You can spend your gap-year doing almost anything you like. You might feel pressured to get a job. You might even think that you have to spend the whole time travelling. Well, the truth is you can do these things, but you might be interested to know that you can also do other things which will impress future employers who are looking for someone who stands out from the the crowd, and generally will look awesome on your CV. You can, for example, teach English, volunteer to work with orphans, or even learn a new language. Who knows, these assets may assist you on getting your dream job in the future.

Here is the the top 10 ways you can spend your gap year!

1. Volunteer

You could spend your gap year really making a difference in the world. Why not volunteer for a good cause. You could for instance, volunteer to help orphans in Africa. Not only will you make a difference in someone’s life, you will also learn valuable skills such as leadership, motivation and communication, alongside valuable life experience that can’t be bought with money. These skills are a necessity for standing out in your application for your future job. Volunteering is also a very impressive activity to have on your CV. It shows employers and interviewers that you want to help people without making any money in return. If you’re interested in volunteering during your gap-year, then check out One World 365.

2. Learn How to Teach English

I know what your thinking, “What? Teach English? No way! I’m not a teacher.” The truth is, it’s not that difficult. Anyone can teach teach a language, so long as they know the basic grammar rules. Don’ worry. Even if you don’t know the ins and outs of English grammar you can easily acquire a teaching qualification by doing the TOEFL (Teacher of English as a Foreign Language) Test. You can also receive a teaching package and advice every month to ensure that you’ll never be stuck for ideas of what to teach your students.

You can travel almost anywhere to teach English. Countries such as China, Japan, Spain, France, Hong Kong, Russia, Korea and much much more. There is always demand for English teachers as it is an international language and is the lingua franca of global business and politics.

3. Learn a New Language

Learning a new language can be fun, interesting and will open up new opportunities for you in the future. If you have a place or country in where you’re dreaming to live one day, then it will be very beneficial to learn the language. Have you ever dreamed about living and working in Paris or in the south of France near the Midi-Pyrénées. Click here to find a French language course near you.

Or what about working and living in Barcelona or Madrid. Click here to find a Spanish language course near you.

Many doors will open, for instance, in tourism, teaching abroad will become more attainable through your newly acquired knowledge of the local language. And what’s cooler than showing off your language skills to the locals in your first week.

4. Do an Internship or Work Placement

Working for free isn’t the ideal situation long-term, but the short-term implications will very good for your future career. It shows employers that you’re willing to sacrifice a little to learn new skills and knowledge in your field of study. This will undoubtedly increase your chances of landing your dream job in the future, because prior experience is key to finding a graduate job. In most cases, employers are looking for a bit more in someone than just a diploma or certificate, which is also a key part of finding your dream job. The combination of having a qualification, having experience and being young will put you above par of many other applicants who also want your dream job. Click here to find internships abroad.

5.  Take Time to Really Get to Know Yourself

It may sound cheesy, but sometimes we might be unsure what to do with our lives. You may be contemplating what kind of job you want, where do you want to live in 5-years time, what really motivates you in life. It’s sometimes better to know the answer to these questions when you’re still young. One way of doing this is to come out of your comfort zone, putting yourself into new situations and places you wouldn’t normally go.

This could be getting to know people from other countries, cultures, backgrounds and religions. It may be travelling or learning a new skill. At first, it may feel very uncomfortable and all you’ll think is “I just want things to be the way they were before.” Or maybe you might miss your family, friends and hometown. That is normal, but, you can easily overcome these feelings. It may take a week, it might take a month or two. But one thing’s for sure: people are often very interested in getting to know people from other countries and cultures, and once you make new friends, a lot of doors can and will open. In addition, your friends and family will still be there at the end of the day.