Gap year abroad 'made me stand out'

A former gap year student has said that she would not be where she is now if it was not for the voluntary work that she undertook.

Charlotte Jones, 22, told the Guardian that taking a gap year which included volunteering for three months on a game reserve in South Africa helped her to land a placement for a charity based in Kent.

"I think that's what made me stand out. Internships­ are one of the only viable ways into the sector, as it makes a big difference to your CV so long as you are actually learning something on it," she told the source.

She added that, as she graduated in a recession, she struggled to find other voluntary work in the UK, commenting that her gap year abroad helped her to add experiences to her CV.

Year Out Group chief executive Richard Oliver said that city firms such as Deloittes and Slaughter & May are welcoming applications from graduates who have a wide range of experiences, including a productive gap year.

Find out about gap year benefits.

( Last Updated: 2010-02-17 12:55:23)