Digital2013 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Been thinking of quitting my job and backpacking Australia for sometime, but doubts keep preventing me from taking the plunge and I need some advice! To give you a bit of background, I'm 26 and in a stable office job, with a stable company and all in all I earn a decent living. I have been able to buy my own flat (which I enjoy living in) from the proceeds, and I live a comfortable life, have a couple of holidays a year, go to concerts and sports events, drive a decent car etc but now to the bad: my job is not my passion, I kind of fell in to it after leaving Uni and took whatever job was going as the recession hit. For the first couple of years I enjoyed it, and actually got promoted 3 years ago. Over the last year however my progress has stalled, our department manager has changed, the company is going through a massive re-structure so all training & development is on-hold, the workload has increased massively and I just feel I'm going through the motions doing a job I no longer enjoy. I am literally clock watching for home time on Friday from the first moment of Monday morning! So for a few months I have been dreaming of renting my flat out and doing a working holiday in Australia, but I am so nervous at giving up things I have worked for over the last 5 years! On the flip side I feel if I don't do it now while I have few commitments I won't ever do it, and 30 is the WHV deadline so the countdown clock is starting to tick. My main worry is not finding a job quickly enough and having to return home with my tail between my legs and my confidence wrecked! any advice would be appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindor Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Hi Digital, If I was in your position I wouldn't think twice about going! I had the chance to go when I was young, 18, I didn't and I regret it to this day! You're not happy at work, where you spend most of your waking hours, few commitments, what's stopping you girl! If it doesn't work out, you don't need to go back with your tail between your legs. You'll have done something a lot of people think about doing but don't, and you'll have had a fab holiday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Plus,you're 26 ffs! loads of time to get sensible yet,and get back to the financial position you want I look at it this way,and this is going to the extremes,BUT!.....if i never went on a holiday,never bought a bottle of scotch,didnt smoke,wasnt a spendthrift i'd be loaded,but if i done that all my life,then pegged out,what use would £ be to me? Its not "so" black and white,i know,but for me,lifes for looking back on experiences,good and bad,japes and escapades,they're worth more than dying with a load of £ in the bank,just sayin like...........Gnite,im off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I would say go for it. The holidays, concerts etc will still be there when you get back, travelling Australia will be another experience to add. clock watching isn't a great way to spend your working life and probably tells you something, I realise that leaving a "good job" is a risk but doing something you actually want to do is much better. Would work let you take a career break? If you really Didnt want to burn bridges, although by the sounds of it I'm sure you could get another job. Maybe just make sure you leave enough in the bank for your return to see you thru any lean times. You still have a few years to put things in place if you decide to go for it, but if you miss out on a WHV then coming to Australia for any length of time would be a lot harder. Good luck with it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 How the world has changed. You feel the need to ask at 26 if you should broaden your horizons owing to a job you've fallen out of interest with. Your probably correct. If you don't make the move soon the mould will be set. Are you wanting to purely travel or look into a longer stay? Why not travel en route and see a bit of the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital2013 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Plus,you're 26 ffs! loads of time to get sensible yet,and get back to the financial position you wantI look at it this way,and this is going to the extremes,BUT!.....if i never went on a holiday,never bought a bottle of scotch,didnt smoke,wasnt a spendthrift i'd be loaded,but if i done that all my life,then pegged out,what use would £ be to me? Its not "so" black and white,i know,but for me,lifes for looking back on experiences,good and bad,japes and escapades,they're worth more than dying with a load of £ in the bank,just sayin like...........Gnite,im off! Good point! I do have a tendency to think older than I am! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Good point! I do have a tendency to think older than I am! Dont be too sensible yet D,loads of time for you,i mean ffs,i'm still trying me best to be sensible/responsible and i'm 51 lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Just want to add my vote of support - go for it! Just make sure you rent your flat out through a very good agency - I can recommend Your Move. Once you've decided for sure that you are going why not ask if you can take a sabbatical from work? You may decide to do something completely different after your travels but a safety net wouldn't harm and it can't hurt asking, if they say no you'll leave anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindor Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Dont be too sensible yet D,loads of time for you,i mean ffs,i'm still trying me best to be sensible/responsible and i'm 51 lmao I've stopped trying to be sensible, unless what I'm doing is life threatening! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Dont be too sensible yet D,loads of time for you,i mean ffs,i'm still trying me best to be sensible/responsible and i'm 51 lmao Thought you were in your 30s! Mind you I do need glasses these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tingtongman Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 hashtagYOLO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Dont be too sensible yet D,loads of time for you,i mean ffs,i'm still trying me best to be sensible/responsible and i'm 51 lmao You still manage to put the young uns to shame though Pabs :tongue: When did people become so sensible:wacko: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 I've stopped trying to be sensible, unless what I'm doing is life threatening! Lol Lindor,im saying nothing to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital2013 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Thanks to all of the above for the advice, definitely convincing me towards going now :biggrin: To add: my employer is very old-school and wouldn't allow me to have a career break...and I'd probs want to go straight to Australia even though I have travelled a lot, its mainly been to Westernised countries and safe hotel complexes, I'd want to see how I got on in Australia first before exploring Asia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Thought you were in your 30s! Mind you I do need glasses these days Ha! you do need glasses LR,or youre very kind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 You still manage to put the young uns to shame though Pabs :tongue: When did people become so sensible:wacko: Lmao,those were the days Fi.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag of convenience Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Thanks to all of the above for the advice, definitely convincing me towards going now :biggrin: To add: my employer is very old-school and wouldn't allow me to have a career break...and I'd probs want to go straight to Australia even though I have travelled a lot, its mainly been to Westernised countries and safe hotel complexes, I'd want to see how I got on in Australia first before exploring Asia. Your call. Just keep in mind Asia would be a relaxing break and cheap enough to forget about work. It is full of foreigners and easy top hook up with others and you can live the inner hippy in you for a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn2002 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Digital2013, I was in a similar position and age to you just over eleven years ago, (didn't own a flat though), good yet boring job, broken up with a long term partner the previous year, felt life was going nowhere. I decided that I had to do something to kick myself out of my rut, so packed in the job and went off to Oz on a WHV. Rather a shock to my family as had I had not done any travelling by myself before. I spent about 5 nights in Hong Kong as a stopover on the way and didn't have any issues as a women travelling alone. I saw a lot of Australia, and it is an amazing place. It is daunting going on your own, but I made friends, bought a car, had lots of fun and found work, and I am sure you will too. In fact I found being on my own pushed me to make more effort to find friends and get out and socialise. I wouldn't have thought things have changed to much on the social side, but the job market would obviously be different now but you can check out the agency website over here before you go to see what's about what I did. I worked in Investment admin and I got a job really quickly in Sydney, (I had about 6 yrs experience), I didn't try in any other cities, and again this will now be different I expect. For me it was the best thing I ever did, and on Sunday I am returning to Oz permanently with my two children and the Aussie Husband I met out there 11 years ago !! My personal advice is go for it. Good luck whatever you decide. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital2013 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Digital2013, I was in a similar position and age to you just over eleven years ago, (didn't own a flat though), good yet boring job, broken up with a long term partner the previous year, felt life was going nowhere. I decided that I had to do something to kick myself out of my rut, so packed in the job and went off to Oz on a WHV. Rather a shock to my family as had I had not done any travelling by myself before. I spent about 5 nights in Hong Kong as a stopover on the way and didn't have any issues as a women travelling alone. I saw a lot of Australia, and it is an amazing place. It is daunting going on your own, but I made friends, bought a car, had lots of fun and found work, and I am sure you will too. In fact I found being on my own pushed me to make more effort to find friends and get out and socialise. I wouldn't have thought things have changed to much on the social side, but the job market would obviously be different now but you can check out the agency website over here before you go to see what's about what I did. I worked in Investment admin and I got a job really quickly in Sydney, (I had about 6 yrs experience), I didn't try in any other cities, and again this will now be different I expect. For me it was the best thing I ever did, and on Sunday I am returning to Oz permanently with my two children and the Aussie Husband I met out there 11 years ago !! My personal advice is go for it. Good luck whatever you decide. Dawn thanks, and good luck with your move...that post alone shows how differently life can change just from one big decision! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 Doesn't hurt to ask for a career break - you never know your luck! They do reckon that young people today are going to have 3 or 4 careers before they stop working and that's not just changing employers. Just ensure you don't get into a financial hole and save up big before you go and then enjoy the adventure! Your parents will probably freak out but there ya go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tingtongman Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 http://afarangabroad.com/ should read the first 2 blog posts he does the same as you expect picked thailand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I am going to disagree with most of the others and say, running away to Oz won't solve your problems and possibly increase them. It's all great to say come to Oz for a WHV. But at the end of the day, you will be going back to the UK and be potentially in a worse position than you are now. Imagine if the best you get on return is flipping burgers. My advice would be to up skill / change skill to get yourself into the role you want. I say this based on the fact that most people are finding it hard to get good jobs in either country at the moment. The old thing employers had about seeing gap years as a positive have gone out of e window and are now often seen as a negative. Running away is very rarely the answer to anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 Maybe its me VS but I Didnt read anywhere that the OP was running away from anything. What I read was a you a young person realising that there may be more to life than work. OP could still do what you suggest but why not just take a year or two out before getting bogged down with responsibilities. Just saying :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickyplum Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 Go for it! Rent out your flat, make sure you have a financial buffer to come back to, and most importantly, enjoy yourself. You are in a great position for your age (I am 11 years older and still don't have my own place), so make the most of it and grab what's out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Pitstop Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I went backpacking to Oz nearly 22 years ago, although I was out of work at the time and only went because a work colleague who also had her contract ended persuaded me to go with her. I had a flat but rented it out, had a fixed budget and money in the bank in the UK. Was a fantastic experience, loved the freedom, met my Aussie husband even though I wasn't looking - (still happily married). It was a life changing decision and I sometimes feel that life would have been much easier if I had married a guy from down the road in England - but my life has been far from boring and conventional. If you have the urge to travel it is like an itch that has to be scratched so go for it if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.