Features: Invest in your future

Taking time out after you graduate is a fantastic opportunity to do something different, meet a completely different mix of people, immerse yourself in foreign cultures and become more globally aware. 

What’s more, by making the right gap year choices you can really improve your soft skills and confidence – vital in boosting your employability skills, to give you the edge over the other 600,000 plus 2009 and 2010 graduates. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters 68% of employers said that soft skills were the second most important selection criteria after a 2:1 degree.

How to prepare

Now is the time to start preparing for your gap year. What would you like to get out of your time abroad? You could do something that complements your degree, for architects or engineers this could be a construction project such as building a school or community centre or for biologists this could be a marine conservation project. Alternatively, you could learn a new skill – another language, sports instruction or challenging yourself on a trek or expedition. Once you have decided on your goals, you can start researching organisations.

Employers recommend a Raleigh expedition

Doing a 10 week overseas expedition with Raleigh International  is an incredible work experience opportunity that beats being stuck in an office and gives you the transferable skills that employers are looking for. According to Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks, 'If you've done Raleigh, you've actually acquired and honed a lot of the skills that you need in the workplace, in terms of leadership, management, project delivery. It’s a pretty phenomenal thing.'

A Raleigh expedition is perfect for those who are looking to develop key employability skills, explore new cultures and make a real difference to the world they live in. On an overseas expedition with Raleigh you'll work on much needed and sustainable community and environmental projects, plus undertake a challenging adventure phase.

Raleigh is a youth and education charity established in 1984 and runs adventure and challenge expeditions for 17-24 year olds from a wide range of backgrounds, nationalities and life stages.

Expeditions operate year-round in Borneo, Costa Rica & Nicaragua and India. This year saw volunteers working on Sun Bear conservation projects in Borneo, constructing schools in remote villages in southern India, and trekking from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast across the width of Costa Rica.

'In this job market, evidence of soft skills and the ability to show how you can add value to an organisation are going to be more important than ever,' advised Raleigh’s chief executive Stacey Adams. 'This can be really tough for new graduates when they don’t have much previous work experience – although all of the graduate recruiters that we work with tell us that a well constructed gap year is a great way to develop these soft skills.'

Christine Harry went on expedition to Costa Rica & Nicaragua in autumn 2009. Upon her return from expedition she gained the role of UK coordinator for a children’s charity in Nottingham.

'Before Raleigh I was sending off lots of job applications each week and apart from getting a few interviews, it was pretty fruitless. Quite simply, being able to take part in an expedition is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I have incredible memories of my time in Costa Rica & Nicaragua, of the people I met, the places I saw and the work we did for the communities.

'Taking part in an expedition builds on a variety of skills, such as leadership skills, communication skills and interpersonal skills. Though I was sad to leave, I feel like it is not really the end but the beginning for me.'

Interested?

Raleigh also offers a £2,000 Graduate Bursary Award  for 2009 and 2010 graduates.