Are you thinking that you might like to take some time out for travelling or voluntary work before you apply for jobs? Or that giving yourself some breathing space after the rigours of finals may give you the time to decide what you’d really like to do? Then a gap year may be a good idea for you. Many graduates take this path as they think that it may well be their last chance for a prolonged period abroad, or because it’s the opportunity to try different types of work experience. Whatever your reasons are, make sure that you have some sort of plan for what you hope to achieve by taking time out. Recruiters are quite open to applicants who have done this but are keen to discover from you what you have learnt from the experience. If you’ve just been drifting aimlessly from place to place and have nothing very substantial that you can relate (or nothing that can be discussed at a formal interview!) then they may not be very impressed…However if you can reflect positively on events, for instance the time management and organisational skills you gained while planning a trip, or the value of doing some volunteering in a community project, then they usually view this as a point in your favour. Graduates I have talked to who have benefited from these types of experience always say that they learnt loads about themselves, their capabilities and attributes and coping with the unexpected! It’s a good idea to keep a log of what you’ve done, even if it’s on a sporadic basis, as details are harder to recall later on. The message as always is: work hard at articulating your learning to employers; good communication is the key. Be aware too of practicalities such as knowing when the deadlines are for jobs, especially if you’re planning a trip abroad, and work round that. If you’re looking for work experience in a particular sector then making speculative applications can be a good way in: see
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/job-huntingandworkexperience/findingwork/networking/ for advice on how to approach employers.
Below you’ll find lots of info on the many and various choices you have for taking time out, whether it be work or voluntary experience in the UK or abroad:
Below there is more detailed info on working overseas including Teaching English as a Foreign Language:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers/job-huntingandworkexperience/workoverseas/
Whatever you do, enjoy it- it’s a great chance to sample other cultures, try new things and just to chill out for a bit…not something you’ll have the luxury of doing once in full-time employment!
Filed under: Going abroad, Short-term options, Skills, Volunteering, Working in the UK
