Deciding on what to do after college graduation.

[Anonymous]

My DS is graduating one semester early from UVA in CS from the college of Engineering with a high paying job offer, 125K per year, from a very good company.  He has always wanted to travel the world for the next six months because he feels he has been missing out because of Covid, he graduated HS in Spring 2020, so he is not completely sure that he wants to jump right into the workforce just yet.  He has 50K in savings from his two previous internships so he wants to travel the world for the next six months.  The problem is that his employer tells him that he will either start the job in January '24 or else, it is not subject to negotiation.  Due to the sensitive nature of the work, he will be onsite five days a week.  DS feels very strongly about traveling after graduation and he thinks that he can get a job after May 2024.  I told DS that he should take six months off and travel the world and if things do not work out after May '24, he can always live with us before making the next move.  I told him that if he doesn't do it now, he will have a lot of regrets later in life.  

Just wondering if I gave him the correct advice.  Thoughts? TIA

[Anonymous]

Go travel! He will find another job.
There will never again be time to take an extended break to travel!

[Anonymous]

Gift him the six month travel experience so he doesn’t have to touch his savings.

[Anonymous]

Travel, I hire IT staff and he will get another offer.

[Anonymous]

NP. Curious if folks would think differently if it was a May 2024 graduation date - is it easier to travel here bc of the early grad so he’s still essentially on cycle with everyone else? Or would you feel the same about a May 2024 grad taking 6 months to a year off?

The only difference is Id prob make him budget out how far his savings will get him with a cushion leftover to support himself while looking for a job. I do think it’s a more compelling explanation to employers to say I worked hard, graduated early, traveled what I could on my own money and I’m ready to work. As opposed to being a candidate whose travel was funded by their parents.

[Anonymous]

DD is in the exact same situation in terms of job offer. Graduating early CS. Just turned down high wage job from her internship because of location and job duties. She does not have the strong desire to travel but does have funds to live off of and look for a job for a good chunk of time. The sign on was very tempting though..in the end her choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is graduating one semester early from UVA in CS from the college of Engineering with a high paying job offer, 125K per year, from a very good company.  He has always wanted to travel the world for the next six months because he feels he has been missing out because of Covid, he graduated HS in Spring 2020, so he is not completely sure that he wants to jump right into the workforce just yet.  He has 50K in savings from his two previous internships so he wants to travel the world for the next six months.  The problem is that his employer tells him that he will either start the job in January '24 or else, it is not subject to negotiation.  Due to the sensitive nature of the work, he will be onsite five days a week.  DS feels very strongly about traveling after graduation and he thinks that he can get a job after May 2024.  I told DS that he should take six months off and travel the world and if things do not work out after May '24, he can always live with us before making the next move.  I told him that if he doesn't do it now, he will have a lot of regrets later in life.  

Just wondering if I gave him the correct advice.  Thoughts? TIA

You are doing your future daughter in law a terrible thing

[Anonymous]

He sounds like an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He sounds like an idiot.

Because?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is graduating one semester early from UVA in CS from the college of Engineering with a high paying job offer, 125K per year, from a very good company.  He has always wanted to travel the world for the next six months because he feels he has been missing out because of Covid, he graduated HS in Spring 2020, so he is not completely sure that he wants to jump right into the workforce just yet.  He has 50K in savings from his two previous internships so he wants to travel the world for the next six months.  The problem is that his employer tells him that he will either start the job in January '24 or else, it is not subject to negotiation.  Due to the sensitive nature of the work, he will be onsite five days a week.  DS feels very strongly about traveling after graduation and he thinks that he can get a job after May 2024.  I told DS that he should take six months off and travel the world and if things do not work out after May '24, he can always live with us before making the next move.  I told him that if he doesn't do it now, he will have a lot of regrets later in life.  

Just wondering if I gave him the correct advice.  Thoughts? TIA

You are doing your future daughter in law a terrible thing

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is graduating one semester early from UVA in CS from the college of Engineering with a high paying job offer, 125K per year, from a very good company.  He has always wanted to travel the world for the next six months because he feels he has been missing out because of Covid, he graduated HS in Spring 2020, so he is not completely sure that he wants to jump right into the workforce just yet.  He has 50K in savings from his two previous internships so he wants to travel the world for the next six months.  The problem is that his employer tells him that he will either start the job in January '24 or else, it is not subject to negotiation.  Due to the sensitive nature of the work, he will be onsite five days a week.  DS feels very strongly about traveling after graduation and he thinks that he can get a job after May 2024.  I told DS that he should take six months off and travel the world and if things do not work out after May '24, he can always live with us before making the next move.  I told him that if he doesn't do it now, he will have a lot of regrets later in life.  

Just wondering if I gave him the correct advice.  Thoughts? TIA

You are doing your future daughter in law a terrible thing

Super insightful. How did you reach such a brilliant conclusion. I didn't even see where OP said DS was straight, or any mention of a significant other or desire to marry any time soon.

[Anonymous]

Let him have this dream. It will be amazing.

And as we all know, as he gets older this option will likely be hard or impossible to pull off.

He sounds wise (and cool). Great that he has the confidence to go explore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is graduating one semester early from UVA in CS from the college of Engineering with a high paying job offer, 125K per year, from a very good company.  He has always wanted to travel the world for the next six months because he feels he has been missing out because of Covid, he graduated HS in Spring 2020, so he is not completely sure that he wants to jump right into the workforce just yet.  He has 50K in savings from his two previous internships so he wants to travel the world for the next six months.  The problem is that his employer tells him that he will either start the job in January '24 or else, it is not subject to negotiation.  Due to the sensitive nature of the work, he will be onsite five days a week.  DS feels very strongly about traveling after graduation and he thinks that he can get a job after May 2024.  I told DS that he should take six months off and travel the world and if things do not work out after May '24, he can always live with us before making the next move.  I told him that if he doesn't do it now, he will have a lot of regrets later in life.  

Just wondering if I gave him the correct advice.  Thoughts? TIA

You are doing your future daughter in law a terrible thing

What?

Because he is less of a piggy bank for her? I am confused.

[Anonymous]

Cue up the famous Johhny Paycheck song.

[Anonymous]

I don't have doubts that he can find another job, but I would be worried about ever working at that particular company again. So if it's a FAANG, then...maybe that's the only thing that would give me pause.