How many gap years is too many?

Aug 16, 2017 6 Comments

I'm a few years out of college and have been lucky enough early in my career to save up enough money to last... a while. So I'm considering doing the whole quit your job and travel the world thing that's so popular these days.

If I change my mind later, how many years without a job is acceptable if I decide to continue my career later?

Personally, I can say that when I look at resumes I wouldn't really think twice about any gaps around a year, but anything longer than that would probably raise eyebrows.

Thoughts?

comments

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TOP 6 Comments
  • This happened to my dear friend - he was laid off from MSFT with good severance package. He took a break for 2 years - did traveling and nurtured his hobbies. 3-4 months before he started interviewing, he did leetcode, brushed up his fundamentals and learnt passable knowledge about buzz words and he got a job right back in. It''s not that hard to get back in engineering if you are willing to revitalize yourself before you start looking for a job.
    Aug 16, 2017 0
  • Microsoft / Sales
    Lvngdadrm

    Go to company page Microsoft Sales

    PRE
    Dell
    Lvngdadrm
    Depends on what your career path is, if you're an engineer it may be tough to convince a prospective employer that you kept up with tech and a few years can be generations... If you're non tech then find a way to spin your travel experience as an asset.
    Aug 16, 2017 1
    • Amazon / Eng
      brew tap

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

      brew tap
      The top companies just hire on CS and distributed systems questions. Meaning leetcode and design questions. Nobody cares about specific tech anymore.
      Aug 17, 2017
  • Amazon
    Draw

    Go to company page Amazon

    Draw
    Put the gap in your resume. List the shit you saw and some of the neat experiences.
    Aug 16, 2017 0
  • Microsoft / Eng
    deadpan

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    deadpan
    If you're a dev, do a project on your own and post it on github. It'll show that you have a passion for dev work, it'll help you stay in practice, it'll give you something to talk about with interviewers.
    Aug 18, 2017 0
  • Microsoft / Eng
    ☢Nutella☢

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    BIO
    was: S Nutella, ☠Nutella☠
    ☢Nutella☢
    Tree fiddy
    Aug 16, 2017 0