Gap year travel is usually related to students taking ‘time out’ after graduating before they get themselves involved in the corporate world and get a job. Gap year travel for students and new graduates can be very fulfilling and provide ample time to set your life on course. However, those who have worked for a couple of years also deserve some well-earned ‘time out’. Taking a career break like this will be more complicated than the ‘normal’ gap year travel plans one may make.
First, let’s do a little definition of terms. Career breaks may or may not be funded by the employer however, so called ‘sabbaticals’ which are related to higher education are. In the case of the latter, employees may only be willing to fund certain courses while others allow freedom of choice.
With that cleared, let’s get to some essentials. First on the list is the fact that you really must have worked for the company for a few years before thinking about proposing a career break. Once you have all the facts, present all the benefits of you taking such a break to the company and to yourself. Also remember to give a previous notice – at least 6 months ahead of time.
The reasons you give for your wanting to take a gap year will make or break your request. Make sure that the reasons that you present are genuine and that you sincerely believe in what you are prosing. Some valid reasons could include: renewing your batteries, looking for a new direction in your career, recovering from a personal tragedy or gaining new skills and knowledge.
Once you’ve done the above, it’s time to start planning for your gap year. Remember that the amount of time it takes to plan your gap year will greatly depend on the itinerary you choose. Unless you employ a company to do all the planning, you will need to make your own arrangements regarding travel, visas, insurance, safety, accommodation, and health.
How much will a career gap year cost? Depending on your destination an estimated cost ranges from £6000 to £9000. Using that as a benchmark, you can do the Math and figure out how much you would need to save before you are able to have enough for your travel. Saving up as early as you can on even small things can go a long way in helping you gather funds for your gap year.