The school year is winding down and you’re unsure of your next steps.You’d like a break from studies, but don’t necessarily want to lose the momentum of learning. Or perhaps you simply aren’t ready to make a decision about your future and are tired of listening to all the career advice coming your way! Taking a gap year can be an excellent option in the right circumstances. Read on below to see if this unique kind of career advice will work for you.

What Exactly is a Gap Year?

Taking a gap year simply means taking a break from formal education. Although it’s called a “year” the amount of time can vary, and the time can be used in a variety of ways. It’s normally taken after completing statutory education, but before continuing on to further education, university, or graduate school.

Choosing the Best Option For You

There are as many choices in gap year adventures as there are flavors of ice cream (and even more than that!) Traveling may be known in the career advice field as the most popular choice, but there are many other ways to take time away from the books. Some people choose to volunteer or find an internship while others combine options and travel overseas or to another country to work or volunteer. Before deciding, ask yourself what you really want to get out of this time. Are you looking to gain valuable experience for your CV? Do you want to take advantage of your freedom from rent payments while you can and see the world?

Are you looking to explore a passion such as photography or do you want to immerse yourself in a new language while helping others? Keep in mind your budget, and remember to communicate with family members and other important people to let them know your plans.

Make sure that you are not idle during this time. A gap year is a time to explore the options that life has to offer you. Once you’ve decided on your path and your career, it’s important to find out what you need to pursue that career. You could also take some short courses to get a feel of what you would enjoy most and possibly find your passion in the process. A good place to start is with an ICB accredited course. At each level of the course, you obtain a valuable qualification which is valid in the job market, so it will never go to waste. TWP academy offers ICB accredited courses which you can start and take as far as you like, whether it be studying for a diploma, or a single level of the course.

TWP Academy offers the following courses:

• Financial Accounting Courses – ICB
• Office Administration Courses – ICB
• Business Management Courses – ICB
• Public Sector Accounting – ICB
• Entrepreneurship Courses – ICB

You can read our page on ICB Entrepreneurship Courses to get more info on this programme.

Other Resources

There is a wealth of career advice available on the topic of gap years. A simple internet search will bring up a myriad of websites, some offering advice for free, and others that charge for their services. Some of the most popular travel guidebook lines offer books dedicated to the idea of gap years, and your school adviser may also have resources available.