[pct-l] Jobs after the Trail

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

My IP address seems to be on the spam list so let's see what happens  
here after changing some email settings...

My experience was thus: I quit a good high paying job to go hike the  
trail. I hiked the trail two summers in a row, two halves. In between  
hikes I found a company that would offered repeated seasonal work, so  
I could say that I was continuously employed. When I sent out resumes  
and cover letters and filled out applications, there was nothing to  
indicate I had frolicked through meadows of wildflowers for two  
summers. When it came time to go to interviews, I decided I would not  
volunteer any information about hiking unless it seemed like the  
answer would be helpful.

I do not remember exactly what I was asked, but ended up talking  
about my hikes in two interviews and got both jobs. The question was  
probably why did I leave Company X (because it's such a high-profile  
great local company). I told them that I decided I wanted to travel.  
That's the reason I told Company X I was quitting anyway and it was  
true. When asked about the details, I decided to tell them about my  
hikes. I decided that if they didn't think what I did was a sign of  
determination, strength and the ability to achieve whatever I set my  
mind to, I wouldn't want to work there anyway. People were very  
interested. I got both jobs.

I had already proven to myself that I could live on very little  
money, that there was more to life than getting a job and that I  
could make what money I had last for a long time with seasonal jobs.  
Basically, I was cool and comfortable, not desperate. I had nothing  
to lose and they had everything to gain.

On Mar 1, 2013, at 10:00 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 11:32 PM, Abilene B.  
> <abilenebushong at hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>>
>> This might sound like an odd question but my friends and family keep
>> telling me how thru-hiking the PCT will make me a more desirable  
>> employee
>> when I return. They explain that it will look good on my resume  
>> and give me
>> one up on my competition. My career is in parks and recreation, so  
>> it seems
>> obvious I guess that it might - but does anyone know how? Has anyone
>> experienced this happening to them after returning and getting a job?