Throughout your life you have been working towards some kind of qualification or end goal and so you may not have had the time to stop and think about what you really want to achieve. Gap years are a way for you to take a break from education or work, while still developing your skills.
According to a recent study by a youth organisation, gap years are considered to be very useful for students, especially in this difficult climate. Usually people take gap years before university but there is also the possibility of taking one after graduation, so that you have more time to consider the direction of your career. Of course, you need to use your time productively, and there are many ways that you can enhance your overall skill set, while still having some fun.
During your gap year, you have the option of staying in the UK or venturing overseas. If you stay, you will still have various decisions to make. These include whether to do voluntary work, which will show that you that you are willing to help people and can work well in teams. The key is to develop transferable skills that can be used in the workplace, even if the work is not that similar to your desired career path. Also, most companies offer placements, so you could do work experience at a few different firms to make sure you discover more about careers.
Going overseas will be enjoyable, but you must remember that it is not simply a holiday. You can use your time effectively to learn a new language for example. This could prove to be very useful in any career and will help you to stand out from the crowd. Also, you may gain some new contacts, which could even result in you starting a career abroad. Travelling overseas will inevitably be expensive, so try to gain some paid employment if you can. Still, in a way it is the experience that is more important.
Overall, you need to make a clear plan of what you wish to achieve during your gap year. This will then result in you gaining valuable experience to add to your CV, as well as help you to become a well-rounded individual. The key is to look at this time as a good opportunity to discover more about yourself and really think about what you want to do, whether you are based at home or abroad.
Arnab Datta
