Graduate gap year 'may help prevent mud-treading'

Young workers often find themselves "having to tread through mud" during the early stages of their career, it has been claimed – but work experience gained on a gap year abroad may be able to help.

Kevin Friery, clinical director at Right Corecare, said that the UK's under-30s often found life challenging because they were forced by necessity to take jobs they do not even like.

"The trouble that people in that age group have to cope with is that they may be working in a situation that isn't their ideal jobs, isn't the best job in the world, but is a job they have to do to get themselves going or get a foot on the ladder," he explained.

Planning a gap year abroad – by incorporating structured activities such as voluntary work or internships – may be the ideal solution for inexperienced workers looking to boost their CV and employability.

According to research by the Institute for Employment Studies and Newsbeat, under-30s saw real wages fall faster than any other age group.

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