Employers view gap years positively, parents told

A careers advisor has offered reassurance to the parents of gap year students - a year out will not affect their future employment prospects.

Speaking to The Chronicle, Australian jobs expert Clive May, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, said young people can actually improve their CVs during a gap year.

During a trip away from home they can develop new skills, undertake paid or voluntary work experience and learn to become more independent, he suggested.

"It no longer seems to affect employment opportunities," Mr May claimed.

"We're finding some graduate employers actually prefer graduates to have done their gap year before entering the workforce."

He explained that some employers are losing good graduates after a year because they have gone straight from school to university to work "and suddenly have wanderlust".

As such, it can be beneficial for all parties if students take a break before heading to university, or before they take up a graduate job.

Youngsters come back with solid experience and more of an idea of what they want to do, the careers expert stated.

He claimed that volunteering, combined with work or travel, is great for those who want to defer study.

"There are many options for volunteering, which can be tailored to the specifics of what they want," he noted.

"Helping people in need of help can make a big difference and adjust their mindset."

James Conroy, chairman of the post-school counselling department at New Trier High in Winnetka, Illinois, claimed recently that university education is "not a race".

Speaking to Oak Leaves, he suggested many young people can benefit from taking a gap year prior to starting their degree.

Click here for gap year advice.