Naturally, the potential 166% increase in tuition fees, up from £3,375 per year in 2011/12 to a hefty £9,000 just 12 months later has resulted in more people opting to go straight to university this year, rather than take time out to see the world. Indeed, with such market forces at play it would be strange if people did not choose to attend university this year over travelling. Nonetheless, I’m confident the trend will simply be negated by people taking a gap year at the end of their period of study, instead of at the beginning.
But none of this answers the question about gap years and their dubious employability claims. Before we start, I must say that I recognise gap years are beneficial in terms of personal development. Travel broadens horizons and enables people to sample a different culture, as well as providing many memorable stories.
However, the employability benefits are over-hyped at best and fatuous at worst. With graduates jobs harder to come by, the allure of a backpacking adventure has never been greater, but people are mistaken if they think it will enhance their job prospects once they return home.
I appreciate gap year-ers demonstrate organisational skills, such as researching locations, arranging travel insurance (annual travel insurance are deals available for backpackers) and arriving at the destination in one piece.
However, there is room for wider debate about gap years. The potential employability arguments often put forward do not stack up. ‘Having an adventure’, ‘getting out of your comfort zone’ and ‘growing up’ are frequently cited benefits of a gap year, but I’ve not heard of anybody employed as a result of a gap year – have you?
In my experience employers are more likely to respond with ambivalence than awe when interviewing someone who has experienced a gap year. Awe, ambivalence or worse, I’d be interested to hear what students, graduates and employers think when they see an extended period of travel on a CV.
Disclosure: this is a sponsored post, but contains my honest opinion.
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I think that if you do something worthwhile during your gap year than it definitely makes you more employable. Things like volunteering, getting involved with communities, teaching English or learning a new language or skill show that you have the motivation to work hard even while you’re travelling. They build your confidence and give you that little extra that puts you above the thousands of other graduates.
I also found that people are really interested in gap years. Whenever I had interviews for jobs after my gap year, my interviewers were really keen to hear what I’d been up to and having a friendly chat during an interview can only be a good thing, particularly if you’ve done something worthwhile.
Hey Monica,
Thanks for the comment.
I think you’re right. It all depends on what you do and whilst I think gap years are worthwhile from a personal perspective, generally I remain unconvinced about their employability benefits.
Thanks,
Ben
As I was approaching graduation I saw the value more in experiencing a different culture than taking time off. This led me to land a work experience at a PR agency in London. There are plenty of work and volunteer opportunities available abroad that will be beneficial to your career and add to your employability.
Hey Katelyn,
You’re spot on – there are plenty of opportunities and worthwhile projects abroad that will benefit your career and enhance employability.
But lets face it. In most cases, people go abroad for personal, rather than professional development reasons. The majority of people go abroad for an extended break and to have fun – which is brilliant, but I just wish people would say this, rather than making some arduous link back to employability.
Thanks,
Ben
I don’t think you can generalise, Ben. Going abroad per se before uni can be a healthy way of recharging batteries following A-Levels and before re-engaging with a higher level of education. There is a difference between backpacking and building a school in Ecuador or working for a human rights radio organisation in Cambodia (both of which my daughter has just done). These experiences have made her wiser, more mature and are shaping her values and interests. She asks different kinds of questions. They make young people more employable, which is not the same as leading to a specific job. It’s equipping her for lifelong learning. Employers are obsessed with competency based interviews, so what you do in a gap year can provide a fund of stories and evidence that can be related to the job in hand.
Hey David,
Thanks for commenting and I think you’re right – it is hard to generalise, which is exactly what I’m doing here.
Perhaps, it would be better if I segmented the types of gap years. It sounds like your daughter has undertaken some very worthwhile projects that will stand her in good stead and provide interesting points of reference at an interview.
However, there is room for wider debate about gap years or more specifically ‘travelling’. The potential employability arguments often put forward are fluffy at best. We need to be honest; ‘travelling’ is great fun personally, but will it land you that job?
Thanks,
Ben
I see a lot of peolpe taking online courses during periods of unemployment lately. It is a great way to fill any gaps in your resume and it shows initiative too!