October 31, 2024 
5 mins to read Are you in the middle of a gap year or considering taking one or a few? Here’s how to avoid stagnation and get the most out of your life. We’re giving you a list of the top 5 gap year jobs and acitivities to ensure the greatest amount of personal and professional growth – and networking.
No matter if you want to learn, work, or simply give back, Europe has endless opportunities to keep you busy and more excited than ever. Here are the top five best gap year jobs and activities.
1. Folk high school
Folk high schools are non-traditional colleges that offer a variety of evening or residential courses. These schools don’t focus on exams but rather on personal growth, creativity, and exploring subjects you’re passionate about. Imagine spending months learning everything from music and art to philosophy and social studies—all while meeting like-minded people from across Europe. Folk high schools exist across Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, providing a welcoming, communal atmosphere. Plus, it’s a brilliant way to immerse yourself in a new culture and develop your interests.
2. Work abroad in Europe
Are you also the type of person who will say “I think I could actually live here” when you travel and explore new places? Let us help you make your dream come true. No gap year job or work experience at home gives you quite the same amount of independence and growth as a job abroad. A lot of young people take a job in hospitality, tourism, or retail to make money for travels and to start building and boosting their CV with real-world and international experience. You can find available job opportunities abroad in your native language all over Europe.
Besides earning money, working abroad lets you build new skills and meet people from different backgrounds. You will experience life like a local instead of a tourist in some of your favourite European travel destinations – that’s the perfect way to upgrade your outcome of gap year jobs. We have available jobs in e.g. Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Poland. Click HERE and reach out to one of our recruiters to learn more about your options for gap year jobs abroad.
3. Language school programs
The worst part about learning a new language while growing up is that you only learn to use it formally in front of your classmates and teacher. And after the exam, you will most likely not use it very often, because you haven’t learned what the value of it is. Learning a new language can open up a whole world of opportunities and it’s a valuable skill in life that is often underestimated while we’re young. And since learning a new language becomes harder with age, now is the perfect time for you to take on the challenge.
There are a lot of language schools in Europe with great programs where you can learn languages like French, Spanish, Italian, or German. Spending a few months at a language school will improve your fluency and at the same time you’ll live among locals, which will definitely give you a faster and deeper understanding of the culture and daily use of the language.
Many of these programs also include cultural excursions and social activities, so you will also make a lot of new friends from everywhere. In short, language schools abroad give you a chance to explore new languages in new surroundings, where you can practice your new skills in real-life situations instead of in front of a teacher.
4. Erasmus+ programme
The Erasmus+ Programme is an initiative from the European Union. It’s a programme that provides study, internship, and volunteering opportunities for young people across Europe. If you’re still studying or you’ve recently graduated and in the middle of your gap year, you can use Erasmus to experience life in foreign country and improve your academic or professional skills. Erasmus covers pretty much all fields from education and healthcare to business and arts.
A lot of students make use of this opportunity to get hands-on work experience in their field of interest while being able to explore life abroad and see international living can be something for them in the long haul. Furthermore, Erasmus often offers grants to help cover your living expenses, which makes it a perfect solution even if you’re on a budget.
5. Volunteer in Europe
Do you want to make a change while exploring a foreign country and culture? Volunteering is a popular way of making an impact while travelling. There are countless volunteer programs across Europe where you can help out locals, hostels, farms, education programs, community outreach programs etc. Organisations like the European Solidarity Corps connect young people with volunteer opportunities across the continent, covering various areas such as environmental work, social services, and education.
Volunteering will make you gain valuable skills and experiences, and you’ll contribute positively to local communities, and meet a lot of cool people and contacts along the way. It’s guaranteed to be an unforgettable part of your gap year jobs and activities abroad.
Ready to start your adventure abroad?
Taking a gap year in Europe is a unique chance to grow, learn, and explore at the same time. You can experience a new culture at a folk high school, start an international career and boost your CV with a job abroad, learn a new language, join Erasmus, or volunteer. Each of these activities will broaden your perspective on life. Contact us at info@jobsqd.com or click HERE to learn more about gap year jobs abroad.
