Should you take a gap year?
What is a gap year?
Whether you want to learn a new skill, raise your cultural awareness or buy yourself some thinking time before making the move into work or further study, a gap year could be the answer…
Traditionally, the phrase 'gap year' meant a period of time out taken by students after leaving college and before starting university. Now, gap years can happen at any stage, by anyone, and for varying amounts of time.
Examples of gap year activities include: conservation work; adventure travel programmes; summer schools; and internships. To find out more, see gap year opportunities.
What skills will I gain?
Depending on the type of gap year you choose to take, the skills you develop will vary. Make a list of the reasons why you want to take a gap year. Once you know what you want to get out of your time off, you will be able to narrow down your options.
Taking a gap year could:
- develop your transferable skills, including your communication, leadership, time management and decision making;
- increase your work experience, through paid employment or voluntary work;
- allow you to learn a new craft, such as surfing, teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), filmmaking, cookery or even the art of kung fu;
- hone your existing skills, for example basic language skills, IT skills and teamwork;
- increase your confidence and independence, by taking yourself out of your comfort zone.
How will I sell my gap year to employers?
Before taking a gap year, you need to create a plan with clear aims. What do you want to achieve from your time away from study and/or work? Think about the types of jobs you are interested in pursuing once you start your career. Which skills will help you to enter this industry? If you know the answers to these questions you can plan your gap year with great purpose and focus on building skills and experience that employers will be looking for in graduate applications.
That said, a gap year can still be incredibly useful and of great interest to prospective employers even if you haven't yet decided which industry you want to enter. Taking a gap year can be an opportunity to explore different sectors and jobs within them to get a taste for what might suit you.
While working in various roles and industries you will inevitably hone your transferable skills and experience things which you can then draw upon in future interviews. By having new experiences to refer to, you will give yourself more to talk about and your answers will be unique and therefore refreshing for your interviewers.
Are there any disadvantages?
The disadvantages will be different for everyone and you may not experience any at all.
Before you commit to taking a gap year, ask yourself:
- If I take a gap year part-way through my studies, will I lose momentum for studying? If you take a considerable break from studying it may be difficult to get back into the swing of things once you return so it's important to think about when will be the right time for you. If you're unsure of whether time out will affect you, speak to your lecturers and friends and ask your university careers service if they offer any support for students planning time away from their studies.
- Can I afford to take a gap year? How will I fund my trip? Cost is always a factor which will help to determine where you go and for how long.
- What will I do during my time away to make myself more appealing to employers? If you don't plan or actively take part in anything during your gap year it will be difficult to justify your trip to potential employers and it could be seen as a negative gap on your CV.
- Should I travel on my own or with friends? Whether you travel alone or as part of a group, problems can arise. Going solo may lead to feelings of loneliness, but travelling with the wrong people can be just as difficult. If you plan to travel with someone, make sure you plan your trip together and decide what you want to do and where you want to go before you book anything. Having different expectations and ideas once you've set off may put strain on a friendship.
Written by Editor, Graduate Prospects
Date:
March 2014