How to justify the decision to thru-hike to employers afterwards

[skinewmexico]

I wouldn't hire you, just so you could quit in 6 months. But I'd probably hire you over other people after you finished. Delaying a career never hurts, as least compared to interrupting one. Go do parts of the PCT, or GET, until you hit the AT.

[Brock]

Hiking the AT can only be a good thing in your situation. This is coming from an IT guy who quit to hike the AT and has been on both ends of the job hire.

Think about it this way... You're 23 and just finished a Masters program. You DESERVE some time off. Any sane employer will see this.

They probably will ask you why you took time off and what you did (especially since you should list this activity on your resume... do not hide this experience). You know what... you have the BEST explanation ever. You explored 2000 miles of this great country on foot. You didn't backpack around Europe getting wasted, but instead put yourself through a tough physical experiment. It is to be congratulated, not questioned.

Besides, after you get done explaining your AT story to the interviewers, 2 hours will have passed and they will still be asking you questions. Truth is, they will remember you more for your AT experience than the next guy with some boring story.

EVERYONE in my IT work environment was extremely impressed and interested in my AT experience, from our VP to our co-ops. It has actually opened doors at work for me and this is in IT.

[cocoa]

Ha! Getting a job after you hike will be the least of your worries. I was a little worried because after we finished our thru-hike in '07 we were running out of money and had no place to live. Or really any possessions, since we sold them all before we left. But we got jobs and have stuff again.

To be honest, most employers haven't even asked me about the gap (and it was a solid 18 months without work, because we did some other traveling first).

So really what you should be worrying about is "getting it out of your system"...I did not find that hiking the AT had that effect on me. Quite the opposite really. I spend a lot of time thinking about getting rid of my stuff and my job and doing another hike.

[Ladytrekker]

A Master's Degree so your spin is you have been in school for 99% of your life and wanted some down time and reflection after many years of intense schooling and this is something you wanted to do for yourself before entering the work force. Then you tell your employer that hiking the trail took more self discipline than all of your years in school, but the self gratfication that it has given you to know you can do something as hard as this gave you the confidence that you can do anything and now you are ready. (I gave it my best shot). ha ha.

[middle to middle]

You got a lot of good thoughts here. Don't need a white paper. Make a decision. And get on with it.

[kayak karl]

the thread starter is 23. younger then my son, hard to remember back to what it was like then.
the trail will be a positive on your resume, but if hiking the trail will stress you out with worries, don't do it. at my age, i just don't care what others think. not saying that's good or bad.

[RockDoc]

Hiking the AT will only help your career, but more importantly, help you as a person.

People instinctively know when somebody is switched on and passionate. I think the AT will help you be that sort of person, and people will want to employ you and generally be around you. You will stand out mainly because these qualities are rather rare anymore, the norm is so jaded and sedentary, both physically and mentally.

[Bronk]

If you don't put it on your job application/resume, its possible that they will think you are trying to hide something...employers view gaps in your employment record as suspicious...many assume that you actually did have a job but were fired from it or quit.

I've always put it on the app somewhere...and I've always used a chronological resume format and list the hike in between the job before the hike and the job after. I did a 4 month 850 mile hike in 2002, and that's exactly what I put on the resume or job app.

I've never had a negative reaction...the typical response is somewhere betweeen "WOW!!!" and "Cool!" You'll often spend half the interview talking about it...it fascinates people...and amid many other applicants you will stick out.

So I wouldn't worry about any kind of negative impact...I think the positives outweigh them by a longshot.

[Montana AT05]

A few points:

• On the AT, I met the owner of a 4 billion dollar business. Yes...4 billion. He started it himself and it just grew. He is an avid light weight backpacker and has been in the news quite a bit. I talked to him about this issue you raised in this thread. I was 35 yrs old on my AT thru and I was concerned about re-employment. He gave me sound advice (paraphrased from memory):

'You don't want to work for someone who looks down on a thru-hike. You will find a few thing may happen in an interview--the interviewer might criticize your decision your hike, or the interviewer will talk more about the hike more than the job! Work for the latter, avoid the former'

• Hiring someone is an investment. While they want to know you will "stick" that doesn't mean you are imprisoned. Companies lay people off all the time--so don't give loyalty blindly
• Consider creating your own job--making your own company. Don't just automatically fall into the "employee-mindset"
• Thru hiking shows initiative, decision making, dedication, perseverance. It shows a willingness to fail in a large effort--for the slight chance of success.

Some jobs are cogs-a-wheel. They have a purpose.

Other jobs require those things that make a thru-hiker. They too have a purpose.

Make sure you ask yourself which job you want. Ask yourself who you want to work for (maybe it's yourself). Don't imagine that you must get a job created by someone else...propose a new position in a company you like.

I guess what I am saying is: Avoid falling into the trap of caring too much what others think. It's your life. It's short and it's valuable. Don't waste it.

Many people, in their final moments, wonder where it all went (life) and are speechless at how fast it all went.

[Tony Tiger]

When I returned from my 2007 thru-hike and started looking for a job, I put the experience on my resume. I was hired for a consulting engagement by the first firm I interviewed with.

They did not even mention the thru-hike during the interview process, nor did they ever ask me about it after I began work.

The truth is, they didn't and don't care.

[Pilgrim '11]

I'm with the folks that are saying an AT hike is something to be proud of.
I notice you're worried about how you'll appear, that you're thinking you'll have to make excuses.
Consider an AT trip a serious project management exercise. You've got to lay out a schedule for six months, organize a support network, allow for contingencies. Personally, I think it's something you could be proud to put on your resume and actually make a point of talking about rather than "justifying".
After 30 years, I am finally making good on my dream to thru-hike the AT. I am part of NASA's contractor support team and you can bet my managers want to see a plan for how one of their Leads is going to get things handled so a six-month Leave of Absence doesn't create a problem. If an AT trek gets that kind of visibility for someone employed, you can be sure it's worthwhile to think about and talk about.

Good luck, and well done on your Master's!

[Shutterbug]

I'm just worried that my decision to do the hike will look like "taking a year off," ..

You need to remember that most of the people making the decision to offer you a job are old enough that they wish they had taken a year off before they started to work. They will think your decision was a wise one.

[jwalden]

"Man, I was afraid you were going to ask about that. You see, I slacked off those five months after graduation walking 2175 miles from Maine to Georgia with a thirty-plus-pound backpack on my back, and I was afraid you might think I wouldn't be willing to tackle difficult tasks or have the perseverance to stick at them until completed. However, on the plus side, have no fear I'll ever touch the Snickers bars in the snacks stash in the office."

[jbrecon2]

so has anyone else struggled with the giving it all up dilema? i hiked the virginia section in 05, and have been dreaming of thru hiking for many years but fear all that is associated with the logistics of it. getting rid of my apartment, probally having to sell my car (payment 552 a month), wondering where ill come back to, wondering if i'll still have a girlfriend...ect ect. in a way it is kind of the beauty of it, but it is scary nonetheless. the good news is that i am a nurse, so i'll find work somewhere....its just hard not knowing what im coming back to, or even where i will go when i am done

[Erin]

Go hiking. I have interviewed job candidates and taking off after school for a hike, Peace Corps, etc is a plus on a resume. It also shows initiative, independence, lack of greed and life experience. Especially desirable in a public service career since we see so many young people that blew straight through school and are very smart but have no skills with dealing with people on an everday basis.

[chicote]

It's a big plus. Like all mentioned before with logistics and the success rate of finishing a thru-hike. I mean look at the percentages, I think only 20% complete a thru? It was a huge part of my interview process when I was looking – I ended up with a company that now boasts my thru-hike on the bio page of our website. My life is better because of it – yours will be too!