

 
ErnstBlofeld

Change of scene is a solid idea to recharge morale and reset attitude & expectations for your job search. However, you don't need a month: a long weekend or at most a week should be enough.

Your right, I was looking at this from an all or nothing perspective, nothing wrong with taking a shorter trip elsewhere.
ErnstBlofeld

If you are so tight on $$ that you'll be backpacking and looking for the cheapest destination, keep your trip short.

Id rather take a $500 flight at ~$60 bucks a day trip than $800 at $70 bucks a day, assuming both locations provide equal levels of satisfaction. Thanks for the insight! Haha, I see you felt the same way about the whole "hows the job search going?" question. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly changed about your job search strategy when you felt economically challenged?
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