Taking some “time out” – or a “gap year” – after your studies is a common route for many graduates in the West, and it’s becoming increasingly popular here in Asia. This option is generally favoured by those who are still trying to work out who they want to be or simply need a break for the benefit of their mental health.
There are many great opportunities during a gap year to boost your confidence and experience, all while improving your resume in the process. Most tend to fall into one of the following areas:
Travel
Travelling is not always all about fun and games; learning about foreign cultures and gaining global exposure can significantly contribute to your personal and professional growth. After all, travelling often involves navigating unfamiliar situations, unexpected challenges, and problem solving on the go.
Coping with unforeseen circumstances builds resilience and sharpens problem solving skills. Those who travelled more tend to exhibit a more adaptable and solution-oriented approach to challenges in life.
Additionally, interacting with people from different backgrounds while travelling enhances communication skills. Engaging in conversations with individuals who speak different languages improves language proficiency and the ability to communicate effectively. The experiences you’ve gained are generally interesting fodder to share during your future job interviews.
Voluntary work
You can find opportunities both locally and overseas, and these can range from working with your local social work organisations to global entities. But one of the biggest benefits of volunteering is the contacts you’ll make; you may even be surprised by the people you run into.
Moreover, the connections you make with fellow volunteers and supervisors may come in handy when you begin job hunting. On top of that, in some cases, voluntary work can be included in your resume as professional experience, depending on the nature of the work and the skills the role you’re applying for requires.
Short courses
There’s also the option to gain new skills or brush up on existing ones. Learning a new language is a popular choice, as are IT related courses like applications development and web design.
While this may only appeal to graduates who are looking to be more competitive in the job market, having a new skill under your belt will impress employers, and can also help you meet the technical requirements for a position you may be interested in.
Continue with postgraduate studies
A postgraduate qualification may improve your career prospects, but you’ll need to consider your options carefully. For one, postgraduate study is both time-consuming and costly, so make sure you are clear about your reasons for pursuing further education instead of jumping in prematurely.
Seek out good advice. Prepare a shortlist of courses you’re considering and then book an appointment with an advisor at your career services centre. A career advisor can help you work through the key considerations involved and give you advice on preparing a strong application. When choosing a course, you will need to consider:
The content and mode of study
The content of your course should align with your motivations for pursuing a postgraduate qualification. If you’re looking to add value to your undergraduate qualification for a specific career field, consider the relevance of the course’s content to the industry you aim to work in.
You’ll also have to consider the mode of study – universities typically offer a choice between full-time and part-time courses. While part-time studying will let you spread the cost of the course as well as offers a better balance between work and school, the level of your engagement with a part-time course won’t be as high as that of a full-time one.
Funding
Finding a source of funds is the most difficult hurdle for most postgraduate students. If your parents are willing to help you out, then good for you! If not, a bank loan may be a viable option. However, if you’ve already taken up a loan for your undergraduate studies, you may need to seriously consider if you want to add on to that debt – or if you even qualify for the additional loan.
Alternatively, you can take the course on a part-time basis and work a full-time job to service the tuition fees. Also, don’t just limit yourself to just a Master’s or PhD! If pursuing a postgraduate degree seems like overkill, you can always consider making the transition to your desired career sector through a postgraduate conversion course instead.
