Advice for graduates returning from a gap year

Graduates returning from a gap year abroad, which may have included structured work experience or volunteering activities, have been offered some guidance on how to navigate the challenging jobs market.

Elizabeth Bacchus, founder of The Successful CV Company, said graduates need to look at the skills they have developed and highlight any meaningful projects they have been involved with to stand out from rival applicants.

"Whether that be voluntary or whether it has been a part of their university, [graduates need to demonstrate] where they have added value and developed transferable skills," she explained.

Ms Bacchus went on to say there is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a CV. She urged graduates to think about their own experience of university and voluntary work, explaining to employers how it has helped them progress.

Earlier this week, Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, urged young people to incorporate work experience into their time at university, as gap year activities help make CVs stand out from the crowd.

Check out all the different gap year programs on offer