Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
A friend of mine bailed out of California and the mess it has become and sold his house and decided on a mid life adventure. He and his wife sold a lot of his things and put the rest in storage and traveled the world for 18 months. He made arrangements to live in 10 different cities in condos or vacation homes all over the world and lived life as a local and bummed around and played tourist too. It was quite an adventure.
Now he has moved out east in a relatively inexpensive town in North Carolina (Cary) where the economy is strong and has been looking for work. Once the potential employers find out about his mid life adventure of living abroad and not working for 18 months they write him off as some type of lazy flake and deep six his employment application. Sometimes his creative resume gets him an interview but once they find out he has not been working for almost two years and hears about his overseas travel, they look at him like he has two heads.
If you were an employer what would you think of that man's story/situation? (He has a strong background in Accounting, an MBA, CPA and lots of great references, etc.)
I think it's silly that he can't find a job. Obviously he is qualified. He might think of taking some classes to brush up on current tax law and accounting practices.
Well, he could have been in prison somewhere all that time, for all they know.
Rather than Fun And Games, he needs to see this as a serious sabbatical, to maybe study the different cultures and practices of the world to prepare for, whatever job he thought it would prepare him for. And he really should have some sort of proof (a personal Mein Kamph?) or portfolio he can offer to prospective employers.
Whatever's the case, he'll probably need to start back somewhere low again, unfortunately.
OTOH my cousin has a friend whose son graduated with an MBA recently and screwed around in Europe for a year. When he got back he immediately snagged a job as VP of a software company! They were shocked.
I've been seeing alot of young VPs lately... maybe it's a sign that I'm getting older...
They probably think he got fired somewhere and left the job off his resume. I'd get "creative" with my resume, maybe invent a job and some references. That or become self employed. If he's a CPA, can't he just open up shop somewhere? Tax time is just around the corner. It shouldn't be too hard to find business.
I am not suprised they don't want him. With so many people doing anything they can to land a job, his actions show he was not the most motivated person. I respect him, I took off 2 months to travel around Europe, but that was in 94 when the economy was vastly different. He took a year off in the worst economic time so he as lost some of his skil set over that year he wasn't using it, that's the way I would look at it.
If no one will pay him to do it, he can do it for free as a volunteer for a charity. While he is volunteering, he could also attend the fundraisers without paying the ridiculous prices to get in. It will be a great way to meet management from the local companies.
Well UE rate in Cary is 8%, which isn't bad for NC, but he didn't pick a very good time to take 2 years off. Best of luck to him. If he's going to get a job in NC, he's in the right place.
I'd look at multiculture affairs positions at the state and local level, as well as the international student office of a university. Actually, with his education, there are a number of university positions he may want to apply for. Universities love sabbaticals.
"Here's a guy who just felt like taking 18 months off. What if he decided to do it again? Obviously, work is not a priority for this guy."
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
