This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Victoria Dobbie, 30, who works in ad sales at TikTok and lives in Munich. She has given notice that she plans to leave her job in December, so she can travel the world for at least six months. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.
My decision to quit my job and go traveling came from a realization that, most probably, we’re all going to be working until we’re 65, 70. I never took a gap year, as is commonly done in Europe, because I was so ambitious. I wanted to get out of uni, do my first internship, and first grad program.
I’m now 30. I’m single. I don’t have kids, and I don’t have a mortgage. The idea of having to work for the next 30, potentially 40 years, without a longer break is somewhat daunting. So, I thought, “Why don’t I take off six months, maybe a year, if finances allow, to do something I’ve always wanted to do?”
This time of year can inspire people to reflect on their lives and careers and whether they’re fulfilled, challenged, or ready for change.
In Quitting Without Regret, Business Insider asked four people who quit great jobs to share what pushed them to act, how they managed doubt, and what they learned about risk and reward.
Check out their stories below, and share yours here.
- I quit Google after 18 years.
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Two ex-colleagues did that before me. I remember thinking, “Risky, but so damn cool.” Work is important, and earning money is important, but isn’t living, as well?
My situation is probably quite unique in that most people take a sabbatical or a career break when they’re either burned out or they’re frustrated in their jobs. I’m in a fortunate position where I’ve had my dream job for the last four years, and TikTok has treated me very well.
I have loved my colleagues and my bosses and feel very valued. So that makes it potentially even crazier because a lot of people haven’t found what they want to do, or haven’t got their dream job, particularly with the job market being challenging. I don’t know if this is just blind confidence in my abilities to get a job later.
An emotional decision
I’ve been thinking about it for at least a year, if not longer. I gave my notice around August. In Germany, notice periods are quite a bit longer than elsewhere. I wanted to spend Christmas with my family in London, and then the plan is to go off in January.
I’m selling my furniture — most everything worldly that I own. Then, I’m moving back to my parents’ at the age of 30, which was definitely not on my bingo card when I was a child.
The realization that I’m going to be leaving the country that I’ve called home for the past seven years is quite sobering and emotional. I moved to Germany after I graduated. Basically, I’ve become an adult here. Giving up my apartment, my friendship group, and a job I’ve identified with very closely is painful. It’s like a breakup in some ways.
Finances were a big thing for me. How was I going to get the money together to take six months off and have an emergency fund? I’ve had to give up a part of what I would have put down on a house or an apartment to do this. I sold off some of my investment fund just to have it in the bank.
A 30-year-old barista
I’ve lived in a few different places. I’ve spent time in Brazil, I did a semester in Italy, and then in Germany. So, I’ve had to go through that experience a few times of having to say goodbye to a place. Probably because of that, it’s given me the confidence to know that better things are to come. Maybe I’ll find a place I fall in love with and stay there. I’m open to the opportunities.
My first destination is New Zealand — going as far away as possible. I’m a big hiker, and there is a lot of hiking to do there. I’ve got an idea of maybe going to Australia, Southeast Asia, and maybe to Japan and Nepal. I want to do very adventure-y things like surfing, horseback riding, climbing, and mountaineering. I’ll base the countries on the activities that I want to do.
I’m thinking about doing some freelance consultant work while on the road. The idea is not to be a digital nomad. I want to actually be enjoying my time. But if I can have some money coming in, that would be good.
If it’s not successful, I might not be able to continue traveling for a whole year. I could dip into my savings, but that might be painful. I’ll probably start looking for jobs after three or four months. Maybe I should be more scared than I am. I might be a 30-year-old barista, and that’s absolutely fine. I worked as a waitress all through high school and university and loved it.
Rose-tinted glasses
I think traveling will be quite an adjustment for me, because I’ve never not had a goal. I’ve always had an exam coming up, or I have to go back to work. I think it might take me a while mentally to adjust to not being productive all the time.
I think there will come a point where I will look back with sort of these rose-tinted glasses on my time at TikTok. The amazing times I had, the business travel I did, and the colleagues I got on so well with.
I just felt compelled by this realization that we don’t have forever on this planet to go out there. I’m in a privileged position to be able to do this, but this is something that I’ll take to my deathbed. If it means giving up my dream job, then it means giving up my dream job.
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