1-year gap on resume, absolute redflag?

After my analyst (or maybe PE) stint, my dream would be to take a year off and live in a few different countries, while using my excess free time to maybe start an online business. However, I'd like to work on the buyside afterwards either in buyout or growth equity. Would it be too much of a red flag for recruiters?

For reference, I'm based in London, and I'm not sure that an MBA in the US would allow me to travel, since I would of course need to attend classes.

Is there any hope to do that without sacrificing my future career?

 
Most Helpful

Get into an MBA program, defer for a year and travel.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

From what I've found on Google deferrals are extremely hard to get.

 

I met so many people who did a gap year, this is a huge thing in Oz, UK, and common enough in Canada as well. Some people call it a "big OE", big overseas experience. If you are young, independent, without a family/kids - do it!  the current two years are a bit of a loss for anyway, maybe better to sit the time out while having fun.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_experience

Big OE comes from NZ English, and I indeed have heard this term from my Kiwi friends.

Also, think about what you are doing with this year. Can you work while traveling? Maybe working holiday programs would be a good opportunity. Many countries offer visas and there are plenty of providers for this.

 

Makes me very happy to hear! Definitely didn't know that OE was so popular in NZ.

 

Online programs generally blow for a turnkey new job experience, but I would probably opt for NYU over UNC.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

I am doing this now on my ~14th month since I quit. I did IB for 3 years before deciding to quit and launch a small business. I've made an honest effort to keep my connections in IB warm and gotten the sense I can go back if I want, although the lateral market and deal environment are also hot so that likely has a larger hand than anything else.

 

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