Getting back to work after a gap year is no joke. However, taking a year off can be daunting whether you work in a company or are a student. This is why it is crucial to know how you can begin your career after a gap year.
Now, what is a gap year?
It is a 12-month constructive break from work or study to pursue other interests. If you are a working professional, taking a break from your work life to pursue another degree or course will be known as a ‘sabbatical year’.
But the term ‘gap year’ is commonly used for students who take a year off from their regular studies and pursue other activities. Well, a gap year can be taken by anyone between school and university; university and professional life; people switching careers; or even going for retirement.
There are many tips to consider once you have decided to take a gap year. So, to help you prepare thoroughly, we have created this guide, including why you must take a year off and how you can begin your career after a gap year. Let us begin!
Why take a Gap Year?
There are many reasons why you should take a gap year. Typically, students perceive it as an opportunity to gain professional and personal experience, achieve specific goals, and explore different interests.
If you are considering taking a year off, it is essential to undertake activities, degrees, and courses that will help you develop your skills. For instance, research shows that almost 85% of the students who take a year off from their studies have more mental clarity and improved concentration as they return.
Also, 88% of the working professionals found that taking a gap year improved their employability.
To give you a broader view, here are some benefits of taking a year off.
- Enhances your knowledge
- Helps you develop valuable contacts for future job opportunities
- Develops skills and makes you relevant in the industrial sector
- Enables you to gain new life skills
- Encourages you to pursue your interests
How to Begin your Career after a Gap Year
You might have taken a gap year, but how to get back to work? This question might come to your mind every now and then. Right?
Don’t worry! If you are planning to take the plunge and return after a year, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Assess your Situation
Before you begin applying for jobs, understand exactly where you stand in your career. Then, think about whether the career gap has affected your skills or knowledge or helped you develop them. Once you know your situation, it becomes easier to work on the affected areas and then find a suitable job.
It might be possible that your interests might have changed, and now you want to switch careers. Hence, the first thing to understand is the kind of career you wish to have.
To arrive at a decision, you can use the SWOT analysis technique. It will help you analyze your strengths and plan your next job accordingly. Thus, it is best first to assess your situation and then take a decision regarding your career.
- Plan to Return
One of the significant aspects of planning is research. Weigh all your options and the sectors carefully where you can find an apt job. Moreover, update yourself regularly on the latest technologies and trends in that field. You can accumulate a lot of information through the internet and social media platforms.
Thus, before you plan your return, ensure you know every bit of information about the sector, company, and job role.
- Hone your Skills
As we said earlier, skill development is of utmost importance if you plan to take a year off.
One way to do this is through volunteering and freelancing for various programs. You can also apply for internships to get accustomed to professional life before you take up a full-fledged job.
Another way to sharpen your skills is by applying for different paid and unpaid courses. These courses are for a short time period and can easily be accessed. Trust us – these two methods are sure-shot ways to hone your skills and acquire new ones. Try them out!
- Update your CV & Cover Letter
You can use your career break to stand out to potential hiring managers and impress them. Mention the skills you acquired that year and how you can help the company yield profits.
Back all the information with the cover letter. Emphasize what drives you and include your past achievements rather than solely focusing on the job role. Therefore, by updating and enhancing your résumé, you can have better job opportunities.
- Networking
As you plan to restart your career, don’t forget to reach out to all your contacts, including previous colleagues, clients, family, friends, etc. They might know about an opportunity and can suggest your name. Or maybe they can guide you in the right direction!
Also, create a profile on various job searching sites and exhibit your skills. It can boost your chances of landing a significant job role.
- Prepare for the Interview
Preparation is a must before anything. Therefore, before going for any interviews, make sure you prepare for interview questions and answers. You can even practice and learn those questions to stay confident during the interview.
Don’t forget to prepare questions for the career break. The hiring manager will definitely ask such questions!
- Certifications & Recommendations
You might not realize it, but references and recommendations do make a difference. A letter of recommendation from your ex-bosses or seniors can help establish your credibility in front of prospective employers.
So, make it a point – acquire certificates of appreciation and letters of recommendation from the higher authorities in your company. In order to create a lasting first impression, they are essential!
- Search Keywords
Instead of looking randomly for jobs on the internet, find relevant job opportunities using targeted keywords. For instance, while looking to begin your career after a gap year, you can search ‘career break’ to have pertinent job opportunities.
A vital point to note here is that you must read the company’s description and reviews before applying for the job.
- Stay Confident
Whether you have taken a break of six months or two years, restarting your career can be mentally and physically exhausting. In such a situation, remaining determined and confident is extremely important. To trust your capabilities, you must constantly polish and upgrade your skills.
Also, don’t shy away from being flexible regarding salary. Initially, the compensation can be less since you haven’t worked for a year or two. But don’t worry about that! The pay will get better with time. Here’s a tip – try out for small or medium-sized firms as they offer more opportunities to grow and upskill.
- Switch Careers
Although it makes sense to continue in the field you have worked in previously, it is good to switch from your old job profile to a field that interests you.
Utilize the career break to evaluate other options and opportunities available in the market. Since you have just begun, taking risks will be easier for you. Thus, despite losing a few years, you can always come back stronger by using the right resources and adopting the apt strategy.
The Bottom Line
Taking a gap year is not easy, and returning after it is pretty challenging. This is why it is crucial to develop new skills and hone the pre-existing ones to come back as a more assertive and confident candidate.
Moreover, you must keep upskilling yourself and have complete information regarding the latest trends and developments in the market or for a specific job role you want. Also, don’t forget to implement the tips mentioned above to begin your career after a gap year in an efficient way! Remember – the harder you work, the higher your chances are of becoming successful!
