Has anybody else been worried about how to quit their job for their thru-hike? What does one say to their boss? Is it really as simple as “I’m going to walk the AT and would like to put in my two weeks notice” or is it appropriate to give them more time (one month notice)? I’m very nervous about this because I very much enjoy my job and don’t want to burn any bridges when it comes time to look for work post-trail, so any help would be appreciated.
Jean
I’d give them as much notice as is proportional to how you have been treated. Kind of like the size of your tip depends upon the quality of service.
If it’s a company you would like to work for again, don’t burn your bridges and tick anyone off. Tell them what you need to and leave it at that.
Most of the companies I’ve worked for have made me sign an employment agreement where they make it real clear the job is “at will.” Either employer or employee can end the job without cause. Thus, there is no legal obligation to give notice.
Having said all of that, I still get embarassed when it’s time to tell my boss I’m leaving. It feels like you’ve let him/her and the company down.
jaws
I apologize for another post so quickly, but there is something else I thought of. I don’t have any idea about your company but they might just have the option to let you go into a Leave Without Pay status for six months. That is what I did in 2003.
If you and your company want you to come back after the hike, LWOP makes a lot of sense. It gives you a good chance your job will be waiting for you. Also, you may still be eligible for health benefits at a decent premium instead of paying for the lot more expensive COBRA coverage.
jaws
I found that most people don’t understand “I need to take six months off to hike the Appalachian Trail”. I found a lot more people will accept “I would like to the summer off to do some camping and travelling. There is this trail that runs from Georgia to Maine that I have always dreamed of hiking…” People who aren’t familiar with the AT probably won’t understand the magnitude of what you are asking for.
I also found that the more time you give the better. I guess it really depends on your job and your relationship with your boss. But most employers are understanding, and living out this great adventure certainly isn’t burning any bridges.
Good luck, and happy hiking!
FrogLog
I quit on the same guy four times to do long hikes, 3 to 6 months at a time. He still took me back. I guess it depends on where you work and your relationship with your boss. If you work at maccy d’s then i wouldn’t worry about explaining a thing. There’s always work to be found, always.
Cheers
Cheers
The relationship you have with your employer is key.
I’d been at my last job for more than four years when I left one Friday and never went back, a couple of months before my hike. They mailed me my stuff. I never looked back, switched careers, vowing to never work in that field again and I’ve never regretted it. Best thing I’ve ever done. But that type of abrupt exit will be tricky to explain later. I just told the truth.
Walker
Do you think that a salaried engineer will have this type of option? (to go unpaid for 6 months while keeping the job)
I will be graduating in the next year and a half and with my co-op experience will probably go right into a full time position?
Hammock PhD
PhD;
You sound like me 18 years ago (engineering degree + co-op experience). My regret was starting work one week after graduation. Now I’m lucky to get out and do 3 - 4 short section hikes each year.
Bottom line is that employers hire you to get a job done and make a return on their investment. If you’re productive, it’s hard to just get other employees to pitch in and do you job while you’re gone. If you have proven yourself and have a unique set of skills, your employer may be willing to muddle through without you and then bring you back into the same position.
My company will grant personal leave, but there is no guarantee that you will return to the same position unless one happens to be open. So I could leave my current Project Management gig and return as a lab tech with a lower salary. Of course, your results may vary.
Stalking Tortoise
Not to be jerk, but who cares? I know you probably feel some sort of obligation to your job, but I highly doubt you’ll think much about for the next 6 months. Just give your notice like you would if you were to get another job or move to a new location. 2 or 3 weeks is fine. I realize it can be stressful, but if you explain why, most people are going to be interested and supportive of your hike. Some won’t understand at all, but that is what seperates them from you. You have a dream and you’re going to do it. They on the other hand will be at work this summer.
Nokia
when i quit to hike the pct in 02 i did not give a two week notice. the way i look at it, if a company was going to fire you, would they give you two weeks? probably not. remember, your providing them a service. all of this only holds water if you do not plan on going back to the same posistion. although i went back to the same company in a differant capacity after. it was a global IT company with poor internal communication.
ldhiker
It really does depend on the job and your relationship with your employers. If your boss is a friend, you may want to let him/her know earlier rather than later. When I quit the first time, I gave about two months notice because I had to hire a replacement and that took time. Plus, my boss was supportive. On my third hike, I gave notice several months early because there were changes going on in the office, and I had to explain why I wasn’t going to be a part of those changes. No problem. One thing that can happen in some offices - talking about leaving can mean that they fire you on the spot - so don’t say that you are leaving until you can actually afford to be without a job. Alternately, they may take away all responsibility, so you are left with nothing to do. This can make the last weeks very very boring.
On my current job - I would love to let them know that I am leaving, but I am somewhat afraid of the response. My main boss is mercurial - he could wish me well, he could pitch a fit. Chances are, he’ll do both. I’ll give two weeks, maybe three.
One thing I learned the hard way - if at all possible, give yourself some cushion time between leaving your job and getting on the trail. There are always last minute things to do, especially if you are packing up a house or apartment. Before the CDT we worked all day Friday, finished emptying the house at 3:00 a.m., then caught a 7:30 plane that morning. It took a week to get over the total exhaustion we felt. This time we’re giving ourselves three weeks to finish packing and do a training hike of a week to ten days. It should be a lot less hectic.
Ginny
Whether you have the chance for LWOP probably depends on 1) your company’s policy on the subject; 2) how much they need your skills; and 3) how easy it is to replace you.
If you work on a 1-year or longer contract, get to know your client and make friends. If that client wants you back on the contract, they probably will be able to do so.
jaws
I’ve evolved into a best case - worse case kind of guy. First you have to set your priorities - as in, no matter what, I’m going to do the hike. Then decide if YOU really want to return to the same job. If you REALLY do, then establishing a close relationship with your boss, early in the process, so you can let them know some of the details of what you are going to do, may make them a somewhat ssupportive partner in your plans. If they really don’t agree with you, keep reenforcing your “I’m gonna do it” attitude, and begin Plan B employment research. Best case - you want to returtn to the same job and even after a prolonged absence (hopefully leave without pay) they take you back. Worse case is they don’t, but impact is reduced because you’ve already researched Plan B.
The key is to focus on the hike and not let the other stuff drive you crazy.
booger
Don’t “burn a bridge.” Make leaving as nice as possible on your end. Check with the Human Relations Department (or whatever they call it) if you have one and ask about the company policy.
You don’t have to give a reason, though. Just say something like, “I’ll be out of the area for the next 6 or 9 months.”
The company may not be nice to you (send you packing as soon as you say anything), but let the ‘burning’ be done by them.
Have fun on your hike - Remember, “It’s not about the miles, It’s all about the Smiles!” (from a sticker I bought at Mountain Crossings, Neel’s Gap, GA).
K4KAM
You mean you had to pay for that sticker? They were giving them away when I came through. 
jaws
Well, actually, I got one free on an earlier buying trip. The next trip a few weeks later, I wanted a half-dozen so I thought it only proper to buy them (especially since I had Win Porter do a free backpack check the same trip).
Got a possible trivia question for you to use - drop me an e-mail and I’ll explain. k4kam@ieee.org.
K4KAM
I read the post, but not everyone’s reply so I hope I am not repeatative here. Aloha! Ann in her 2003 AT trail journal prep 1 has an excellent letter of resignation. I actually plagerized some of it when I wrote mine, which BTW I never ended up having to use since I hooked myself up with a job share situation. My position was held for me when I returned. Amazingly some employers understand about these things. Maybe yours will too. Good luck.
Early Bird
If it turns out you can’t go back to your old company post-hike, by all means include your AT experience in your resume.
Besides explaining the six months of “unemployment,” it shows you are ambitious and follow a project through to its completion. Employers like those traits. Over the years, I’ve read on these forums about and spoken to long-distance hikers in person who have recounted their positive experiences at interviews when the subject turned to the AT.
It’s really cool to work for a company that values your long distance hiking.
Skyline
I had been at a job for about 1 1/2 years and was planning to quit in May of 2005. I was worried about how to fanangle my vacation pay out of them at the same time I was going to be giving them a 2-week notice. I was working 32-hour weekends (two double shifts on Sat. & Sun.) and attending USF full-time Monday through Friday. Much to my surprise, they fired me in March for not attending in-service meetings during the week. I took 6 months off while receiving direct-deposit Unemployment Compensation ($500 every two weeks). They basically funded my vacation that year. Retards. When UC ran out, I applied at two places and both wanted to hire me. Jobs are a dime a dozen - hike your hike.
Julie