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Planning the Perfect Gap Year – Part 1

At last! The day for you to submit your final examination paper arrives. The years of piling on honors and extra classes, tutors, test preparations, community-service projects, and other extracurricular activities are now going to be behind you. While on one hand your classmates are preparing to crack the college admissions, you on the other hand have decided to take a year off. Bravo!

A million questions must be swirling in your head at this very moment. “What do I do during a gap year?”, “How do I fund it?”, “Where can I stay?” and so on. While planning a gap year might seem like a daunting process, we are here to tell you that it really isn’t that difficult! Given below is a checklist we have created in order to help you plan your perfect gap year. If you can tick all the points, then you are ready to go!

1) WHY DO I NEED TO TAKE A GAP YEAR?

There have been many cases where students at the end of their gap year simply find that they didn’t get the experience they were hoping for. Not having clarity about “Why do they need to take a gap year and what do they hope to achieve?”, is one of the chief reasons.

While a gap year is about recharging your batteries, it is also an opportunity to learn and grow in ways that will prepare you for a meaningful and fulfilling life. According to Ethan Knight, executive director of American Gap Association, “ A student might not be a good fit if he or she doesn’t have a clear plan of learning or enrichment activities during the time off, or doesn’t feel that they are academically burnt out and are looking forward to classes.” Therefore for a gap year to benefit, it is very important for you to have a clear understanding of what is driving you to take a year off as this will help you set realistic goals.

Determining the right gap year plan starts with identifying and introspecting on some burning questions that matter. Below is a list of some important questions we strongly recommend you to ponder over.

a) Why do I need to take a year off?

b) Will it benefit me in anyway?

c) In what ways do I need to learn and grow to take full advantage of college or work place?

d) What types of experiences and support will help ensure this growth?

Asking such questions will not only help you narrow down your needs and interests, but also give you a clarity on whether a gap year is the best fit for you or not.

2) WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF MY GAP YEAR PLANS?

Once you have a better understanding of your needs, interests and the goals you have set for yourself, it is absolutely essential to create a structured plan around them. The first step towards creating a plan of action is to identify the type of gap year you’re most inclined to. Broadly speaking, there are 4 types of gap years: –

A) WORKING GAP YEAR

A gap year is a good time to get a foot on the ladder of your future career path. Depending on what industry or sector you wish to work in, there are well established internship programs and jobs that can give you a taste of working in that sector.

While you might groan at the thought of working during a gap year, but there are many advantages that will make you see a working gap year in a different light. Not only does it help you discern exactly what types of work you would and wouldn’t like, but often it can expose you to a whole range of career options you never even knew existed. In addition to that, it also helps you earn some money, gain skills and experience and build up a network of contacts. If you choose to combine a working gap year with some travel, you’ll get to experience working in different locations, often in multicultural teams and using language skills, giving you a deeper insight into the local culture than you’d get when simply travelling through.

Also, having a productively spent gap year on your personal statement or CV can be a great way of distinguishing yourself from the crowd, as long as you can show what you gained from the time.

Does it sound convincing enough?

B) VOLUNTEERING GAP YEAR

Spending the year volunteering is one of the best ways in which you give back to the society. It helps increase your sense of community, give cultural exposure, make new friends and help you build a network of contacts which may later lead to an offer of a permanent job!

Volunteering roles are available in registered charities, foreign-aid projects, not for-profit organizations, governments, and other organizations. Typical roles include administration, finance, fundraising, event organizing, care work and many more.

If you want to volunteer and travel places, there are lots of international volunteering placement schemes which offer short placements (from a week up to a year) across a range of career sectors. This way you can help around the world with all kinds of initiatives. All you’ll need to do is some research and you’ll be all set!

A) TRAVELLING GAP YEAR

Whether it be the mystics of the far-east, the exotics of southeast Asia, the thrills of Australia, the culture of Latin America, the fun of North America or the history of Europe that calls you there are loads of great things to see and do in every corner of the world.

Students either travel around the world or locally during a gap year. This can be very rewarding as it helps them to unwind, teaches them to be independent, soak up rich cultures and broaden their horizons, widen their social and professional circle, and if lucky helps secure permanent jobs too!

So, are you ready to travel the world?

B) STUDYING GAP YEAR

Imagine being able to study what you desire without the pressure of tests and assignment deadlines hanging over your head. What if you could learn in a brand new environment which doesn’t even remotely resemble the four walls of a classroom? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

Studying during a gap year will allow you to take a year out before university or work while still continuing to further your education. Today, many colleges and training centers offer courses suitable for gap year students which help develop key skills such as office, IT and business skills, or gain extra skills and knowledge in fields such as languages, art, music, drama, sports or conservation.

There are several options for studying abroad or in a different location to where you are usually based. You can take a short-term summer program, or apply for a position in an exchange program that specializes in study opportunities abroad and so much more! Now that you have identified which type of gap year you belong to it is important for you to:

i) Select the places where you’d like to spend your gap year, and

ii) Figure out how much time is available on your hands.

Narrowing down the places will depend on a number of factors such as, accessibility, safety, whether the place caters to your learning needs and so on. As for the duration of your gap year, that will depend on what your learning needs are, how long can you finance your gap year etc.

3) HOW DO I FUND MY GAP YEAR?

It is no secret that funding a gap year can take a toll on your parent’s bank accounts as it includes many costs. These include travel costs, living expenses, visas/work permits, driving permits, insurance, internet and mobile phone costs and health expenses! This was probably the biggest reason why it took your parents some time to wrap their heads around the idea of a gap year!

While planning how to raise funds is a crucial step and a laborious process, it is not unattainable. Once you have figured out your final costing, you can right away start raising funds!

Given below are some ideas which will help you in that process and turn your gap year into a reality.

a) Work before you go.

b) Work during the gap year; either in one place or while travelling.

c) Fundraise through sponsored events and activities.

d) Ask your family and friends to donate. Perhaps instead of birthday gifts you could ask them to donate or pay for completing the chores.

e) Sell some of your unwanted items online.

f) Apply for a grant or a loan from government/federal funding bodies, charities and grant-making trusts.

While these can be carried out anywhere around the world, there are some Universities in United States, like Princeton,  and Tufts University  that have begun to subsidize gap years for incoming students. Also, there are a number of low costing programs such as AmeriCorps,  City Year  or WWOOF-USA  which pay for room and food arrangements. If until now you’ve been able to satisfactorily tick every point off this checklist, then there is just one last and final thing for you to do. Touch base with your potential contacts living in the areas you are about to visit or work, arrange your stay and book the travel tickets in advance. This way you will not leave anything for the last-minute and won’t get hassled when the day finally arrives!

We understand that it is not just the pressure of planning a gap year that can be tough. Convincing your parents and yourself is a major part of the process. We hope that once you are able to cross that milestone, this blog will help you in planning your gap year to the very last detail.

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Switching Careers Midway – How to Deal with the Dilemma

There are very few things which can be worse than being stuck in a unsatisfying career. Let’s check that. There is nothing worse than the feeling of being stuck doing something you absolutely don’t love. Unfortunately the social structure of our country is such that it is an exception for children to grow up to do what they truly want to. As a norm, their careers are imposed upon them – most popularly, medical or engineering. A lot of us spend a lifetime stuck in careers and jobs we detest or hardly relate to. However, many a times, even as individuals, one might end up choosing a career path only to realize later that (s)he is better off doing something else.

It takes a great deal of courage to acknowledge the fact that everything you have been working towards has been in vain because it hasn’t made you happy. The good news is, things get better once you have accepted it. The decision of switching careers midway is a bold move.  We have worked with several courageous professionals who decided to make the switch and understand how difficult and confusing this decision can be. Through this post, we have captured some insights to help you through the process of switching careers midway.

Validating the Need for Switching Careers Midway – 3 Signs you shouldn’t Miss

You hate doing what you do

This is the most obvious sign, which you will miss only if you are a master of self-deception. Take a hint if you wake up every morning absolutely dreading the idea of doing what you do. If you come back home miserable and weary. It is understandable why a shift would seem scary and overwhelming. It is not easy to give up a steady job for a completely new dimension without the security your present job offers. However, while this might sound like a struggle, at the very least you will be happier at the end of the day.

There has always been something else you wanted to do

You secretly dream of becoming a photographer, or working in the area of child rights or of becoming a journalist. What scares you is the fact that you are an engineer or a doctor. The fact that you are miles away from being related to your dream profession in any way. The knowledge that the shift will be nothing less than a paradigm shift is scary for. But think about how it is going to make you feel when years from now. When you realize you always knew what you wanted to do, but never did have the courage to go ahead?

Your current choice of career doesn’t make the most of your skills (or any of your skills!)

We are all born with talents and a skill set that is unique to us and that we have so diligently honed and developed. Your career should make the most of that skill set and should engage you in a manner that encourages you to pursue their further development. If your job seems to be drawing the life out of you, without utilizing your skill set or in a manner that satisfies you, it should be indication enough for you to reconsider your job.

Before you take the plunge of Switching Careers Midway:

Make sure you are financially sound

A shift is bound to bring with it some financial struggle. You will be shifting from a secure salaried job into unchartered waters. Additionally, such a change may require you to pursue further education, requiring you to specialize in a particular field. It is always advisable to ensure that your finances are in order before you take the plunge. Education, especially the pursuit of specialized fields, is expensive but is worth it nonetheless. Remember that you will not only need to pay for that education but also sustain yourself during that period.

Weigh the pros and cons

Would making this change add substance to your life? Is it a step in the right direction or is it a step backwards? Are you willing to risk a considerable amount of time and energy into ensuring that what you do next will be successful without the surety that it will? What is the capital required to make the change? Will this investment eventually bear fruit? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself before you take the plunge. List out all the pros and cons and play the devil’s advocate. This will ensure that you take an educated decision.

Talk about it to a career counsellor or someone you trust

Once you have listed the pros and cons, talk about it with someone. Ideally, you should aim at talking with a career counsellor, since they are best suited to answer your questions. But don’t just stop there. Find a friend in the profession you wish to pursue, talk to them. If you don’t have a friend in that particular field, hit social media. There are various forums that discuss such matters and you are bound to find some answers there. Most importantly though, talk to your family about your decision. Understand, that career counsellors are commercially motivated and social media may not be able to connect with you emotionally, but your family is one set of people who always have your best interests in their hearts! And rest assured that in India, you will find enough devil’s advocates within your own family!

Research thoroughly

Finding out all you can about the profession you wish to pursue should form the backbone of this change. Your decision to transition – to follow your dream, should be firmly grounded in reality. Remember, once you have divorced yourself from your current profession or career, and taken the leap, it might be pretty hard for you to reverse the situation. So before you do take the leap, make sure you have a very good idea of what you are getting in to. The purpose is not to scare you or to intimidate you, but to ensure that you are aware of the finer prints of the struggle. Figure out entry barriers, as well the opportunities it possesses and the best way to make the most of the change.

Have a back-up plan ready

It is always advisable to have a back-up plan ready. Having a fall back option provides an emergency exit, a fire escape of sorts. Borrowing from “Valkyrie”, this change is “like war, and in war nothing goes according to plan!” You will have to improvise as you go along and be ready to drop the entire plan if it doesn’t work out in the manner it is supposed it. Remember that while it is great to be single-mindedly focused, it is also a good idea to allow yourself to be a little flexible, you never know how you may surprise yourself by going with the flow sometimes.

All in all it is never too late to make a change to our lives. One prime example is that of the Silver Surfers Club of Bangalorewhose members, all above the age of 55, have found their true callings even at this age! It is all about taking charge of your life and deciding that it’s time for a change. Take the plunge, let life deal its cards, hold yours close to your heart and with a poker face on, beat stereotype at its own game!

Have a career question ? Reach out to us at contact@oorjabizops.com and we will help you with it.