What do you think of when you think of ‘gap years’?

Beaches? Cocktails? Bliss? Or building a playground in Uganda? Interrailing around Europe, or interning in New York?

Do you think of pre-university students, taking a year out between their A Levels and starting uni? Well, what about taking a year between finishing university and entering your new career?

There are good reasons to consider it, according to GapForce:

Employers say they want more than just grades. They seek a motivated applicant, confident, with life skills who can work positively in any environment.

And, they say, that’s where a ‘gap year programme’ comes into its own. Whether it’s marine conservation in the Bahamas or that law internship in Ghana, these structured experiences could help you to develop new skills and experiences to give you the edge in job applications.

But what if I can’t afford it/can’t take a year away?

These opportunities are rarely cheap, it’s true, and not everyone wants to or is able to pay out or take so much time away from home. Luckily, there are always other options – most gap year providers, like GapForce, offer shorter term opportunities, what they call ‘mini-gaps’. GoAbroad is a great place to start if you’re interested in exploring this further.

You can also come and see us in the Careers space in Holgate – in recent years we’ve supported students to volunteer overseas during their summer breaks with Think Pacific, East African Playgrounds, International Service and Challenges Abroad. You’ll need to do some fundraising for these charities as part of the experience, allowing you to develop skills in project management, negotiation, marketing and communication – even before you step on a plane!

And don’t forget to look out for YSJ-specific funding options too, because we want to remove as many barriers as possible for our students to have these experiences.

So what do you think? We’d love to hear from you, whether you’re a gap-year aficionado or simply intrigued by a summer away – pop in and see us!