Gap-year students urged to think of career plans

Students embarking on a year abroad should consider how they can use the time to further their career in the long run, an employment expert has said.

Research Adviser with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Vanessa Robinson, suggested that even if gap-year students are intending to 'chill out' for the year they should try think of things to do that can boost their CV.

'It can't hurt to think of the benefits of what you're doing in your gap year,' she stated.

Travellers should try to make their experience seem as positive as possible in regards to returning to the workplace after they finish their year abroad, Ms Robinson remarked.

'That might be some volunteering, or you might set up a business somewhere remotely, it can be a variety of things,' she said.

And volunteering is now the most popular choice for a gap year or career gap year, a survey by the Year Out Group revealed recently.