If you’re coming to the end of university, you may be starting to think about what’s next. For some graduates, the idea of jumping straight into a full-time career is exciting. For others, the thought of signing a contract, starting a 9-5 and settling into a career straight away feels a little too soon.
That’s where a gap year can come in.
A gap year gives you the opportunity to step away from the usual path for a while. You could travel the world, work abroad, save some money, volunteer, learn new skills or simply take some time to figure out what you actually want to do.
But is taking a year out a good idea when you could be applying for graduate jobs?
The answer is: it can be. The key is making sure you use the time well.
What can you gain from a gap year?
1. The longest break you’ll probably get
Let’s be honest, once you start your career, taking several months away from work isn’t always easy.
A gap year could be one of the few opportunities in your life to travel for an extended period, explore different countries and have the freedom to decide where you go and what you do.
2. More confidence
Travelling, particularly independently, can push you well outside your comfort zone.
Whether you’re navigating an unfamiliar city, meeting people you’ve never spoken to before or dealing with something going wrong while you’re abroad, these experiences can make you more confident and resilient.
Those qualities can be valuable when you eventually enter the workplace.
3. Time to figure out what you want
You don’t necessarily need to know exactly what career you want at 21 or 22.
A gap year can give you some breathing space to think about what you’re good at, what you enjoy and what kind of working environment suits you.
You may even discover that the career you thought you wanted isn’t actually right for you, which is much better to realise before committing to it.
4. New experiences
A gap year doesn’t have to mean lying on a beach for twelve months.
You could work abroad, volunteer, learn a language, take a course, complete an internship, try seasonal work or explore somewhere completely different.
The more varied your experiences, the more you’ll have to talk about when you eventually start applying for jobs.
5. Exposure to new cultures
Living and travelling in different countries can give you a much broader perspective.
You’ll meet people with different backgrounds, attitudes and experiences and may find yourself adapting to completely different ways of doing things.
That can help develop your communication skills, adaptability and understanding of other people, all useful qualities in the workplace.
6. A chance to recharge
University can be intense, and going straight from exams and deadlines into a full-time job isn’t for everyone.
Taking some time to relax and enjoy yourself can help you return with a fresh perspective and renewed motivation.
7. Independence and freedom
For many graduates, a gap year is the first real opportunity to make decisions entirely for yourself.
Where will you go? How will you spend your money? Where will you stay? What happens if your plans change?
Being responsible for those decisions can teach you a lot about independence and problem-solving.
8. Great stories to tell
A good gap year gives you plenty to talk about.
And that can be particularly useful in interviews.
An employer might ask you about a time you had to overcome a challenge, adapt to an unfamiliar situation, work with different people or take responsibility for something.
Your experiences travelling or working abroad could give you some great examples.
9. Worldwide friends
One of the best things about travelling is the people you meet along the way.
You could end up making friends from countries all over the world and potentially have a ready-made network of people to visit the next time you travel.
10. Valuable skills
Perhaps the biggest benefit from a career perspective is that a gap year can help you develop skills that employers value.
Communication, organisation, adaptability, independence, problem-solving and confidence can all be developed through travelling and working in unfamiliar environments.
Just remember: it’s not the gap year itself that’s impressive, it’s what you do with it.
The downside of a gap year
Of course, a gap year isn’t for everyone. There are some potential downsides to consider.
1. It can be expensive
Travelling costs money, and depending on where you go and how long you’re away, the costs can quickly add up.
It’s worth working out a realistic budget before you go and considering whether you’ll need to work along the way.
2. You need to be organised
Flights, accommodation, insurance, visas, money and travel arrangements all need to be considered.
The more complicated your plans, the more preparation you’ll need to do before you leave.
3. You may miss home
The excitement of travelling can sometimes make it easy to forget that you’ll be away from your friends and family for a long time.
Homesickness is normal, particularly if you’re travelling independently.
4. You might not want to come back!
It sounds like a great problem to have, but the reality of returning home after an incredible year abroad can be difficult.
Going from travelling and meeting new people to being back home and thinking about work can feel like a big adjustment.
5. The post-travelling job hunt
This is probably the biggest concern for graduates considering a gap year.
Will employers think you’ve fallen behind? Will your university friends have a year’s head start on their careers?
Not necessarily.
Employers understand that people take time out for different reasons. What matters is how you explain your decision and what you gained from the experience.
Rather than simply saying, “I spent a year travelling,” think about what you actually learned.
Did you work while you were away? Did you manage your own budget? Did you organise your travel? Did you learn a language? Did you deal with unexpected problems? Did you meet people from completely different backgrounds?
These experiences can all demonstrate skills that are relevant to the workplace.
So, should you take a gap year?
There’s no right or wrong answer.
If you’re desperate to start your career and have found a graduate job that you’re genuinely excited about, there’s no reason to delay it simply because taking a gap year sounds like the thing you’re “supposed” to do.
But if you’re feeling burnt out after university, want to travel, or simply aren’t sure what you want to do next, taking some time out could be a great decision.
The important thing is to have a plan.
You don’t need every day mapped out, but think about what you want to get from your year. If you can return with new experiences, greater confidence, useful skills and a better idea of what you want from your career, it certainly hasn’t been a wasted year.
And when you’re ready to start looking for your first graduate role, your gap year doesn’t have to be something you explain away. It can be something you talk about with confidence.
Whatever you decide, make the most of it. Whether that means travelling the world, working abroad, learning something new or simply taking some time to work out what’s next, a year well spent can be an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.