After years of intense study, many students choose to put their careers on hold to travel abroad. For some, such adventure not only satisfies their wanderlust, but helps them on their career trajectory.
‘I’d go to the laundry cupboard to FaceTime’
I loved skiing from a young age and thought that working in the French Alps after university would give me the downtime and relaxation I’d been longing for, while also improving my language and communication skills. During my two ski seasons I worked with people from all over the world, which enhanced my awareness of other cultures and opened my eyes to new ways of thinking and living. We’d all be on WhatsApp groups, where we’d share plans for the day and arrange to meet up on the mountain or après-ski.
I kept in touch with my family during time away. During my breaks I’d always be finding the same spot in the laundry cupboard to speak to my mum through FaceTime – it was one of the best places to get signal and was quiet, away from the noise and music in the bar.
Potential employers could see that I had broadened my horizons and enhanced my cultural awareness, as well as significantly improving my communication skills. Working seasons also gave me the time to seriously think about what I wanted to do with my life. It was during the start of my second season that I realised I wanted to pursue a career in communications and the media, and decided I was ready to apply for an MA in international communication. It was the best decision I ever made, as I hadn’t rushed or forced myself into doing something out of fear of falling behind.
Lucy Chaplin, 25, communications officer at Leeds Trinity University, Leeds
‘I met a version of myself I didn’t know existed’
After finishing my global masters in management programme, I took off to Australia. My original plan was to spend three months there before heading back to Europe. Instead I stayed for six months, crossing all states and territories (except one), staying in various types of accommodation, meeting all sorts of people and, most importantly, meeting a version of myself I didn’t even know existed. My days in Australia are still loudly awake in my memories; I remember cooking Christmas roast in the sand, and seeing wild horses gracefully running in the middle of the desert. I vividly remember FaceTiming my family on Christmas Eve and singing a Christmas song; Mum was on the other end of the line, in Greece, while I sat outside my tent in Alice Springs.
The precious travel and reflection time from my gap year gave me the guts to take my first steps in a sector I love so much – glamping and alternative tourism. It filled me with images and innovative concepts to be inspired by; it helped me collect not only memories, but also insights that would later prove useful in kickstarting my travel consulting career.
Emma Gavala, 26, glamping and alternative tourism consultant, London
‘The communication skills I developed are proving invaluable’
I’d always had a strong urge to travel, and trips to China and Tanzania during my university days fuelled this desire. When I finished my studies, I felt that I would be passing up an excellent opportunity to satisfy this craving if I went straight into a career.
Travelling to countries such as Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Australia after my postgraduate degree was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It allowed me to see the world, meet new people and get a grip of what I wanted out of life. I crossed paths with travellers from all over the world, and interacted with so many locals; I learned how to get along with different personalities. Such traits are really useful to have in the workplace, and certainly within PR, where the communication skills I developed are proving invaluable.
I’d always contact my family and friends via WhatsApp, messaging them to let them know when I arrived in each destination and sending the occasional picture of the places I visited. Social media also proved invaluable for keeping up to date with my beloved York City. When I was in New Zealand, York played in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley, but with the time difference, the game didn’t kick off until 2am our time. Through Twitter and family updates, I was able to get regular score updates and celebrate our victory.
Jamie Crane, 25, senior account executive at Jaywing PR, Leeds
‘I can’t recommend taking a gap year enough’
When I came to the end of my MPhil in the summer of 2017, I was feeling pretty burnt out, after five years of intense study. I’d met so many successful students who were a couple of years older than me, and had spent substantial time working abroad. They advised me the best thing I could do at this stage, before committing myself to a job or career I was unsure of, was to move abroad and travel. I found a job working as an au pair in Paris, looking after three children. I lived in a chambre-de-bonne around the corner from the family’s apartment, which was an experience in itself – it was my first time living alone, having lived with flatmates throughout uni.
Learning an additional language skill was undoubtedly a benefit, but as cliched as it sounds, the biggest lesson I learned was to be unafraid to put myself out there. I also discovered that being a yes person opens a lot of doors.
Paris is a pretty photogenic city, to say the least. Ever the tourist, I would inundate friends and family with photos of Notre Dame, and picnics by the Seine, tempting them to come and visit me.
I can’t recommend taking a gap year enough. It gave me time to decompress, following an intense and stressful academic year, while allowing me to fully dedicate time to looking for the right job.
Caitlin Soulsby, 25, account executive at Brazil, London
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