I am off travelling for six months in November with my boyfriend and I am keen to hear of other people's experiences of their travels in terms of how it helped or hindered your career.
Did you learn things about yourself when you were away that you wouldn't have done if you didn't go? I am just concerned that potential employers' are going to be put off with the fact that I have in theory 'disappeared' for six months.
I do feel personally that by having this experience away, I will be a better person when I return. There are a whole number of things I will see, do and learn while I am away that can benefit me in terms of my future PR career. For example: I will need to be organised and take time planning the logistics of the trip, I will see different cultures and how people communicate and I will also have to interact and engage with people that I wouldn't normally engage with.
What are your thoughts? I am very interested to find out!
Join me on my travelling adventure! I have recently completed a degree in Public Relations and Communications and I am soon off traveling for six months. I want to see if travelling the world can enhance my PR career!
I think that you are travelling for the perfect amount of time! A year would certainly be too long to go travelling as to some extent you may be out of the loop. I think for many employers they see a travelling experience as a right of passage.
ReplyDeleteIts a once in a lifetime opportunity, employers should realise this. Its better that you do it now then be 5 years into a job then turn around and say you are leaving.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Sam. I'm not thinking about getting a full time PR job just yet because my priority is to treat myself after all the years of schools, college and uni since I have never taken a gap year inbetween these.
ReplyDeleteI think what you are doing is really good, no matter what happens it will be an experience you look back on and will never forget. I think if you are employable now and good at something, why wouldn't you be employable in 6 months time. As well as gaining skills you will def not be losing any!
I can't talk about any current experience I have with travels effecting my employability but I am in the middle of researching taking 6 months off next year to go teach english abroad. If that does not happen then I am def going somewhere to volunteer. Because I want to get into charity PR I think volunteering or teaching abroad will not only be an amazing eye opener for me but it will have a significant impact on my approach to working in this field.
Where are you heading off to?
I haven't been travelling but have spent a few summers abroad at different summer camps which taught me great life skills. I think you are right to set out before you go how the trip can enhance your employability in terms of being able to plan and time management, but remember that these are skills that other candidates may also have and they may have learnt them without going travelling. So I would focus on the skills that travelling can give you that other experiences wouldn't give you. Like the communication aspect and dealing with different cultures. I think this blog will be a great asset to your travels as you can update it while you are out there and reflect on all the amazing things the two of you will get up to. Knowing the work that you can do I am sure any employer would be happy to employ you. Can't wait to read the posts!
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