Did you know that you can use your travels to boost your career?
Jenny Collins looks at how gaining qualifications during a trip overseas can give your career a welcome boost.
Gap years and sabbaticals are becoming more and more popular for young and old alike. Many who choose to spend this time travelling, working, volunteering are opting to gain a qualification at the same time.
As well as experiencing new cultures and learning a variety of transferrable skills, coming home with a recognised qualification will improve your career and employability regardless of which stage of education or employment you are at, making this an invaluable experience.
Even though you might think exploring the world or relaxing on beautiful islands and beaches is of not much value, you will develop skills you never imagined like independence and confidence. These are some more tips how you can use this experience to really maximize your trip to boost your future job prospects.
Language Courses
If you are planning a gap year or keen to go backpacking and explore the world the chances are you will visit countries where English isn’t the native language. So what better time to learn a new language! There are language courses which can be taken throughout the world, or you can just download an app or learn online.
TEFL Courses
There are various courses you can take depending on your interests and career plans. Aspiring teachers are able to take a TEFL certificate. This provides a worldwide recognised qualification to teach English as a foreign language. This can be a great way to live abroad, earn money and boost your skills and experience.
BTECs
There are a variety of other BTEC courses – all internationally recognised – that can be completed during a trip.
Normally these involve a minimum stay to ensure you have the time to complete all the necessary work. Again these tend to be assessed through log books and/or presentations with most organisations having staff that will be there to help you with the tasks. The BTECS can come in a range of levels, depending on what you want the qualification for and how much work/time you want to put into it.
If you’re planning to study a conservation or environment focussed course at college or university, taking a BTEC beforehand could improve your chances of getting onto the course at your desired place of study. If you’re doing it afterwards or alongside, it could help you with your job search. Another option is to use a volunteering project to actually complete your university studies by carrying out research for a piece of coursework or even for your dissertation.
PADI Qualifications
Wannabe and beginner divers can benefit from PADI qualifications. These can be for those who have never dived as well as people who already hold provisional qualifications and are looking to expand on them. There are so many amazing dive destinations, you can study for your certification in a really beautiful location like the Thai islands or the Maldives.
Safari Guide Courses
If you are keen to work abroad and pursue a different career path, why not become a field guide in Africa. If you’re considering a change of career, a qualification could be a step in the right direction and a useful way to make sure you are making the right decision before you take the leap.
What to Consider
When looking for qualifications, you should consider your reasons for doing so: what do you want to get out of it? Is one in particular is necessary for your future career progression? And importantly, are you are willing to put in the necessary work to make the most of it?
All qualifications gained abroad are particularly beneficial as they are being obtained in real-life situations rather than in a class-room environment – this not only makes the experience more valuable but more enjoyable too.
About the author: Jenny Collins works for an NGO dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, and building sustainable livelihoods for marginalised communities in the world’s poorest countries. Check out the wide variety of opportunities to volunteer abroad: whether you’re looking for placements involving teaching abroad, wildlife conservation volunteering, or simply some adventure travel, we’re sure to be able to recommend something suitable.
