Scared of having a gap on your CV after that long trip? Fear no more | Hacker News Reader

Scared of having a gap on your CV after that long trip? Fear no more

backpackconsulting.com

I'm a Software Engineer and have taken multiple extended trips leaving "gaps" on my CV.

I became a snowboard instructor and kayak guide for a couple of years, then worked for a couple as a programmer, then spent two years driving Alaska->Argentina, before working 4 years in IT again. Now I'm taking 3+ years off to drive around Africa.

In my experience, "gaps" on my resume have not been an issue. In fact, I put that time front and center, to show my resourcefulness, ability to teach myself Spanish, think on my feet, etc. etc. I'm asked about it in interviews, and I've never seen it affect my chances negatively.

While I have not climbed the corporate ladder like my friends I graduated with 10 years ago, I have not experienced any problems finding work because of "gaps" on my CV. I genuinely think that's a common myth created to stop people taking time off.

Didn't you also support Unicef in Kongo and helped fertilize endangered Rhinos in Tanzania? You must have forgotten about that - ah yeah, and the novels you wrote during your sabbatical while travelling down the Ganges on a house boat ...

I assume you're trying to call me out for lying?

This is me - http://theroadchoseme.com

As someone who has backpacked while coding, this is terrifying:

> Backpack Consulting connects skilled travellers who want to discover the world with companies who are looking for specialized help. In return for volunteering help, companies offer the opportunity to add relevant work experience to your CV while you travel, plus free accommodation.

Travelers who can code can still make a killing working remotely. There are tons of resources today to connect you with companies that are willing to do remote, and it's not hard to pick up $40-60/hr work on Freelancer or Elance if you are an English speaking Westerner (reverse discrimination is big on those sites).

> There are tons of resources today to connect you with companies that are willing to do remote

Could you please enumerate some of these resources?

He did.

Freelancer and Elance

elance.com, freelancer.com, upwork.com for highly competitive "off-shoring" style (but not all work there is terrible)

WeWorkRemotely.com

Quick pairing-style gigs: HackHands.com, AirPair.com, CodeMentor.com

Email lists that aggregate freelance and remote work opportunities like LetsWorkshop.com

Agreed, this is scaremongering: I spent 7 years outside of the western workforce and don't feel it impacted my career in the slightest. Meanwhile, I spent four years working remotely all over the world making good money. This post really is a scam.

Yes, for us coders it is simpler. But think about marketing, design, customer relations, project management... There are a lot of jobs that are much harder to do remotely, especially when a lot of consulting is necessary. And for people who just got their degree, this might indeed be a great way to get their hands dirty on some real projects while seeing the world.

Of course, nobody should, IMHO, agree to work 40h/week for accommodation only (my rule of thumb for choosing accommodations is: 1h of work should pay for the night).

Last but not least: People who do this will have much easier access to locals (after all you share an office) and therefore a much more intense travel experience.

Translation: if you have no skills yet or have zero ability to market them and win clients, then this is for you.

> Last but not least: People who do this will have much easier access to locals (after all you share an office) and therefore a much more intense travel experience.

Not to be rude, but you don't sound like someone who has traveled and worked as a lifestyle... What do you think people who travel as digital nomads do?

> Translation: if you have no skills yet or have zero ability to market them and win clients, then this is for you.

Using a tool to make something easier does not disqualify people for me. Actually, I'd rather hire someone who uses a hammer to put a nail in the wall over someone who uses his hand "because he can".

> Not to be rude, but you don't sound like someone who has traveled and worked as a lifestyle... What do you think people who travel as digital nomads do?

Most of them work remotely for companies in yet another country and are thus able to happily hack away on their laptops without much interaction with locals. The ones who really worked with locals where doing unskilled jobs (old school work & travel). This is at least the pattern I have observed in 3 years in Africa, Caribbean and South America.

All who've I met are trying to assemble regular social groups, many dating locals... spend some time on r/digitalnomad if you're interested.

Don't think that is true anymore ... there are lots of qualified Malaysians, Indonesians, Indians and Pakistanis who will work for $10 an hour and be happy about it.

That can do a good job? No they are not in abundance.

Speaking from experience, there are a lot of people looking for Westerners with a $40-60/ hour budget, which is too cheap for Westerners and too expensive for South Asians. It doesn't have to do with qualification, it has to do with reverse discrimination. Their ideal is to get Westerners at a discount, because whether right or wrong these people perceive trust, communication, and quality to be greater working with a Westerner even, if that Westerner is working out of hostels and coffee shops.

You are paid only in food and accommodation. This initially stuck me as terrible, but then I noticed that the company only hooks you up with startups local to where you are travelling. This is not remote work so do not expect 'back home bucks'.

The requirement for a LinkedIn page is sub-optimal. Allow a Github login plus CV, maybe?

It's also terrible when you're traveling outside the first world because food and accommodation are insanely cheap to the point they're almost free.

Probably not compared to the local salary, which you will not be paid more than I expect.

This sort of thing might turn you off:

> We only select the best travellers to offer start-ups some great help. To quickly show us that you are one of the best, we kindly ask you to sign in with LinkedIn.

That alone was enough to make me close the page. No option to send a CV or anything, just a "Sign in with LinkedIn" button.

Plus a linkedin profile only really shows if someone is skilled or not at presenting himself in a good light. It's not necessarily a useful skill for the startups in question.

My initial impression is that it would be best for those who would be doing internships anyways, like students early in their career. Perhaps the idea is top-notch developers who want to travel and do a little consulting while they travel, but I suspect it'd turn into something that looks closer to a full engagement. If so, there's quite a disconnect between that kind of situation and working for free room-and-board, at least for a well qualified consultant.

That's probably the worst possible way to select for good programmers. In fact, I'm guessing any kind of correlation they can find will be negative.

Wouldn't this be illegal in most countries? Most countries wont let you work on a tourist visa, and it is more difficult to get a working visa.

Not necessarily, because it's work under the table (i.e you're not getting paid) meaning you're doing it for a friend/gift type of way

"under the table" work doesn't mean you're not getting paid, it means your pay isn't reported to the relevant tax authorities. That doesn't make it less illegal.

No, if you're being compensated, that's pay. Otherwise it smacks of escorts' "You're paying me for time, anything that happens between two consenting adults ..." wink wink nudge nudge

Working for free is still working. It usually requires the right kind of visa and a work permit to remain legal. Do it on a tourist visa at your own risk.

You say "illegal", they say "disruptive"!

Yes, this is an effective way to get yourself deported

And many places it's a hellish experience because before they kick you out of the country you get to spend some time in an immigration holding center which tend to be rather horrifying accommodations. Unlucky enough to get nabbed before a long holiday weekend? 3 or 4 days packed in with all sorts of people awaiting deportation, confined to your one square meter of space, with a hole in the floor for a toilet, and food unfit for human consumption. All you get from it is a story for a blog post.

"In return for volunteering help, companies offer the opportunity to add relevant work experience to your CV while you travel, plus free accommodation"

Couldn't you just do low-end work via Upwork, Freelancer, or the like?

What happens if the startup isn't pleased with your work mid-way through your time there? Seems this could be easily abused.

I like the idea very much. I have been traveling myself for 3 years now and have been envied by a lot of like-minded travelers who are not in the comfortable position to be able to work remotely for the same client all the time (zero acquisition, secure position).

While it is really easy to find something, finding something in ones area of expertise is much harder - and "waited tables in Cambodia" really does not add much value to a UI-designer's CV.

So yes, thumbs up and all the best to the project!

I don't think anyone would like to work while traveling to see the world. For people who do, I think the only legal way would be for backpackconsulting to employ the traveler in their home country and have them do remote work. Even then I think most countries would require a business visa if the traveler is in direct contact with the client. I would be interested to know how the company plans to deal with it.

You we're on sabbatical.

I've used this to describe time I took off in my earlier 30's to do various volunteer work and travel. Never an issue. Most folks look at it and say something like, "Cool, I should have done that"

Similar to https://www.worldpackers.com which is a Brazilian startup.

Well this is not advertising spam

There's a fine line, but it's considered acceptable to show off your startup here.

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