ClickAJob News

Gap year travellers should consider how 12 months abroad can boost their future career before embarking on the journey, according to one employment expert.

Research adviser with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Vanessa Robinson has urged graduates, students and career gappers alike to become involved in activities abroad that will serve to increase their employability when they return home a year later.

"That might be some volunteering, or you might set up a business somewhere remotely, it can be a variety of things," she suggested.

"It can't hurt to think of the benefits of what you're doing in your gap year."

Jobseekers should put a positive spin on their CV about their gap year experiences, Ms Robinson added.

Gap year students and career gappers are the most likely people to do volunteer work while abroad, the Year Out Group has revealed.

"At all times, you should think of how to make yourself hireable," say ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg.

"Recognise that every single thing you do is an opportunity to show you're special beyond the bare summary of your CV," he says.

"So when you think 'Gap Year', think 'Work Experience' at the same time, and make sure you do something positive about it."

"Ideally, when it finally gets to applying for a job, whatever you chose to do should spell itself out as 'Hire Me, I Have a Unique Selling Proposition,'" he concludes.