What do I do with my life? That is the question that many graduates ask themselves when they finish their studies. Some people have a firm idea of what career they want to pursue, while others have no idea where to start. Our advice is: travel! Don’t just think about a week away, why not consider two, three, four months abroad or even longer? Travelling in your twenties can enhance your life in more ways that you might think. In fact, many people who have achieved personal success thank their travels for their confidence and ambition. Not only will you grow as a person and learn more than you ever did in a semester at university, but you will also improve your career prospects and add vital skills to your CV. Employers will love it!
8 reasons why you should travel after your studies
If you still think that spending a year travelling after university is a waste of time, here are a few travelling tips from great businessmen and professionals that can help you achieve success.
You will learn what’s right for you
If you don’t know which route to take after graduating, why pursue something that you know isn’t for you? Travelling gives you the freedom and the time to figure out what you don’t like, which in turn will help you figure out what you do like. You won’t necessarily know what you want to do in the next ten years, but travelling will give you a window of time to recognise your strengths and weaknesses.
You will learn new perspectives
A trip away for an extended amount of time will give you an insight into different ways of thinking which will help strengthen your creative and logistical skills. Through understanding different points of view, you will be able to make smarter decisions which will be a valuable asset when working in a new environment.
You will become stronger
The fact that you will be embarking on a trip straight after university, the chances are you’re not going to be working with a substantial budget. Overcoming financial difficulties like this will give you the opportunity to budget and prioritise the things you need. By facing challenges like this you will learn to adapt to difficult situations and become a stronger and wiser person because of it.
You will learn to value what matters
When you travel you leave behind everything that you know to be sure. When you step on to that plane or train, your life will change and you will learn to appreciate the things that have real value in your life.
You will gain confidence
It may not seem important to say in an interview that you have visited over twenty countries but once you’ve been away and experienced extraordinary things, interviews will all of a sudden seem a breeze. You will step into that interview with a confidence that interviewers will not be able to say no to.
You will appreciate team-work
Whether you’re travelling solo or in a group, experiencing different places will offer you the chance to interact with lots of people. It might be walking around a city with a group of tourists or trying to ask something in a foreign language or even doing something more daring like rafting or climbing!
You will learn to organise yourself
Travelling involves a good amount of organisation: flights, accommodation, tickets… and so much more. Learning how to plan a trip effectively is one of the best things you can learn. While you are looking for accommodation, why not head to Hundredrooms to explore the most affordable options out there?
You will have so much free time
Once you have completed your studies you have an unlimited amount freedom! Why not use this time and travel the world? Once you are employed it won’t be so easy to take days off!
Why is it good to add your travel experiences to your CV? Not only will they highlight your skills but they will also help you achieve personal success. Here are a few examples:
- You can communicate in another language
- You can solve problems more easily
- You are an adventurer willing to face any challenge
- You are open-minded and empathetic to different situations
Things you shouldn’t put on your CV
Although it will be one of the best experiences of your life, telling your future employers that you spent two weeks in Malia sunbathing and drinking probably won’t be the best thing to enhance your CV.
Instead, why not include those projects you volunteered for or that new course you participated on…
What you should include
If you think your travelling experiences add value to your CV then insert them at the beginning. For example if you taught English abroad and you are interested in becoming a teacher, don’t hesitate to tailor your CV specifically for the role.
If you are passionate about photography or writing articles then include links to your travel blog or YouTube channel.
The employability skills that you gained thanks to your experiences abroad are numerous and if you don’t believe it, then take a look at some of these…
Adaptability, understanding, organisation, communication, languages, team-work, creativity, negotiation, research….
Travelling is one of the best ways to enhance your CV, strengthen your career prospects and ultimately learn more about yourself. What are you waiting for? Go for it!
