Taking a Gap Year
Extended travelling before work or further education is increasingly accepted by universities and employers as an asset to a CV. A gap year can be used to spend time travelling, while you still have the chance, to develop new skills through further study or gain work experience.
When
Traditionally, before starting work or further education. Taking time out at other stages of life is possible but gets more difficult as we age.
Where
Anywhere you like and can pay for.
Work
It's up to you. Taking a gap year doesn't have to involve work. If you already have savings and want to travel independently, you can. If you don't want to spend your own money or don't have any to start with, then working as you go gives you the ability to finance your travels. Other options include learning a language or new skills for a career.
Remember that a gap year is not a job as such, it's an increasingly popular rite of passage for young adults before taking their place in the the real world of full time employment.
A popular choice for those travelling alone for the first time is to go on an expedition to Asia, Africa or Latin America, and engage in voluntary work. In this way many young travellers, like Prince William, combine adventure and exploration within the security of a gap year organisation and in the company of other like minded travellers.
Qualifications
Many, but certainly not all, options are open to students only and gap year expedition organisations often have age restrictions.
Pay
Most likely you'll be paying a fee rather than drawing a wage. And a large fee it can be too - between £1000 and £2500, or even more. But often it is not expected for gap year students to finance this themselves. Raising sponsorship is part of the overall experience and help and advice is available from placement organisations.
As mentioned earlier, their are many other ways to spend a year abroad. If you arrange a paying job, either on the spot or in advance then you can expect to receive wages at the end of the day, week or month.
Finding Work
Either arrange work or study by yourself, in advance or as you go. Or pay to use the services of a gap year organisation.
Tips
Stop the family back home worrying about you - keep in touch.
Advertising | Add URL | Write for Us | About Us | Search
|
