5 Benefits Of Taking A Break After Uni

The head of UCAS recently shared her views on post-graduation jobs, saying that students should actually have a break after uni.

If you’re finishing your degree and don’t have a job lined up, don’t panic. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph Mary Curnock Cook said that students should think about having six months off after studying.

Here are 5 benefits of taking a break after university.  Stepping away from the grind for a few months might be the best thing you ever do:

Time to travel

If you haven’t already partaken in what is often referred to as the ‘Gap Yah’ then this might be your time to do it. Around 5 million young people in the UK are planning a gap year, and 80% of people thought that their gap year made them more employable.

So, what have you got to lose? If you don’t want to leap into a job, go and see the world instead.

Recharge

University is an amazing experience. You’re making new friends, learning about a topic that one day might become your career, and finally becoming more independent.

But, it is also very stressful. Living away from home, thinking about your future and dealing with all those deadlines can have an impact. Dealing with this for three years might leave you a little drained at the end of it so there is no shame is taking some time for yourself before entering the rat race.

Gaining experience

To get on the job ladder these days, a lot of employers want you to have some work experience under your belt before you’re let loose into the real working world.

If you didn’t manage to fit work placements in while at uni, a break might give you the chance to do so after you graduate. Yes, you might not get paid but taking a few weeks or months to build up your CV will be beneficial in the long run. Why not get a job in a bar of café to fund your experience? You might make some new friends too.

Time to make a plan

University can sometimes become a bit of a bubble so when you finally come out the other side, you might feel like you don’t have a plan.
Rather than rushing into a job, it might be helpful to take the time to really think about the next steps.

Don’t worry if you need to move home to get yourself together as you’re not alone. In fact, the number of under 35-year-olds who live at home has risen by more than a third in the last 10 years.

Exploring your options

Finally, you might have just spent three years studying for something that actually, when the time comes to get a job, you’re not sure it’s for you. Having time to figure out what you want to do and where you want to be is the best thing you can do in this situation. Don’t dive into a career that isn’t for you, instead take the time to try new things and speak to people in the industries that interest you.

It may feel like you need to have your life mapped out the second you leave uni but there’s plenty of time. If you do get to the end of your degree and still feel unsure, or haven’t found a job, remember that there might actually be some perks to your situation.

Emily Braybrooke is a recent Journalism graduate from the University of Lincoln. In her spare time she enjoys photography, blogging and singing. Check out some of her photography work here or sit back and read her blog. 

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