Would taking a year off from corporate be career sui?
I’m 29 and currently work in corporate marketing making about $72k.
On paper, I feel like I should keep climbing. I’ve been promoted, my resume is progressing well, and I know that walking away from a corporate role is generally considered risky.
The problem is that I’m becoming increasingly unhappy with the job.
Since accepting my promotion, the company has gone through layoffs, workloads have increased, priorities change constantly, and the environment has become much more reactive than strategic. I don’t hate marketing itself I actually enjoy the work but I’m questioning whether I want to continue in this environment. Red flags everywhere, i didn’t even have a backfill when i was promoted and did both jobs for my first 90 days.
I also have to relocate for the company, but moving would nearly double my monthly living expenses. If I stay where I am, my cost of living is extremely low (around $900/month), and my partner has a stable, well-paying job. Financially, I could afford to take a step back without putting us in a bad position. $50k would allow me to save the same amount after relocating on $72k. Have about $25k liquid which would easily be 24mo expenses if i didn’t work at all.
Lately I’ve been wondering if I should leave around November and spend 6–12 months working hospitality or other flexible jobs while I figure out what I actually want to do long term. There’s another career path I’m exploring, and I should know by the end of the year whether that’s a realistic option (Navy OCS)
My biggest fear isn’t the money it’s the resume.
I’m worried recruiters will see a one year gap where I was serving tables or working odd jobs and immediately assume something went wrong or ai will just toss my resume every time i apply in the future.
At the same time, I’m also worried that I’m falling into the trap of staying in a corporate job simply because I’m afraid of how a gap will look.
So I guess my questions are:
How damaging is a one-year break from corporate at age 29?
Have any of you intentionally stepped away from your career and successfully come back?
If you were financially stable enough to take a year to reset, would you do it?
Is it smarter to keep building momentum on a resume even if you’re increasingly unhappy, or take the risk while you’re still relatively young?
I realize there isn’t a “right” answer, but I’d love to hear from people who’ve actually been in this situation. Right now I’m trying to decide whether I’m protecting my future career or just making decisions out of fear of having a resume gap.
Some other odds and ends, i have been proposition by a parent to assist in the buildout of a downstairs apartment that myself and my partner could live in while renting out the main house. Parent is retiring and traveling/downsizing and said depending on how that goes they’d help me grown a real estate portfolio. I don’t love the idea of being a landlord but also understand the financial upside it can afford.
Idk i just feel like i need a year to evaluate and branch out on my own. can’t take the corporate environment any more.