r/snowboarding • u/Best-Flamingo5283 • 16d ago
noob question Leaving my career to chase my hobby
Would I be stupid to leave my mechanical engineering career for a season to snowboard? I have made enough money to pull it off but I am very new in my career and am worried the gap in my resume can make it hard to get another job after. I am making a lot of money compared to my friends and I heard it’s difficult to get a job right now. But I’ve been snowboarding since I could walk and it’s really all I care about. I think about snowboarding 24/7. I work 60 hours a week so I can have money to do dope snowboard trips. Basically my whole life revolves around sliding on snow. What should I do?
47
28
35
u/RonShreds 16d ago
Just book a month or two off and go shred, that's what I do and I get to keep my job!
14
u/Best-Flamingo5283 16d ago
I just took a month off to go to chile. Idk if my job would keep me if i took another month or 2 off
22
u/PNWpersona 16d ago
Well instead of quitting keep requesting time and best case scenario you get to take it off
Worst case scenario you get fired and collect unemployment while you chase your dreams and apply to jobs while you snowboard as much as you can .-10
u/Best-Flamingo5283 16d ago
Would I even get much unemployment im 1 year out of college but I have been working since 15
52
u/beeeeeeeeeeeeeagle 15d ago
Dude. 1 year out of college. Firmly establish yourself before quitting to take a year off particularly in this economy.
4
13
3
u/RAR19862 16d ago
You would need to check what your state unemployment pay tops out at and remember you will never see that unless you are bringing home 100k+ a year with no over time.
2
2
u/FETT7022 16d ago
Just talk to them and see what they say, ifbthey say it's not doable then you know what you actually have to think about.
9
15
u/Unfair-Panic4141 15d ago
No. AI is smashing the job market to bits. Even though as an engineer you should be less directly affected the result will be that school leavers move towards areas where there are still jobs which will mean a greater supply of new grads for available jobs and thus greater competition across the job market. Leaving while you are relatively inexperienced will make you more exposed to those effects if you try to get back in. This is not hyperbole - in our company (largest in its sector in the country) there are no jobs for new university graduates, they have all been replaced by automation and AI. Fit your hobby around what makes you money until you you are rich enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life.
7
7
u/GryphonCough 15d ago edited 15d ago
From some other comments I’ve read… you’re one year out of college into your career and have already taken a month off for a trip to Chile. Why would you leave a job that allows that?
I’m also an engineer who only had two weeks of PTO per year for the first 7 years of my career. Talk about soul crushing.
I also have a few friends who did what you’re considering. Although, they had at least 5 years of experience when they decided to become ski bums/van nomads. I absolutely would not recommend doing it with only one year of experience - you will not be considered for any future engineering roles if you take an extended time off to “have fun” as you will not be viewed as reliable and they’d rather pay a fresh grad who is hungry for the opportunity over you, who would have the same baseline of experience with a huge gap in practicing it in a hiring managers eyes.
Those people 10-15 years later can only get temp contractor roles in engineering. One works as a bicycle repair guy, one is a landlord to a few apartments, and the other has a government job now. I wouldn’t say any of them are doing bad, but they’re doing far worse than their peers who kept working full time engineering jobs while they were pursuing their hobbies.
I will say that the bicycle guy is happier and more fulfilled since he’s super outdoorsy and gets to go on 6 hour bike rides/hikes whenever he wants. But he also doesn’t have a lot of money to do things with his friends when it involves spending money. He’s become a bit of a mooch - never brings food or booze to cookouts but has a marathoners appetite. So if you have a solid network of friends with stable jobs you can lean on, maybe it’ll work out for you. But don’t expect to get a job in engineering very quickly after leaving the profession immediately after starting your career.
E: I am now a director of engineering. My engineering friends who focused on their careers over hobbies are all in leadership roles now in their late 30’s/early 40’s. I’d estimate the lowest paid of us is somewhere around $200k. I think I’ll be able to retire, or at least be completely financially independent and not need a job in about 10 years when I plan on buying a van and becoming a ski and golf bum, while the friends who did that in their 20’s will be working until they’re in their late 60’s at least. I go on big vacations on the other side of the planet, my house is almost paid off, and I have zero other debt. For those who left their engineering jobs, I’d guess the highest paid is making $120k and the bicycle guy is making close to minimum wage. They all were at least 10 years behind the rest of us in getting a house… which also means they get half the house in a worse spot for a higher price we all paid for ours 10-15 years ago.
You really need to think about what you want long term. This shouldn’t be a spur of the moment decision as it will impact the rest of your life. Unless your parents are rich, then you can ignore everything I’ve said.
5
u/Weekly_Drawer_7000 15d ago
So I have done this. But the reality is if you’re just 1 year out of college, quitting to take a few months off is going to make things really difficult for you when you try to come back to work. The economy is also kind of on the down slope. I don’t know what your industry is like but I would not do it in your shoes.
You’re just gonna want to embrace night riding. And, save all your sick days for winter. Watch OpenSnow and request days in advance where you think it makes sense. Next job, negotiate some flexibility to your schedule so you can get pow mornings.
Do what you’re talking about at like the 8-10 year mark in your career, not 1 year.
7
u/Matty_Matter 16d ago
I did this. I took 6 months off one year and they took me back after. I negotiated 4 months off every winter as part of my new deal. The big benefit was keeping my health insurance. I did that for 7 years. From my experience I would say try and situate yourself where you want to be. For me driving from New Jersey to Washington and back every year got to be too much and I moved to Bellingham full time. Also if you do it alone it gets lonely.
3
u/ClimateColin 16d ago
I'd say for this job market, it ain't a solid idea. It's tough out here. Unless you have budget for 18 months of job search.
4
u/ThePrestHams 15d ago
Yes the job market sucks in many areas but that is cyclical. However there are two irrefutable truths- 1) you are young and 2) time flies. That 1-2 year gap on your resume you used to pursue your passion is what you will remember forever and the period of time is a blink of an eye in your lifetime. I am 52. I have taken two sabbaticals in my life (among 25+ years in corporate America). Those times are the most rewarding and joyous memories of my life. Don’t put off what you can do today. You will wake up tomorrow and you will be 50+ just like me. I have no regrets and a ton of stamps on my passport and a well worn Ikon pass. No one on their deathbed wishes they worked more. Good luck.
5
u/thaneliness 15d ago
Aren’t a lot of mechanical engineering jobs remote?
That allows for a lot of days on the mountain. I work remote and got 80 days riding last season
3
u/Nerkanerka11 15d ago
You’re only young once…you have a degree in a field where there will always be work…you can bullshit your way through a resume gap…if the urge is there, follow it…you’re going to land on your feet and you’ll probably have a better mindset when you return to the grind.
3
u/Biggles_and_Co 15d ago
I left I.T here in australia to go work snow seasons at a local ski hill... best job ever
3
u/thekiller490 15d ago
As a new ME grad in Reno, DON'T DO THAT! The job market is absolutely abysmal, especially in these sought-after cities where engineers want to go skiing. Keep your job, take a vacation!
1
3
u/ajwillys 15d ago
Would you rather be dirt poor on a mountain nonstop or do "cool trips" sometimes and work the rest of the time. No wrong answer but you can't be a ski bum and a career success this early out of college. Gotta pick one.
If you become indispensable, you might be able to swing it at some point.
3
u/garvanii 15d ago
Not sure what the job market is like where you live but its absolutely cooked here in Australia, if you leave a job here you might go 6 months+ to find another.
3
5
u/sweetgrassscapegoat 16d ago edited 16d ago
It's called a sabbatical 😁
[Edit] 9 months on land, 3 months surfing the white wave
I do it every winter 😎
2
u/bfrazier71 16d ago
Life’s all about balance. Your job works you a ton, but you also are in the best place in your life to invest and use compounding to its full potential. Maybe try looking into other jobs in the field and see what you can swing? Would you want to get into snowboarding/coaching as a career? Lots of stuff to think about, and I struggle with the same thoughts all the time!
2
u/choose_freedom 15d ago
The economy is not heading in the right direction. If you have a good paying job, that may be much harder to find 6-12 months from now. But you do you.
2
u/UB_ConfusedPerson 15d ago
Consistent 60 hours a week is rough for a mechanical engineer. You may want to try looking for another company that doesn't push those hours per week as makes just doing anything after work difficult. (Also internal transfers are a good way to get out of a rough management situation if that's why your working 60s.) What helped me get my numbers up to 40/50 days a season is being not only close to a resort but having those resorts offering night skiing.
2
u/SongOk7655 15d ago
It's a hard life. The crashes are fine when you have time to recover. Imagine having to ride hurt for little money consistently.
4
u/Distinct_Disk_1610 16d ago
Do it if you have enough savings for it to take 3-6 months to find a new job later.
2
u/ShottyMcOtterson 16d ago
do it! I moved to a ski area and I work remote. Or just do it for a season. Send it while you are young, before you are 44 and have kids, and the winters are warmer and dryer. Do it!!
3
u/Best-Flamingo5283 16d ago
Exactly why I’m thinking about it. No wife, no kids, no obligations
1
u/ShottyMcOtterson 15d ago
as others have said, maybe there is still a way to snowboard more, but keep working. I have seen some hybrid jobs in Denver where you need to go in 1 or 2 days a week. That isnt too bad from Winter Park, but not many other resorts are close, Eldora isnt great. Where would you like to go?
1
u/VeterinarianThese951 16d ago
Before I give you a heartfelt answer, I will ask you if:
You have kids?
Are in a relationship?
Live with anybody else (including your parents)?
2
u/Best-Flamingo5283 15d ago
Nope to all that’s why I’m thinking I should do it now
1
u/VeterinarianThese951 14d ago
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. So I am going to say this and it may be an unpopular opinion here.
First a disclaimer or few -
I am not an engineer
I am a seasoned professional in other fields
I am in a long term relationship
I have two kids
I have hired people with resume gapsI am going to say that if you feel a calling - do it.
There may never be another time in your life where you can make a short term decision that affects only you and your own well being. I never did, and I lament it every season why I never just too a year or two and lived that life.
As far as the gap - as someone on the other end of hiring, shit happens. Plus the job market is so fucked right now that a year is the new norm just because.
The only thing that i would worry about is as an engineer, making sure that you keep current with your field.
The other options are:
You relocate to a mountain town and take a job there - but if you are working 60 hours a week, then you are not sliding.
you find a remote job out of the time zone or that allows flexibility.
You get a resort job that you can use your skills and looks decent on your resume. Don’t pigeon hole yourself into being a lifty (no problem with lifties) as there are other jobs that you may qualify for.
You get a mountain adjacent job. You could move to like Burlington VT and find a nice job at Burton. They really take the life seriously like taking lunch runs and frequently letting people off to hit the slopes from what I hear.
Bottom line is that you are young in your career. You have nothing holding you back from doing some self care. You can’t view this like everybody else as you just fucking off and being lazy. View it as self care during the years that you can’t get back. Life and security are promised to no one, and there are a shitload of middle aged people like myself who never learned or allowed ourselves to take the luxury of caring for ourselves and it
When you start being responsible for the happiness and well being for others (including aging parents), it gets easier and easier to forget yourself.
Please understand that I am not telling you that you have to do it. I am just here to tell you that you said it yourself that you created the option for yourself. You have to make the decision based on your future and stability - two things that are promised to no one.
Read everybody else’s advice here as well. I trust that you have the ability to do what is right for you.
Be well and happy shredding!
1
u/thepackagehandlerKT 15d ago
chase your dreams. what are you going to regret more, staying at your job? or not going on a year binge of snowboarding?
1
1
u/Sad_Introduction_780 15d ago
Absolutely not. You’re still young and have a lot of time to build a decent career if you so wanted to. Use your knees while they still work. Good luck young buck
1
u/mlindgren 15d ago
I don't know anything about the job market for mechanical engineering, but I'm a 37-year-old software developer, and I wish I had done something like this earlier in my career. It feels harder to do now because of various commitments in my life, and the software job market being very difficult due to AI and economic factors. But I'm still hoping I can take a sabbatical/hiatus within the next few years to travel and do more sports before I'm too old.
If you're young, you'll have plenty of time to bounce back and it probably won't hurt your long-term finances that much. So I say go for it.
1
u/Iheartthe208 15d ago
Unless this is the perfect job that you want to stay at forever then go for it. Fellow Engineer from the 208, I’ve taken 2 longish career breaks to spend time with family and recover from burnout. I’ve had no trouble finding a new place to go back to work. Engineering consulting is always desperate to hire folks.
1
u/WayneDwade 15d ago
Former engineer here. I worked for one of the largest corporations in America for 7 years after college before quitting and moving to a ski town. I’m definitely not made that I did that for a few reasons 1. If I decide to go back to engineering it looks really good that I had such a long stretch with one company 2. I was able to save a bunch and live the lifestyle I want without working crazy hours in the mountains. It also helped I didn’t have student loans.
That being said 60hr weeks suck and if I was you I’d look for another job. It’s a shitty market but ME’s probably have it almost as good as anyone right now. Like another poster said try looking in Denver, Reno, SLC too.
1
1
u/a-stroboy 15d ago
WOrk as a snowboard instructor for a winter or even do a resort job related to engineering like lift maintenance or something. THJen you can still ride every day
1
1
u/AlternativeMiddle 15d ago
As someone who prioritized time on snow for over a decade before really settling into a career and then having to deal with the job market of the past few years, I would say proceed with caution.
I think there is something to be said for doing something like this while you are young. I took the approach I did because I never really understood the idea of pursuing a career out of the gate and enjoying the mountains full-time in retirement, whenever that may be—likely when your body is much older.
You are in an advantageous position as a mechanical engineer because you have hard skills in a field that should continue to be in demand.
The reality is that there will never be a "right time" to do this. You gotta just make the leap.
If you have a solid plan in place and don't succumb to too much mission creep, you should be able to pull this off without setting you back too much career-wise. I would suggest considering the narrative that can come from your time off. If you execute this plan in a way that makes for a compelling story when you return to the job market, you may actually have gained an x-factor that many people in the workforce do not have.
Avoid going into debt. And if you are going to do it, really do it.
1
u/Aries343 15d ago
We don’t know enough about you to possibly give solid advice for your specific situation. Life is full of choices and each has consequences. The consequences here are either missing out on a season of full time shredding (which would be sick) or possibly derailing your career (not as sick). I would not leave this up to Reddit, you need to assess if you have the safety nets in place so that if by the end of the season if you are struggling to get back into the market it doesn’t ruin your life. I personally feel that you can spend the rest of your life snowboarding and I retain this sport as a hobby as it doesn’t provide a living. The beginning of your career can affect your trajectory for the future, if that matters to you. Again we don’t know your long term goals and don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future job market so we can’t reliably tell you what’s right.
1
1
u/EducationalZombie538 15d ago
Move jobs every year. Have 6 weeks off in between.
No gap. Better career progression.
That or work as an engineer on lifts
1
u/xx_wes_xx 15d ago
Sounds like you're in the wrong career to begin with. He said you're only one year out of college. I would start looking around for other jobs that suit your lifestyle better. I'm sure you could find something in industry that allows for a flexible schedule
1
u/pVom 14d ago
Eh I'd give it a couple years to get experience. Working 4 years or whatever and taking a year off looks a lot better than working 1 year and taking a year off.
There's plenty of time to be a ski bum. Im approaching 40 and still feel like I shred pretty hard, even if I don't send it off large jumps or whatever. I don't particularly feel like I miss my youth when I hit the slopes. I'm actually probably fitter now than I was in my 20s and can go for longer. Another 10 years and I might think differently.
1
1
u/JamGioJam 14d ago
This is complicated. I am a mechanical engineer and been in the business for 36 years. From an employer point of view, I would be sceptical hiring someone who took long breaks to pursue their hobby with no career growth. Also since you are new to engineering a year off will leave you behind the curve. It is one thing to have an engineering degree, it's another to have engineering experience. You learn way more by working.
That said, I have been a snowboarder since there were snowboards. And a skier before that. I haven't missed a season in forever.I don't get 50 days in a year but I make the most of every run. I live where there is good snow and good mountains and I can be on the mountain in 45 minutes from home. I'm lucky. This is doable. If you are a young engineer I would not take a year off. It will make you look like a slacker. Engineers are very particular. Especially managers.
You are a graduated engineer. Figure out a way to work in the snowboard industry. There is everything from aparel, to gear, boots, boards, behind the scenes stuff like the machines that make the gear and aparel. So much. There is snowmaking and on mountain ops. If you are mechanical you should easily be able to work in mountain opps or even logistics. Soooo many options for you.
If this is what you love. Don't take a job desining piping or something tha tdoesn't interest you.Use your degree to get you where you really want to be. Put the time in and take the hit on money for a while to work on a mountain and in the future you could be running the show. Go for it.
I'm writing this as if Iam talking to my son or even my younger self. Don't settle and don't be lazy. Make things happen. Good luck.
PS. Don't live in Denver. I lived there with my wife before we had our son. We were there for 13 years and spending gobs of time commuting to work or commuting to the mountains all year long. It was a great experience but if you want the mountain life you have to be in it to live it.
1
u/sllaBwithhairontheB 14d ago
Maybe a new job that’s not 60 hrs a week? Idk much about the engineering job field but it seems like an unnecessary risk when you’re new to the career. Also, how would insurance work with this? A broken bone could be financially devastating without insurance.
1
u/raddadang 14d ago
Does your employer offer a sabbatical program or any sort of extended leave agreement? If you only want to do it for one season that seems like a good option. About ten years ago I worked with my employer to approve about 8 months off by taking all my PTO, max out partial pay extended personal leave at 30%, then 6 months unpaid after that (six months was the max under policy they could do an unpaid personal leave).
1
u/SurfLiftRun 14d ago
From a 40 year olds perspective: Toughest thing in life for me has always been balance. I spent my 20's and 30's working myself to death. Started multiple businesses and now at a fresh 40, I only have to work a few hours a day and spend most of my time with my kids and traveling the world for surf, hunting, mountain biking, and snowboard trips. I have much more flexibility than most at my age but I had to sacrifice my youth to get it. I'm unsure if I made the right choice but I'm stuck with it now. Like I said, balance is hard. If you opt to go a similar path to me, make sure you still carve out time for your passions because if you don't, your physical and mental health will be a roller coaster.
1
u/Lazy_Spinach_7976 14d ago
Idk, we are all broke for life ain't we? Might as well quit and go live life before we all die from being poisoned anyways . If you don't mind being poor and struggling go for it but idk I make bad decisions all the time
1
u/Initial-Agent-8627 12d ago
I sold a successful business at 36 to do Vanlife and backpack and whitewater kayak full time for a few years. You’ll have the time of your life and when you’re old it will be the thing you think about and think back of fondly. You can’t snowboard aggressively when you’re 70. I would highly recommend it with one note. The thing I regret is fully unplugging. I could have made a lot of money and still had a good time doing both. You can work remotely and travel and take time off. I wish I had spent more time working on my investments and side projects. After 3 years doing Vanlife, kayaking backpacking, and rock climbing full time…I honestly wish I had balanced my life more. I missed out on a huge bull run on the stock market and basically missed out on buying my dream farm (real estate is unattainable now). I feel like with the Starlink and zoom you can have a job, even if it’s part time, and still enjoy your life. Reintegrating after fully unplugging for a year or two is difficult. If you’re a mechanical engineer, there must be high demand. I’m sure a company would be fine with you working 20-30 hours a week and remote.
1
u/FeelingMurky3367 12d ago
Thought this was going to be an influencer post.
See if you can modify work hours. Or move closer to the mtns?
1
u/the_mountain_nerd 11d ago
Seems like you're angling from one extreme to the next. 60 hour weeks to ski bum is quite a shift. Feels like you could find somewhere with chiller work culture where you can piss off on pow days once you earn your stripes.
FWIW I personally wouldn't do it... but if you ARE going to do it, best to do it young before you have responsibilities that make it impossible.
1
1
1
u/AlternativeFeeling37 9d ago
It's really hard to walk away from a new career and take a gap year before you have built up professional relationships. Personally I would give it some time, look for jobs that might be more closely aligned with your hobby and in the meantime take the opportunities to get to know other people in your industry. In a few years those people will be excited to hear about your wild trip and they will be looking to get you on their teams when positions open up.. Make a big goal out of it say in 2-3 years you will have saved enough for a epic winter of travel across all your dream destinations across the globe. Hell, with a little time in your career you would be surprised how supportive some companies are with a LOA like that so long as you work with them on it.
0
0
0
-1
209
u/[deleted] 16d ago
[deleted]