Taking Time Out

Taking time out, or a gap year, is a great way to gain experience before entering employment or further study. However there are many factors you'll need to consider. We've provided some of the pros and cons of taking time out and listed some resources to help you plan.

Deciding if taking time out is right for you

There are a number of options available for taking time out, including:

voluntary work in the UK or overseas
travel and/or work overseas
learning a language abroad
paid work in non-graduate level jobs in the UK, including temping
working in development and education

Before deciding whether to take time out, you should consider the pros and cons.

Pros

There are many advantages to taking time out. You could gain:

valuable experience – employment, skills, knowledge
skills such as problem-solving, resilience, initiative, determination, communication
time and/or experiences to help clarify career choices and preferences
cultural awareness with international travel
foreign language skills
developed self awareness and greater maturity

Cons

There are also several drawbacks, such as:

additional debts – it can be expensive
missing out on annual graduate recruitment schemes
not making the most of your experience or potential
frustration – finding work overseas can be difficult
working on minimum wage or in an undemanding or boring role

Further help

Use the Prospects website to think about whether a gap year is right for you.

Planning your time out

If you decide taking time out is right for you, it's crucial to plan your time effectively.

If you have any questions about taking time out or need help to find opportunities, book an online appointment or contact us via MyCareer.

Gap year advice

The following links include tips and resources from external websites to help you plan your time out/gap year:

gap year articles, information and case studies (Prospects)
gap year foreign travel advice – (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s advisory website)
informative articles on all gap year aspects (Great Gap Years)
what are my gap year options? (targetjobs) - includes FAQs and advice on funding a gap year
gap year travel (the Guardian)

BUNAC offers a free gap year mentoring scheme to students, with one-to-one support to help you design a fulfilling gap year. This can be done by phone, Skype, email or face to face and there's no obligation to sign up to a BUNAC programme after your initial consultation.

Gap year opportunities

Gap year opportunities can be found at the following links:

Prospects: Gap Year Ideas - includes links to a range of gap year and voluntary organisations
Year Out Group

You may also be interested in Volunteering, Teaching English as a Foreign Language or not-for-profit careers including, charities, development and community work.