No one’s going to judge you if you spend the first few weeks after graduating high school hanging out with your mates or binge-watching Netflix. But after the dust has settled and you’ve caught up on sleep, it’s worth giving some serious thought to how you’ll spend the next 12 months. If you approach your gap year in the right way, it can lead to a career that you’ll enjoy for years or even the rest of your working life.
“Gap years are all about discovery,” says Tania Pearce, Senior Advisor for Student Recruitment at Chisholm.
It's during this time students may accidentally find a job or career they didn't even know existed."
So, how do you get started?
Peter’s gap year
Tania provides the example of Peter, a family friend who recently completed a gap year. Peter knew he needed to earn money, so first he secured a part-time retail job. Then, at Tania’s urging, he assessed what he was passionate about.
“Peter knew that he loved the outdoors, being active and being with like-minded people,” she says. “He also really wanted to travel to see more of the world while he could.” With Tania’s help, Peter identified a one-year TAFE course that matched his passion – Outdoor Recreation and Guiding – and studied alongside his retail job.
Using his TAFE enrolment as evidence of his love of the outdoors, Peter was able to lock in a volunteering position in Canada, working with youth during the Australian winter break (summer in Canada).
“The volunteer work not only helped him see the world,” Tania says – “it also made him realise he enjoys working with youth. He’s now considering becoming a PE, Sports or Outdoor Education teacher.”
She adds: “His gap year has given him clarity, opportunities and experiences that he may otherwise never have had. He can now make an informed decision about what future studies he should consider to become a teacher doing what he loves the most.”
Making the most of your gap year
Tania has three specific pieces of advice for school leavers who are hoping the gap year will lead to employment opportunities:
- Don’t rush yourself
Some Year 12 leavers feel pressured to decide about the rest of their lives immediately, but Tania reckons taking your time is healthy. “Many lost or confused students need some time out to pause and really find themselves,” she says. “They may have been pushed along by the status quo for a number of years and now need to stop and reflect a little.” She also advises against enrolling in a multi-year degree just for the sake of it. “It’s a lot of money to spend just because your parents or your school or your mates say you should do it.” - Skill up
TAFE offers plenty of courses that can be completed within a year, some of them on a part-time basis, which gives you an opportunity to maintain your learning momentum from high school without over-committing. In some cases, you can even move into full-time work the following year. Tania also recommends TAFE short courses, such as First Aid and RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol), to boost your chances of gaining a casual or part-time job during your gap year. - Consider breaking the year into chunks
Most of us think of gap years as just that: years. But the year can be divided any way you like – for example, into seasons. Tania says adopting this mindset can help us be more productive. “By looking at gap years slightly differently, students can use the time to explore several options, not just one.”
What would your ideal gap year look like?