Making the most of a gap year involves engaging in activities to benefit your career. Staying career-ready while taking a break prepares you for reentering the workforce.
Developing skills and gaining experience helps you prepare to return to the job market. The following methods can help.
How to Stay Career Ready While Taking a Break
Volunteer
Supporting others through service projects combines educational objectives with hands-on experience. Consider engaging in these volunteer opportunities:
- Join an NGO: Volunteer with a non-governmental organization (NGO) to address social and environmental issues.
- Take a service trip: Consider addressing educational needs, community health concerns, or environmental conservation.
- Fundraise for a local cause: Encourage philanthropy for a nonprofit organization whose work you value.
Learn a Foreign Language
Speaking more than one language enhances cultural literacy and career opportunities. These approaches can help you learn a foreign language:
- Practicing at home: Use an online learning platform like Duolingo or Babbel. Converse with a bilingual family member or friend to enhance your skills.
- Learning while traveling: Practice your language skills during a trip abroad.
- Participating in a language school abroad: Learn at a language school overseas while living in an international city.
Travel
Connecting with people of diverse cultures provides multiple benefits:
- Expanding your comfort zone: Navigating new cities, trying new foods, and experiencing new cultures involves taking measured risks.
- Experiencing cultural immersion: Exposure to new ideas and lifestyles expands your knowledge and creativity.
- Building connections: Forming relationships with multicultural people provides new perspectives and communication skill development.
Work Abroad
Working abroad provides diverse experiences:
- Immerse yourself in different work environments: Increase your knowledge and practical skills.
- Gain international exposure: Develop intercultural skills and a broader worldview.
- Expand your interests: Explore community development, environmental conservation, or other opportunities that resonate with you.
Teach Abroad
Consider teaching your native language in a foreign country:
- Travel inexpensively: Most teaching programs include housing, meals, and a stipend.
- Engage with another culture: Learn cultural norms while positively impacting the community.
- Navigate a different lifestyle: Adapting to new environments and routines strengthens independence, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Gain professional experience: Increase your confidence, leadership skills, and global awareness.
Gain Assistance with Reentering the Workforce
Element Staffing can help you land your next job when you return to the workforce.
