For the average American student, at least 16 years of your life are spent in school, and the journey after college graduation starts—hopefully, at least—with getting a full-time job. That’s the game plan, right? But for some, the idea of immediately going to work is daunting.
“As a senior in college you are bombarded with the question, ‘What’s your plan after you graduate?'” says Heather Hoglund of Boston, an associate producer who took a year off to backpack through Europe. “If the answer is anything other than ‘get a job,’ you’re bound to get some pretty weird looks. There’s this idea that, now that you have a college degree, you’ve got to go do something with it as soon as possible.”
But believe it or not, taking time off before entering the workforce can have its perks. While how your downtime is perceived by employers hinges on a number of factors—some within your control, some not—the so-called “gap year” doesn’t have to be a negative point on your resume.
Intrigued? We spoke to millennials and career experts alike to determine if you really need to get a job right after you graduate. What they said might surprise you.
What Millennials Think
Millennials have an easy time of seeing both the pros and cons of taking time off. While economic factors like student loans have an impact on whether one sees taking a gap year as a luxury or a necessity, a survey conducted by UK career site Milkround found that 88% of graduates reported that their gap year had significantly added to their employability.
The gap year trend has only recently taken off in the U.S., according to FastWeb, an online scholarship matching and college search service—but the results are rewarding, to say the least.
Research from the American Gap Association, a nonprofit organization researching the benefits of gap years, shows the majority of gap-year participants found taking time off helped them acquire skills to be successful in their career, impacted their career decision, and ultimately, helped them find a job.
Kelsey Reinke of Seattle spent two years working odd jobs and traveling before landing her current role as a cargo agent at Delta Airlines. She found taking time off beneficial both personally and professionally, suggesting it made her a better applicant.
“I learned many valuable skills abroad,” says Reinke. “I proved my patience, self-sufficiency, and ability to work together with all different kinds of people. I value my global perspective and believe that it makes me an interesting candidate for many jobs.”
Hoglund, meanwhile, believes there is too much pressure on millennials to start working immediately and suggests trying to find a job before taking a trip.
“I actually interviewed for jobs prior to traveling,” says Hoglund. “I was honest and mentioned I already had plans but could start when I got back. Most employers were very receptive to the idea and were even a bit jealous! Knowing I had a job waiting for me after I was done traipsing through northern Europe helped me enjoy the trip more.”
What Career Experts Think
Here’s the big, obvious drawback of the gap year: If you decide to take time off, you’ll need to explain the gaping hole in your resume when you start applying for jobs.
You’re bound to set yourself back a bit by waiting to start your job search. Wendi Weiner, a resume expert and owner of resume service firm The Writing Guru in Miami, thinks millennials should begin sending out their resume not just after they graduate, but during their final semester.
“Due to increased market competition, millennials should recognize that there are a large number of graduates who are also applying to the same jobs. You don’t want to fall into the situation of not securing any interviews by waiting to apply.”
Nevertheless, a gap in your resume might not be a total deal breaker—given you’re able to sell yourself in an interview. Elizabeth Atcheson, a career coach at Blue Bridge Career Coaching in Seattle, says the decision is ultimately up to you, and you should focus on the benefits of taking time off. In the end, it’s probably better to do it now than it would be down the line, when it would be harder to explain away a lengthy career gap.
“If you can afford to take, say, the summer off before looking for a job, and if you’re itching to travel or do something else, then go ahead and do it,” says Atcheson. “If you explored something of keen interest to you during that time and can talk about what you learned, most hiring managers will not hold that few months’ gap against you.”
This article originally appeared on Monster and is reprinted with permission.
