Book Review: “The Career Break Traveler’s Handbook” by Jeffrey Jung

As you work in your corporate job today, you may have the dream of unencumbered life to explore what you never have enough time for:   a hobby, a new skill, even a new lifestyle or travel.  In The Career Break Traveler’s Handbook, Jeffrey Jung outlines how to plan for a career break, how to maximize your time on a break and how to use a career break to your advantage to re-enter the workforce.

“Jeff Jung is host of the new global TV show, The Career Break Travel Show and the publisher of CareerBreakSecrets.com.”  “He has appeared internationally on TV and radio, in print and online talking about the various issues related to career breaks”

Jeffrey Jung carefully outlines the planning process and gives an extensive prep-check list from what to pack to how to budget for a trip to how to say goodbye.     Jung explains the catalyst, an ‘event that usually initiates the quest for a career break.  He shares his 3% perspective, a career break of even one year only amounts to 3% of your working life.  Giving yourself permission to take a break may be one of the more difficult steps in your planning.

Jung tells his readers ‘to do something you have always wanted to do but never seem to have the time for.”    The question ‘what’s it going to take to make you happy’ is a great place to start.

Interspersed in the informational chapters are his personal experiences and stories from current and past ‘breakers’.   Each story includes what the ‘breaker’ is currently doing, who did NOT return as well as those that returned to new careers.

The focus of this book is on long breaks in a location other than your home country.    Do all career breaks need to be done thousands of miles away from your location?  If what makes you happy is available without long distance travel do you receive the same results and benefits?

The self-analysis portion of Jung’s book reminds me of Richard N. Bolles book, What color is your parachute.  Jung’s approach is far easier to read and act upon.  I resonated with the section on giving yourself permission to stop working and take a career break instead of waiting until retirement to do what you have ‘dreamed of’.

The resource list at the end of his book is worth bookmarking.  If you are considering taking a break from your career or are between jobs the information could be helpful to you.

Experienced travelers may have already read or know about long term travel challenges.  Jung gave some tips new to me:   Red Cross services abroad, organizing your life at home so you can travel without worry and a site that helps returning career breakers reenter the work force.

The Career Break Traveler’s Handbook is a useful addition to the series of Traveler’s Handbooks, offered by Janice Waugh at Solo Traveler

Disclosure: A free copy of this book was given to a volunteer with the expectation that a fair and honest review would be written for it.