The value of a gap year

The value of a gap year

At one time, a gap year between high school and university provided students with enough to stand out in the labor market. However, as practically every student nowadays takes a year out, it may have lost its importance.

 

Supporters of gap experience such as recruitment agencies, still attest to their value. They argue that the average graduate lacks real world skills and experience. In contrast, one who has spent 12 months working, volunteering and travelling abroad is able to demonstrate a broad range of desirable characteristics to prospective employers. Strong communication skills and a determination to succeed being top of the list.

Not all gap years are born equal though. Increasingly popular organized ‘year off’ experiences teaching orphans or working on a farm offer a convenient but less rewarding route. Whereas the traditional gap year tends to involve more survival skills and risk with students taking off to Europe or Australia with just a backpack for company. In either case, during interviews employers are going to look for what the student will have learned and how the candidate has been molded into a better person.

80% of companies and agencies claim that it is incredibly difficult to track down graduates with a suitable portfolio of skills, knowledge and experience. For some, the gap year experience is the missing piece of the puzzle which could potentially create highly employable recruits.

Nevertheless, they can certainly differentiate between a holiday in the sun and a genuine life- changing event.

Multiple Choice

1. A gap year happens after_____

• a. high school

• b. university

• c. a holiday

• d. labor market

Multiple Choice

2. ___believe gap experience is valuable.

• a. Recruitment agencies

• b. Skills

• a. Experience

• a. Volunteering

Multiple Choice

3. Graduates often do not have any ______

• a. determination

• b. value

• c. experience

• d. volunteering

Multiple Choice

4. Gap year students have better ____

• a. characteristics

• b. employers

• c. communication skills

• d. determination

Multiple Choice

5. Arranged gap year experiences provide a

______option for students.

• a. popular

• b. teaching

• c. rewarding

• d. convenient

Multiple Choice

6. A typical gap year student only takes

______with them.

• a. survival skills

• b. risk

• c. backpack

• d. company

Multiple Choice

7. Gap year students are assessed on what they have _______

• a. looked for on their travels

• b. learned from their trip

• c. moulded themselves into

• d. said about being a better person

Multiple Choice

8. Companies are finding it increasingly challenging to ____

• a. find graduates to employ.

• b. hire employees with a good degree.

• c. locate students with attractive portfolios.

• d. recruit the right sort of employee.

Multiple Choice

9. Gap years have the capacity to generate ____

• a. high level recruitment

• b. an attractive work force

• c. employees with knowledge

• d. recruits for every industry

Multiple Choice

10. If a student chose a relaxing gap year _____

• a. they would be hired

• b. they will be at a disadvantage

• c. they are seen as more genuine

• d. they won’t be different enough