January 5, 2009
As we all welcome in 2009, many of us will be thinking about the New Year with a great deal of excitement and anticipation. This is exemplified by the fact that so many resolutions will have been made by people who are all hoping that 2009 will be the best year yet.
The start of any year is a great time for planning ahead and as a result many people consider gap years abroad and volunteering trips around this time. Indeed , many people go so far as to request literature and begin to gather some information about what the future could bring. Yet, like so many of all of our resolutions, the novelty of these can wear off quite quickly – particularly if you have set yourself some quite big targets!
However, in terms of planning and organising a gap year abroad, now is the right time to be setting the wheels in motion. This is especially true if you are considering embarking on this once you have finished college or University as you will no doubt be wanting to have everything in place before your final exams commence.
So make sure that you act on your instincts and make sure that 2009 is the most exciting and productive year yet!
December 27, 2008
One of the most important sets of documentation which you will carry with you during your gap year is your passport and if you are embarking on a working holiday then your visa also.
It is essential that you take good care of these and take every precaution which is necessary to safeguard these items. In this article, we will provide you with helpful tips which will elicit piece of mind in relation to these very important documents.
First of all, it is a good idea to jot down your passport number, place of issue and the date of issue and keep this in a secure place. It is advisable that this should not be in the same location as your passport is kept for obvious reasons.
Secondly, ensure that your passport is in date for the full length of time of your trip as the last thing which you would want is for problems like this to arise on your journey home. Following on from this, it is important that you add the full details of your next of kin to the back of your passport incase this is ever needed in an emergency.
Finally, it is a good idea to take a copy of your passport and leave it with a close friend or family member at home. Also make sure that you take an alternative proof of ID with you for added security.
The chances of your passport becoming stolen or lost overseas are remote, however if the worst does come to the worst then it is imperative that you make this known to the British Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible and they will be able to help you.
December 23, 2008
Over the past few years there have been numerous initiatives to promote a healthy work – life balance. Many of these have come from the government, but many companies are now implementing schemes of their own to ensure that the wellbeing of their employees is of paramount importance.
As part of this, we have seen a growing number of people take career breaks and there are many advantages in offering this at company level. Firstly and most importantly offering the potential for gap years should increase staff retention – obviously reducing recruitment costs and resulting in a happier and therefore more productive workforce. These long term advantages are much sought after especially in the current economic climate.
In terms of the employee, you raise the chances of staff keeping loyal to the company and therefore can build on their expertise for the foreseeable future. You will also notice an enhancement of their skills following the gap year, such as an increased sense of leadership and developed methods of communication. Many people return to work with a greater degree of efficiency and confidence which could otherwise have taken years to build up.
Further to this, the employee will return to work happier and with a great deal of self fulfilment which can only be a positive thing in terms of productivity.
Finally, companies offering career breaks will be well renowned throughout the local and national community as being employee focused which would undoubtedly raise their profile. In addition to this, offering this would almost certainly be a wise business decision in terms of long term financial benefits.
December 17, 2008
There is no doubt that embarking on a gap year abroad is a big decision, no matter what stage of your life you are at. As a result, it is imperative that you take as much time as you need to investigate all of your options and most importantly make sure that you are happy with your decision. This is particularly the case of course if you are considering a gap year abroad. You need to be clear in your own mind in terms of what this will entail and how you are going to ensure that you have the best experience possible during it.
The one thing which you should not feel is pressurised in to making your decision. Your friends and family will no doubt give you their own thoughts on what you are planning to do and you should seek as much advice as possible in respect of this. However, it is important that you keep an open and objective mind and follow your dreams whatever they may be.
Take some time to read as much as you can about your trip and make sure that you organise yourself fully before you set the wheels in motion. But you should always remember that this is your choice and yours alone so make sure that it is the right one!
December 10, 2008
The recent credit crunch and the effects of this are having a wide ranging effect, both on personal finances and within the economy in general. As a result, redundancies are now commonplace as companies try to minimise the long term effects of the recent downturn to secure their futures.
This has however led to an upsurge in the amount of people taking gap years abroad with people who work in the property market and banking making up a fairly large percentage of the recent market. Many people are using their redundancy pay outs to travel or volunteer as part of their gap year and adding to their CVs with something unique before returning to the job market.
Trends would indicate that those most likely to use their redundancy pay to fund a gap year abroad are those in the 25-35 age bracket but this is by no means the only sector of people who choose to further their careers in this way. For example, recent graduates are finding that it is getting increasingly more difficult to find a job and that there are not as many graduate posts available as there once were. This is encouraging this sector to take some time out either volunteering or spending a year abroad.
For others, the idea of a gap year comes solely from the wish to be out of the country until the economy shows signs of revival. There is an eclectic range of reasons why people would choose to embark on such an action, yet trends suggest that during the present time more and more people are using a gap year to further their own careers.
December 5, 2008
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport officially re-opened on Friday 5th December having been occupied by a group of political protesters.
All PoD volunteer placements are running as normal.
If you are travelling between 5th-15th December, you should contact your airline to check if there is any change to your flights.
We also recommend keeping up to date with the latest British government advice - please click here for the FCO website guidance on Thailand (www.fco.gov.uk).
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Alex Tarrant, PoD Director
December 4, 2008
When you are planning your gap year abroad, it is imperative that you consider numerous issues surrounding your emotional wellbeing during the trip. With all the technological advances which have been made in the last decade, it is now easier than ever before to communicate with people no matter what the distances involved are.
You will no doubt be wanting to exploit all the methods of communication available to you during your trip, not only to relay fascinating stories of your own, but also to keep your finger on the pulse of events back home. There are numerous ways in which you can do this to great effect.
First of all, it is useful to sign up for a free email address which you can circulate to all your friends and family before you embark on your journey. This gives everyone the ability to communicate with you in great detail and is of course free to send.
With this in mind, it is a good idea to determine how you will access the internet during your trip, whether you decide to conduct this via your phone or within internet cafes.
In terms of mobile phones, many people do not take one on their travels but this not advised. Mobile phones can be incredibly important not only in terms of communicating with people, but also in the event of an emergency. Even if you just keep your phone topped up to a modest level you never know when it could be of great service to you.
Before you travel, contact your network provider and verify the terms and conditions of your contact to ensure that your phone will be fully functional during your trip. Some models and networks require you to buy a local sim card as opposed to your normal one and this is well worth checking before you leave.
In addition to this, consider pre-paid phone cards which can often be a cost effective way to make contact with your loved ones back at home.
Finally, creating a web journal is a wonderful way in which you can not only provide those at home with a vivid insight in to your experiences, but also provide a lasting reminder of them. You can upload photographs and voice messages to add clarity to your journals and they really are worth spending some time on. You will definitely appreciate this in the future!
November 30, 2008
You only have to glance at a newspaper or switch on your television to know that the credit crunch is gripping Britain and causing financial hardship for much of the population. However, there is another trend which is affecting many young adults and that is the “career crunch”.
Recently, the findings of the Training and Development Agency suggested that up to one quarter of graduates who embark on a gap year straight after leaving university worry about becoming less employable after a gap year.
Yet three quarters of people who take a gap year after leaving university find the right career first time. This should not be forgotten and in fact should be celebrated - if you consider the population as a whole, then this figure reinforces the beneficial nature of gap years in making long term career choices.
It is imperative however that gap years are structured and planned out well in advance to ensure the benefits of them and it is this which does let some graduates down. Well researched and tailored gap years can give graduates a remarkable advantage in terms of their CVs and in conveying good all round education, which is highly sought after in the workplace.
It is therefore essential that you spend some time thinking about what you want to get out of your gap year. Make sure that you plan ahead to ensure that you gain all the experience and benefits which will place you at a distinct advantage in the working environment.
November 27, 2008
A group of political protesters has occupied Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International airport since Tuesday 25th November, causing most outgoing and incoming flights to be cancelled.
PoD is monitoring the situation closely through our contacts in Bangkok as well as through the British Embassy in Thailand.
If you are volunteering with PoD and due to fly to Thailand in the next 1-2 weeks you should contact your airline for further information.
Aside from travel disruptions due to anyone travelling in the next 1-2 weeks, all volunteer placements are running as normal. We hope that the situation will be resolved quickly and that the airport will return to normal operation.
We recommend keeping up to date with the latest British government advice - please click here for the FCO website guidance on Thailand (www.fco.gov.uk).
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Alex Tarrant, PoD Director
