This is exactly what it sounds - a gap between education and higher study that lasts a year! Many 18/19 year olds planning to go into Higher Education take a year out first either to recharge their batteries, earn some money or gain some valuable experience before embarking on another 3-5 years of study. If used wisely this time can be invaluable in developing important employability skills and can look very impressive on a CV when applying for jobs after HE. Many young adults will travel, some will work, others will do a combination of the two. However, it is not for everyone and there are important considerations such as what you will do, how you will support yourself and have you made sure you've arranged your place at university or college first.

Volunteering is an option some young people at 18/19 follow for various reasons, sometimes because they are still planning their longer term future and want to do something useful with their time, sometimes because volunteering will help them gain experience they need for a Higher Education course or a later career. Many employers value the experience gained in any kind of volunteering, but some employers and HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) will assume that you have done some anyway, for example if you want to go into areas where you will be working with people such as Primary School Teaching, Nursing and Social Work. Equally volunteering with a community radio station could help you be successful in your application as an Apprentice engineering technician whilst helping out at your local animal rescue shelter could help you be accepted on a veterinary course at university.

You could organise your own work experience placement (see 16+ World of Work for some tips) but another thing to consider is work shadowing. With this activity you ask someone in an area of work you'd like to know more about if you could shadow them at work. The idea is that rather than being given daily duties engaging in specific tasks for a company you are able to simply follow and observe an employee do their job. This means you observe them in meetings, taking phonecalls and completing their administrative tasks such as computer input. Through this observation, as well as asking them questions througout, you gain a clear idea of what their job involves and can think about whether it might be right for you. It is important to point out that work shadowing placements can be hard to find and may only be possible through someone you know eg, family or friends. But you won't know until you ask? An employer can only say no so it's your choice whether you are persistent and try to shadow someone in a job you really want to break into.

A part-time job might be essential if you need some money! You might be looking for full-time work but there is only part-time available, or you may be biding your time while you find something long term. As you will be working for the next 50 years or so there may not be a rush to find the perfect job straight away and part-time work can keep you going while you have some thinking time. Bear in mind too that having a part-time job is still better than doing no work at all. Employers are impressed by any sort of experience young adults have to offer and you will continue to gain transferable skills through part-time work.