Should I have solid foundations before i travel?

Question

I've had a professional job for three years which i got as soon as I'd left school. I really don't enjoy my job and am simply doing it for the qualification, but i think i've finally had enough. I'm 20 now and I doubt i'll use the qualification that i'd get from this job. Would it be hugely naive and stupid for me to quit my job, simply to go travelling for a while and hopefully find something that i enjoy or at least have some passion for? Could this potentially be the gravest mistake of my life so far?

Answer 1

After I left school I worked in a mundane job for three years then decided to have an adventure. I left my homeland and worked in several different countries, experiencing different cultures and meeting many people.

I made no money at all and don't enjoy a luxury lifestyle and will probably retire one day in poverty, but until then I have seen something of the world and experienced life in full.

People I grew up with and went to school with have stable lives and will have nice pensions, but they grew up in the same place, married local people, never traveled, and will retire and die, all in the same place.

So while I may end up living in a tree, I still would make my choices again over theirs.

Answer 2

How long would you be travelling for? You could always ask if the company you work for could keep your job open for you..(some do) so if you don't find anything you have something to come back to. And if you DO find something, you could let them know, and at least you could put it on your CV that you had an arrangement with your workplace...it would look better.

Answer 3

If you don't enjoy it why would it be a mistake. Life's too short to spend it doing something you hate every day. Take a chance, enjoy yourself.

Answer 4

Traveling is never a mistake.  Being well rounded is just as important as having a strong resume.  Three years is a good stint too.  It sounds like you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Go and see the world.  I've never regretted any travel.

Answer 5

Three years is an adequate amount of time to give a job before quitting, especially if you don't like it.  It's not like you've been job hopping all that time.  Employers will understand if a past job just wasn't for you, but you will have to be careful how you explain why you didn't like it and why you stayed there even that long if you didn't like it.  By all means, though, you are depriving yourself if you don't do what you really want in life, so go for it!