The two year period that you’re talking about is interesting.

It’s an economic bet that companies are making that all will be well in 2011. Companies in 1929 that made the bet that all would be well 1931. They were wrong. The people who make this bet may also be wrong. So going away for 2 years on the expectation that all will be well when you get back may not be in your best interest.

The key thing about the economy is that nobody knows what’s going to happen. No politician, no economist, no business leader, no worker knows. So your response to the offer is based on your bet on the economy. If you believe that in two years the economy will be robust and employment prospects will have improved and work will be available, now is the time to take the dough and have a fun jaunt around the world.

If you think the economy is going to slide further and in 2011 it’s going to be even worse then stay, work hard and prove your worth. If you go, when you get back you’ll have no money. If you hang around you can get a salary, save and begin to look elsewhere. If you need to go looking for a job it’s a lot better to do that when you have a job. Also it’ll look better on your CV that you didn’t head off to Oz when times got tough and your peers stuck around and slogged.

Eoghan McDermott is Director of Careers, The Communication Clinic . www.communicationsclinic.ie