How To Quit Your Job and Travel: 7 Steps - Skills To Get Ahead In Your Career

Traveling can allow you to explore new cultures and learn about different career paths. Quitting your job to travel can be a challenging undertaking, but proper preparation can make this decision easier to manage. In this article, we offer some steps to help you leave your job and travel.

Leaving your job to travel is a big decision that can affect your long-term career path and personal life. You may decide to travel to help gain more direction in your life or learn new skills that you can use throughout your career. Traveling can also help you develop a better perspective of diverse cultures, which many employers value.

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Here are eight steps that help you quit your job and travel:

The first thing to do when you believe you want to resign and travel is to consider your reasoning. If you’re looking for a change, it might be possible to seek a smaller-scale transition, such as finding a new job or moving to a different industry. You could also think about taking a longer vacation or a sabbatical if it’s an option in your field. Consider all of your options and the possible outcomes, including income changes and long-term goals.

You can also speak with a friend or family member about your decision to travel. Discuss some specific reasons, like:

Meeting new people

Interacting with different cultures

Exploring new opportunities that aren’t currently available to you

The person you talk to can provide a new perspective and offer valid feedback about your decision.

Once you have decided to leave your job and travel, try to give your company plenty of notice. Resigning in a timely and professional manner can help you maintain a positive connection with your employer that you could use in the future. If you leave on good terms, there might be opportunities to work with that company again, or you may be able to use them as a reference for other openings.

Be confident and direct about why you’re quitting your job. Answer any questions your employer may have and follow the conversation up with a formal resignation letter that they can add to your employment file. After notifying your employer, you can announce your resignation to your coworkers and clients.

Give yourself plenty of time to finish any ongoing projects you’re working on to make the transition easier for your company. You could also offer to train your replacement if you have enough time to do so before you leave.

Your friends and family members can serve as a support system that you can rely upon when you’re away. Try to give as many details as possible to anyone who may be affected by your absence. Provide information like:

Your final day of work

Your departure date

A basic itinerary of your travels

The details of anyone else you plan to travel with

The best way to contact you when you’re gone

Update your family and friends if anything changes so you can stay in contact throughout your travels.

As you get ready for your trip, you’ll likely need to plan your actual itinerary and also some home-based factors. You may need to have the post office hold your mail or have it routed to another address. Consider asking a friend or family member to check in on your home or apartment every so often, and think about whether you want to keep your utilities on.

When planning your trip details, research any possible visa requirements and ensure you apply for one ahead of time. Try to learn a few key phrases in the languages of the countries you’re visiting to show the locals respect and find landmarks easier. If you plan on staying in one country for more than a week or two, consider getting a new SIM card for your phone or contacting your provider about an international data plan.

Setting a reasonable budget is an important part of the planning process, especially if you don’t plan to work while you travel. When planning your budget, think about how much you have saved and the basic cost of living in the areas you want to visit. Some items you may want to factor into your budget include:

Transportation costs, such as plane or train tickets

Daily meals

Housing

Visa fees

Entertainment

Emergency funds

If you plan to travel for a long time or need to supplement your budget, you could consider working part time or remotely. There may be many types of in-person jobs available where you’re traveling, including:

Working remotely can offer plenty of flexibility if you’re going to move around a lot. Here are some remote jobs you could try:

You may want to set some basic goals for when you return home to help you develop a sense of direction and focus. Think about whether you would want to return to your same job or explore a new career based on what you learned during your travels. Update your resume to reflect the career gap if you didn’t work while you traveled. Add an objective or summary that explains your time away so hiring managers can easily see your reasoning.

Consider keeping a written or video account of your travels that you can show to potential employers that functions as a portfolio of your experience. It’s also important to be honest with prospective employers about why you left your previous company and why you value seeking a new working experience.