Planning to take a break before embarking on a career?  This page outlines the options and the importance of planning your time out effectively.

Why take time out?
It is important to be clear about why you want to take time out.  Many people feel they need a break, want to travel or gain experience before embarking on a specific career or postgraduate course.  Be clear about your reasons for taking such a step.

What are the options?
There are hundreds of things you can do.  You may wish to spend time abroad, work in temporary jobs to finance your travel, or gain paid or voluntary work experience in the UK.  Alternatively you may wish to take a short course to develop your skills, for example, in word processing or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).  Look at the Travel and Gap Year page on the work experience resources section of the Student Development website or talk to people who have already taken time out.

Planning your time out
Don’t see a year out as simply a means of escape from the perceived rat race of permanent employment or further study.  To be successful and make the most of what you do you must plan ahead, preferably during the penultimate year of your degree.  If you want to travel, consideration must be given to such matters as availability of work (which can be difficult to get overseas), working conditions, visa and vaccination requirements, medical insurance, foreign currency restrictions, local laws, etc.

What are the advantages?
You can:

• broaden your horizons,
• experience different cultures,
• develop qualities such as self awareness, maturity, flexibility, independence, and the ability to cope with new situations and challenges.

What are the disadvantages?

• It can be difficult to readjust to normal routine.
• Your friends may get ahead on the career path.
• You may have difficulty financing yourself.
• When you return you will also be in competition for jobs from new graduates.
• You may lose ground if you wish to pursue a fast moving, technical career.
• Some employers may need more convincing about the value of your time out.

What do employers think?
Most employers generally feel quite positive about time out experiences provided that you can demonstrate that your time has been spent constructively and you have developed the kind of skills and personal qualities they are seeking.  However, some employers will have more negative views about such activities and it may be less desirable to take time out prior to starting work in certain career areas, for example, in a fast moving technical environment.  If in doubt speak to an adviser or check with the employers themselves.

Deferred offer of employment
Some people are lucky enough to secure a job prior to taking a year out.  However, this is becoming less common as many employers have difficulty in making definite predictions of vacancies so far in advance.  If in doubt, contact prospective employers to find out their policy.

Plan for your return
Think about what you will do when you return.  Use the resources in Student Development before you go to help you identify which career area you will want to pursue and what action you will need to take when you return.

What to do when you return
You will have learnt a great deal if you have travelled and / or worked during your time out.  Use your experiences to promote yourself to prospective employers by emphasising the skills that you have developed.  Contact your nearest university careers service and check out the services available to graduates.  As a Leicester graduate, you can of course continue to use the resources in Student Development.

Further information
If you need further help and advice please ask at the Help Desk in the Student Development Zone in the David Wilson Library or visit the work experience and volunteering sections of our website.

>>Further help with taking time out