How to use a gap year as valuable experience on your CV

In Australia, you’ll find volunteer opportunities in exchange for accommodation and meals, which will help you save money and elevate your CV at the same time. You may find yourself harvesting fruit on an organic farm, helping turtle hatchlings reach the ocean in Bundaberg or preserving precious Australian ecosystems. There are also plenty of research expeditions and volunteer holidays to consider.

Volunteering is valuable because it shows a potential employer that you’re compassionate and hardworking. Plus, you can gain experience in industries like event planning, research and administration.

Working as a deckhand on a yacht in the Whitsundays will not only give you a new appreciation of underwater ecosystems, but it will also teach you time management and adaptability. Managing the front of house for a bustling guesthouse will teach you customer service and communication skills.

Regardless of the role, you’ll gain experience that will put you ahead of the pack.

No matter what you choose to do during your gap year, be sure to track your new skills and experiences. Have you started a travel blog? Then you’re likely gaining expertise in writing, social media promotion and even basic code. If you’ve picked fruit on a farm, you’ve probably learned how to be efficient and gained experience in food production. Even a stay in a hostel can give you valuable new skills. You’ve likely learned to cooperate, negotiate and use teamwork with your flatmates.

Adding these new real-world skills to your CV can help you impress potential employers and stand out in a stack of applications.