Learning, growing and expanding your horizons can be the hallmarks of a successful gap year.
A gap year can mean many things and lead to a myriad of experiences and opportunities. Whether the year is taken between high school and university studies, university and graduate studies or jobs, it can open your eyes to new paths and prepare you for them. Traveling, volunteering, working at a non-profit or temporary job, interning in your field of interest and building your network are among the most favored ways for professionals and students to spend a gap year. Here are some ways to make the most of these endeavors.
Traveling
One way to expand our minds is to expand our horizons. There is no better way to understand the world than by experiencing it first-hand. A gap year can be the ideal time to travel. Learning about new cultures, visiting far-flung countries, backpacking, staying in hostiles, trying new foods and practicing new languages on the locals are all on the table when you have the time and sense of adventure an open year in your life provides. It can be a freeing, growing and enlightening experience, and one you won’t ever forget. It can inform your future choices, both professionally and personally.
Internships
Internships can help you gain experience, make contacts and maybe even land a job. Approach applying for internships the same as if you were applying for a job – make sure to research the employer, write a customized cover letter and CV, and prepare for the interview.
One way to secure an internship is to go through paid programs that provide a comprehensive package that may include matching your profile with relevant employers, arranging for your visa and housing, and other necessities. Many companies and organizations offer virtual internships.
Virtual internships provide cost-effective opportunities to gain important work experience and build professional networks from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. And while interning remotely requires self-discipline, the experience also fosters valuable time management and digital communication skills, making you more competitive in today’s job market.
Check out the following resources for finding virtual internships:
Job Fairs and Career Events
Job fairs and career events offer opportunities to meet recruiters and personnel managers in informal settings. They are usually free of charge to jobseekers and provide an excellent opportunity to practice your networking skills while you learn more about the local employment scene. Many employers also host information sessions in conjunction with job fairs that give candidates a chance to learn more about specific career and internship opportunities.
Virtual career fairs became popular after COVID-19. While in-person career fairs have made a strong return, virtual and hybrid options are still offering flexibility and accessibility to both employers and jobseekers. Attending a virtual job fair lets you interact with career specialists, hiring managers and talent scouts via live chat rooms, AMA (Ask Me Anything) recruitment events, webinars and interviews from the convenience of your home country and living space.
You will typically get asked to fill out a profile and upload a CV. Registration is usually free, and many fair operators offer technical troubleshooting assistance.
Staffing Agencies and Temporary Help Firms
Staffing agencies and temporary help firms act as liaisons between jobseekers and employers, often with no cost to the jobseeker. Many firms offer job coaching, CV assistance and other career services.
Temporary jobs can be helpful sources of income while job hunting; they can also provide real-world work experience and can often lead to a full-time position. While both temporary firms and staffing agencies hire for short-term work, staffing agencies also hire for full-time and contract work as well. The positions offered can be in-person, hybrid, or fully remote.
Most staffing agency websites list job openings, which you can search by various criteria, such as key word and location. Usually, you need to register to create job alerts, upload your CV, apply for jobs or send an application to be contacted by recruiters. Agency websites can also provide information on the local job market, salaries, and other job-hunting resources.
Non-Profit and NGO Work
Many non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offer volunteer and internship positions, which can help you develop your professional network and meet people with similar interests and values. Staff members and other project participants can become valuable connections, offering information, contacts and references that can assist you as you build your career.
Internships are training programs designed to build and strengthen professional skills by providing work experience. Although NGOs and non-profits may offer internships to individuals of various ages and backgrounds, college-aged students and recent graduates most commonly accept these positions. Most internships are unsalaried positions; a few organizations offer stipends or college credit, or (conversely) may require interns to pay for the privilege of working for the organization. Some internship programs, especially with popular or highly regarded organizations, may have an intensely competitive application process that resembles a formal job application. Many organizations also offer virtual internships.
Volunteers typically have a less formal relationship with the organizations they are assisting than interns at those organizations, and the application process tends to be less competitive. Unlike interns, volunteers do not usually receive formal training and are not typically required to adhere to a strict schedule. Volunteers may perform a wide variety of tasks, reflecting the needs of the organization, and those who have worked with an organization extensively may be given significant responsibilities.
The abilities that volunteers and interns develop while working with an organization are often highly valuable to employers – numerous volunteers and interns have translated non-profit and NGO experiences into marketable career skills. In fact, many organizations fill a large percentage of their open positions by hiring current and former interns and volunteers.
For more information, check out these sources:
Action Without Borders/Idealist.org
(English, Spanish, Portuguese)
You can search here not only for jobs in non-profits and NGOs, but also for volunteer and internship opportunities. Resources include a directory of nearly 130,000 organizations, a virtual incubator course, and career advice specific to the non-profit world.
Devex
(English)
Devex is a news organization focused on the non-profit sector that also posts a comprehensive jobs board and hosts both online and in-person events. There are several membership levels, with the most basic being free.
Global Jobs
(English)
Global Jobs lists professional opportunities and internships from non-profits, NGOs, government agencies and think tanks, as well as the private sector. Register for free to receive email alerts and check out the calendar of virtual events.
NGOJobBoard
(English)
NGOJobBoard is run by InterAction, a Washington, DC-based alliance of international NGOs representing over 100 countries. It is fully searchable by keyword, location, job type and category, and includes internships and training/education opportunities. Registration is free.
Volunteer World
(many languages)
Volunteer World is a global platform where people can search for volunteer opportunities based on their field of interest, age group, destination and program duration, and the browser automatically finds the options available according to the criteria entered. The site guides you through the application process.
Conclusion
A gap year helps you grow in unexpected ways. It can be a pivotal time that helps you chart the course for your future endeavors. Embrace it and enjoy it.
Expand your research using GoinGlobal
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