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- by Charlotte King
- In Student Life
Posted Jan. 27, 2014
Taking a Year Out After Postgrad Study
You've worked hard all year to make sure your thesis is in order and stressed out during the exam period more than you ever thought possible, but now that it's all over it's time to start thinking about your next steps. It can be daunting entering the world of work after spending an extended time studying, and one option that appeals to many recent graduates is the idea of taking a year out - but taking a gap year after studying is not the same as taking one before university, so it is important to think about what you would do with a year out and whether it would work for you.
Travelling While many students tend to go travelling in the gap year between their A levels and their undergraduate degree, that does not mean it is exclusively for them. After several years of studying and focusing on your subject, taking some time out to go travelling can be a great way for you to gain some perspective; living in a different part of the world will give you a chance to meet new people and experience new cultures that differ from university life. Of course, there's always the cost of travelling to consider, which could be a challenge on top of your student loan fees. If you feel like you would benefit from some time away from home, it might be worth considering whether or not the extra investment is for you.
Volunteering Taking part in some gap year volunteering , whether for a charity or a local community project, can be beneficial for students; not only does it look good on your CV (advice we've all heard at some point in our school careers) but it can also help you to develop skills for the workplace, something that many postgraduate students might not have had the chance to do. Charities often appeal for volunteers in a variety of roles, so a little research can help you find the right position for you and studies have even shown that volunteering can be good for your health. But financially, volunteering does not pay and therefore it might not be the best route for cash-strapped postgraduates. The possibility of being kept on and given a paid position is not guaranteed either, and there could be paid roles or internships available that might benefit you more.
Working Taking a year out doesn't have to mean sitting around and being unproductive, nor does it mean that you have to spend money you don't have on doing exciting or philanthropic activities. A year off from study can mean taking a job outside of your field of study, giving you the chance to earn some money and have a break from the pressure of academic life. Working in a shop or an office can give you an opportunity to develop some well-needed workplace skills that could give you an edge over other candidates when it comes to applications for jobs in your desired career area, as well as being a chance to just meet some new people, make some money and keep busy. Of course, taking on this kind of work might make you unavailable for entry level jobs and graduate opportunities that could get you started in your career immediately, and there's always the possibility that the lure of money to pay off your debts could distract you from your initial career goals. Employers look favourably on candidates who hold a postgraduate degree , so consider whether or not you think taking some time off to work outside of your academic field is the right choice for you.
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Travelling While many students tend to go travelling in the gap year between their A levels and their undergraduate degree, that does not mean it is exclusively for them. After several years of studying and focusing on your subject, taking some time out to go travelling can be a great way for you to gain some perspective; living in a different part of the world will give you a chance to meet new people and experience new cultures that differ from university life. Of course, there's always the cost of travelling to consider, which could be a challenge on top of your student loan fees. If you feel like you would benefit from some time away from home, it might be worth considering whether or not the extra investment is for you.
Volunteering Taking part in some gap year volunteering , whether for a charity or a local community project, can be beneficial for students; not only does it look good on your CV (advice we've all heard at some point in our school careers) but it can also help you to develop skills for the workplace, something that many postgraduate students might not have had the chance to do. Charities often appeal for volunteers in a variety of roles, so a little research can help you find the right position for you and studies have even shown that volunteering can be good for your health. But financially, volunteering does not pay and therefore it might not be the best route for cash-strapped postgraduates. The possibility of being kept on and given a paid position is not guaranteed either, and there could be paid roles or internships available that might benefit you more.
Working Taking a year out doesn't have to mean sitting around and being unproductive, nor does it mean that you have to spend money you don't have on doing exciting or philanthropic activities. A year off from study can mean taking a job outside of your field of study, giving you the chance to earn some money and have a break from the pressure of academic life. Working in a shop or an office can give you an opportunity to develop some well-needed workplace skills that could give you an edge over other candidates when it comes to applications for jobs in your desired career area, as well as being a chance to just meet some new people, make some money and keep busy. Of course, taking on this kind of work might make you unavailable for entry level jobs and graduate opportunities that could get you started in your career immediately, and there's always the possibility that the lure of money to pay off your debts could distract you from your initial career goals. Employers look favourably on candidates who hold a postgraduate degree , so consider whether or not you think taking some time off to work outside of your academic field is the right choice for you.
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