Education, training and development
Bridging the Gap
Achieving the grades to get you to interview stage is only half the journey towards career success. Inside Careers look into the benefits of a gap year and how you can build those soft skills.
Today employers are placing more emphasis than ever on the importance of ‘soft skills’, those key skills which demonstrate your own personal strengths, whether you shine as a team player or a problem solver.
The CBI/Edexcel Education & Skills Survey 2008 revealed the majority (86%) of employers ranked a positive attitude and ‘employability’ in their top three demands. These skills include team-working, communication, business awareness, self-management and problem-solving.
A gap year in some far-flung destination offers the perfect chance to develop those desired soft skills for many graduates. But how can you make the most of the opportunity to guarantee instant employability on your return?
Ways to spend a year away: