Did COVID stop your Gap Year adventure? If you graduated from school or university in the past couple of years, it is now time to reinvigorate plans for travel, work, volunteering, or interning. These experiences make valuable additions to your resume, build your transferable work skills, strengthen self-awareness and confidence, and connect you with a broad network of people.

The images of Gap Year opportunities are stunning. The pictures, however, are not the whole story.

The images of Gap Year opportunities are stunning. The pictures, however, are not the whole story. The images of Gap Year opportunities are stunning. The pictures, however, are not the whole story. 

Whether you are aiming to work, volunteer, or intern, the experience takes research and planning.  Work hours can be long, conditions may be uncomfortable, financial costs need to be considered, and personal growth can be brilliant.  

In reality, a Gap Year involves:

• Understanding placement organizations, their services, strengths, and limitations
• Choosing between a placement organization, and making your own travel, visa, employment, and accommodation arrangements
• Submitting a well-prepared resume with online applications
• Participating in multiple interviews
• Responding to offers from placement organizations and their partners, or from those employers to whom you have personally applied.  Organizations partnering with placement companies include boarding schools, business enterprises, resorts, hotels, and Not for Profit entities.
• Ensuring health, visa, travel, accommodation, and financial requirements are known and met.

Wondering where to start your research? As always, network! The websites below also provide some useful reading. (I have no affiliation with any of these organizations.  I do like their photos though!) 

If you are looking for a position as a tradesperson, tour guide, chef, housekeeper, customer service specialist, or food and beverage assistant,  Work in Paradise offers opportunities in Queensland.  Some of these roles attract a financial incentive to help you relocate, and subsidized training.  Positions are located across the state in urban, regional, and remote locations. 

Are you keen to travel overseas? 

Letz Live are a placement organization specializing in Gap Year opportunities in the United Kingdom, Thailand, New Zealand, the United States, and Australia. These placements are in schools, often within boarding departments, activity camps, and outdoor education setting.  

Global Work and Travel offer a range of opportunities including internships, au pair roles, paid and volunteer work.  They have a focus on animal welfare.

Camp Leaders specialize in recruiting for roles within American Summer camps. Applicants need to be 18 years or older and speak fluent English.  Qualifications in childcare and teaching are valued, as is accreditation in a sport.

If you are looking to work in the U.K., Canada, or Japan, The Working Holiday Club website will give you some insights into both winter and summer experiences. Hidden in your Gap Year adventure are opportunities to demonstrate and strengthen your adaptability, time management, problem-solving, customer service, communication, and innovation skills. Your resume will be as impressive as the photos.

We are here to help you and your child’s planning of their gap year and offer coaching to discover gap year options. You can reach us by going to our website, www.karenyourcareercoach.com.au, or fill out this form to ask a question: https://form.jotform.com/213455528811860