Will my gap year help me get a job?


A-level students have discovered their results this week. But with universities shutting the door on young people as budget cuts take hold, more and more will be forced into taking a gap year.

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A-level student Bradley Rice looks at the options facing young people hoping to make good use of their gap year...

What with the scrutiny being placed on A level results at the moment and university places being harder to get, many people are being left stranded without an idea as to what to do next.

As an A level student myself, I often wonder what the most productive thing I can do with my gap year would be.

Phil Bowden, Exam Results Helpline Advisor for UCAS, said: 'Gap years can be valuable experiences for a lot of reasons…use your time wisely in order to get the most out of it.'

From internships to volunteering, to just taking a holiday, there is a lot of options. But how can you be sure which would be the most constructive choice?

A lot of gap year students take jobs that aren't relevant to their future specifically, and many think that travelling looks good on their application, but what do the people who actually judge the applications think? David Way of the National Apprenticeship Service says: 'Work experience before university allows you to decide what you enjoy and what you would like to pursue while at the same time saving some money for student life at university.'

Many people think that making themselves employable by actually working is the most fruitful choice and is the most practical route. I am on work experience myself, and for what my humble opinion is worth, it is really educational, and a little bit fun too.

Many companies will jump at the chance to hire a tea boy or girl, which may not seem very appealing, or worthwhile. But all you have to do is just remember to watch what everyone else does, become their shadow.

Now, it's been drilled in to us since an early age that gaining experience is vital for future life, but if you've been hunting during your gap year, you'll know that getting unpaid employment at a place relevant for your future is a hard task, never mind finding some one who will pay you.

Phil Bowden, UCAS' Exam Result Helpline Advisor, says: 'Doing some work experience can help you develop a whole range of valuable skills…maturity gained during your gap year, combined with the benefits outlined above, will improve your employability skills.'

The majority of students think that volunteering, either at home or abroad, is the best possible way you can flaunt yourself in front of prospective employers. Charitable work is a great way to gain experience in dealing with people and this is a life lesson that all employers will be glad to add to their employee base.

I'm willing to bet you would rather volunteer abroad, in the sun and away from dreary England, which is what a lot of students do. Volunteering website V Inspired places young people in charity and volunteer projects overseas.

One volunteer, Sonali Samani said: 'I've got so much out of it personally and professionally, I'm making myself more employable.'

V Inspired is a very good site that aims to help gap year students who want to make themselves an attractive prospect for employers. It covers all expenses unless students prefer to cover them themselves, so your budget shouldn't be stretched a lot. They get around 900,000 openings with plenty of success stories from happy volunteers to vouch for it.

However, for many the harsh reality is that working for nothing is not an option. Volunteering doesn't get you any money, and although it may look good on paper, just bear in mind that you've got to eat, so it is wise to think hard about committing unless you can support yourself financially.

Personally, I like to think that volunteering shows strength of character, but it's down to individual employers to decide what value they put on your charitable work.

Most of those on a gap year would love the chance to go backpacking and experience new sights, but there's a growing feeling that perhaps gap years abroad aren't as clever a choice as taking a years work.

Travellers seem to think that employees love to see that their applicant has travelled, but David Way, Chief Executive of the National Apprenticeship Service, warns: 'You may not be able to do this financially as these schemes can be expensive.'

When taking a gap year, always ask yourself first and foremost, can I travel where I want on my budget? Managing your money is crucial when travelling during a gap year - quite literally, it makes your world go round.

Making the journey from school education to work or university means an overhaul of your personal finances.

There are many tales of ex-students lumbered with horrendous debt after university so, with the economy far from recovered, the only option is to plan scrupulously during your gap year and avoid as much debt as possible before you get to university.

Ideally, my advice is to save as much as you can if you can find paid work and be prepared to keep your spending as sensible as possible.