As we become more connected with the world through social media, many of us are yearning to experience other cultures by travelling the world. Instagram, for example, can be used as a vision board, where we get to live vicariously through travel and lifestyle enthusiasts.
But how on earth can the average person even dream of spending more time abroad?
Photo by Jackie Parker
There is a way to take a mid-career break and travel extensively, however, the tips below are generalized, and you MUST take your own personal circumstances into consideration. Please do not march into your employer’s office tomorrow and demand some time off to travel the world, lest you find yourself jobless! Like most of life’s significant events, the planning phase largely determines the degree of success. I will leave it to you to determine if your personal family circumstances will allow you to spend some time abroad. If not, you may need to extend your planning timeline.
The most obvious consideration is funding. At a minimum, you should have on hand one year’s expenses and this should be based on the economy that you are looking to visit. In fact, I’d suggest that you leave behind a safety net of another year’s expenses just in case you have to return for any family emergencies or to resume your prior lifestyle. Fortunately, there are reputable resources that can assist you with this. Try creating a simple spreadsheet so that you can compile a realistic projection of requirements. If possible, pay off everything that you owe, or as close to it as you can. The worst thing you need is to be constantly stressing about bills that you haven’t taken care of while you are on the most amazing trip of your life.
Many people don’t realize that social networking is one of the most important activities that will contribute to a smooth travel experience. As fun as the solo selfies may appear, humans have an innate need for interaction. You can determine the amount of time you wish to spend with other people, but ensure you prepare a social safety net for when things don’t go quite according to plan. Join groups in advance, reach out to the properties that you will be living in and learn where your embassy or local consulate office is located.
Update your resume so that you have a clear picture of what you have to offer to an employer. Even if you do not intend to work while you are abroad, this will give you a head start on your return. Ensure that you infuse cultural and volunteer experiences into your itinerary, these will enhance your interview conversations and candidate profile. If you have worked with the same employer or industry for many years, updating your resume will also help to get you back in touch with what you really enjoy about your career. I can also help you to set a new direction if you would like a change in work experience.
Increase your professional networking activities by attending more professional seminars and events. This will help to cement your face and name in the minds of other like-minded professionals. No need to let them know your plans, just connect on a professional level so that you are easily identifiable and credible on your return. You will likely be starting from scratch so it will be helpful to have allies if you plan to return to the job market. Drop your allies a note occasionally. Don’t make it boastful, but perhaps share volunteer or personal development opportunities that you have participated in. This is a good way to stay relevant without “travel shaming” everyone else.
Finally, increase your privacy and start screening what you share with others. Sometimes the less people know about your plans, the better. This is particularly true if you are employed by someone else. The last thing you want is for your plans to be perceived negatively and your employer to decide that they don’t want to keep you on due to your career break plans. As long as you are employed, work to be the most productive employee that you can be. Regardless of your current employment relationships you may need to fall back on a reference at some point.
There will never be a perfect time, but if you have truly been strategic in addressing the critical success factors you are well on your way to enjoying an enviable extended mid-career travel break.
Felicia is a lover of travel and adventure who relocated 3,500 miles to support the educational paths of her children. Using her skills as a personal development coach, she helped them zone in on their unique talents. Splitting her time between the UK and her home country Bermuda, Felicia maintains a residence north of London with her husband and son while her daughter attends university in Spain. In addition to her work with corporate clients helping them to implement programs for employee success, Felicia works with her global coaching clients using Lifestyle Design™ strategies to help them create their best life and maximize accomplishments.