Graduates can build skill set during gap years

Gappers can develop a wide range of skills during a year out, making them even more attractive to employers upon their return home.

Particularly with so many job applicants holding undergraduate degrees, the practical skills and nous developed on a year out may prove the difference when it comes to hiring.

Volunteering gap years in particular are great for skills development, as graduates have to work on their communication and teamwork, while taking on a difficult job in often tough living conditions.

Taking part in a structured gap year may also help improve business-focused skills, such as fundraising and risk management.

And in almost all instances, heading to a foreign country on a structured gap year helps increase the confidence of the jobseeker, potentially enabling them to perform better at interview.

So upon finishing university, graduates should not feel pressurised into getting a top job straight away.

Taking a little time out, as part of a structured gap year, may help accelerate their career once they enter the workplace.

Click here for more gap year information.