ADD ADVICE TO FAVGap years in the UK
Taking a gap year doesn’t necessarily mean doing the now almost commonplace thing of going abroad to travel or work.
Many students choose to take time out from their studies to get things into perspective, earning some money while gaining experience for the workplace, or building up knowledge and skills through more practical courses.
Working in the UK during a gap year
Taking a year out to work in a particular industry that you are interested in can work wonders, both for your future job prospects and your bank balance. It can also help you to narrow down your career choices if you are unsure, or to help you decide whether your chosen career area is or isn’t right for you.
Although a nine-to-five job may be a bit of a shock to the system after life as student, it may also come as a welcome routine, and even make you go back to your course feeling revived.
There are many companies who specialise in gap years, such as The Year in Industry and the Year Out Group, and they aim to make the most of time taken out, keeping gap-year programmes structured and worthwhile.
If you are interested in any specific companies, take a look at their websites and find their contact details. Speculative applications – writing to individual companies or just walking in and asking them about vacancies – are often very effective.
Office skills courses
Students often graduate and then find that their course has provided them with none of the skills they need to function in, or even to obtain, a particular type of job.
The workplace in the real world is competitive and always full of people seemingly more experienced than you. Therefore, enhancing your computer and office skills with a training course is a good place to start, and will certainly give you an advantage if you are looking for a job as an office temp. You will probably need to pay a course fee but you should get a certificate out of it.
Acquiring career skills during time out
In addition to office skills, there may be other things that you would like to try your hand at during a gap year which will enhance your CV.
For instance, you could explore an interest in archaeology by going on a dig, take drama or music courses, join a band to explore your creative side, or learn or develop any languages that interest you (see Learning abroad for opportunities overseas).
Other skills such as driving may not seem as appealing to learn, but some graduate employers require a full British licence, so you could automatically be limiting your career opportunities by not having one. Learning more about something like art or photography could greatly increase your chances of landing a related, or at least a creative, job.
Volunteering during a gap year
It is not only overseas that help is needed – there are many worthy causes here in the UK to volunteer for. There are numerous charities that you could work for while exploring a field you are interested in, be it through retail, fundraising or websites.
Another option is to pursue, say, a love of old steam railway trains, and help to renovate them. Don’t be afraid to show a commitment to something you are passionate about.
See Volunteering in the UK for more details.
