What is a gap year?
A gap year (also called a sabbatical) is one or more years that you take off after finishing school or high school, where you take a break from studying. It can happen before starting higher education or before deciding on your career path.
Many young people use their gap year to gain work experience and earn money. Others use the time to figure out what they want to do next.
Besides giving you a well-deserved break, a gap year can be a great opportunity to get to know yourself better and think about the direction you want to take in life — both in terms of education and career.
What should I do during my gap year?
Not sure what to do during your gap year? You’re not alone — many people find it hard to decide, especially if they’re unsure about what to study or work with in the future.
Some use the year to gain relevant work experience, others to recharge after many years of studying. In countries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, it’s quite common to take a gap year or two before continuing with education.
Some also choose a gap year simply because they’re not yet sure about their next step – and that’s perfectly fine.
What you decide to do depends on your personal goals. If you already have a plan, it’s smart to start working toward it. If not, this might be the perfect time to explore and try out different paths before committing to something long-term.
Opportunities at home vs abroad
In countries across Northern Europe, there are opportunities to get unskilled jobs — in supermarkets, cafés, fast food restaurants, or call centers, for example.
If you choose to take your gap year abroad, we help you find jobs where you use your native language — for example, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Dutch, or Finnish — in customer service, sales, content moderation, or communication roles.
Abroad, your language skills make you stand out. Not many people speak your native language, so companies looking for native speakers are usually eager to hire and train you.
Many international companies also promote internally, so starting in an entry-level job can be a stepping stone to more exciting positions — often faster than in your home country, where competition might be tougher.
Most people who take a gap year abroad do so for the experience. Living in a new country, meeting people from all over the world, and discovering a new culture is often what they remember most.
A clear career direction?
If you already know what you want, you have two options: jump straight into your education or take a gap year to gain new experiences before you start.
Should you stay in your home country and take an unskilled job, or go abroad and try something different? That depends on your personality and your goals.
Here are a few ways your gap year abroad can help your future:
Want to work in real estate, consulting, or customer-facing roles? Gaining experience in customer service abroad gives you practical knowledge and a stronger CV.
Interested in international business, logistics, or global companies? Working in an English-speaking environment abroad can help improve your language skills and cultural awareness.
A break now, with plans to continue later?
Some take a gap year simply to pause after years of school. Others use it to grow, learn, and prepare for the next step — whether it’s applying to a competitive degree or finding the right path.
Getting a job during your gap year is not just about earning money. It also shows that you’re responsible and committed — and that looks great on your CV.
Whether you want to stay in your home country or explore a new one, you have the freedom to choose something exciting or something that helps your future studies.
Planning to study an international degree or something communication-related? A gap year abroad can boost your application and add international experience to your profile.
Applying for a competitive program? Relevant gap year experience might help you stand out in alternative admission routes.
And let’s not forget — having great stories and experiences from your time abroad makes you a more interesting person too 😊
Time to find yourself?
It may seem like a cliché, but many young people today need time to “find themselves” after their studies.
It has increasingly become the norm that at some point you become completely uncertain about what you want to do. And that’s perfectly okay.
Many experience the same feeling when they finish their studies and now have to get started with “something” – what on earth do I really want?!
For the writer himself, it took several years to find the direction. If you are in the same situation, it can be a really good idea to take some time away from familiar surroundings and the regular circle of friends. To start afresh and get to know yourself better.
A gap year can be an incredibly developing year. Both on a personal level, where you learn to be independent and take care of yourself, but also where you have time to feel and create your own direction in life. This often happens quite naturally on the journey when you move “completely” away from home.
If that’s the kind of year you need, the work itself may be secondary. The journey comes first, and it’s just about filling your trip with good experiences and new relationships!
If that’s the case, the most important thing will be to first find a stable job that you enjoy. So you don’t have to worry about money and can focus on yourself in the new country.
Great experience you take with you – no matter what
It may seem like a big decision to make, which job to choose. Remember that no matter which workplace you choose abroad, it will give you international experience and automatically make you stand out among others.
Whether it’s admission to your dream study or work experience that can be used to land your next job, you can be sure that you will not appear like all the other applicants. You will be noticed in a different way if you have had (and retained) a job abroad in your gap year.
Besides the practical experience you gain on your CV, it’s an experience you will remember for life. And the experience is for many the most important thing.
Whether you travel alone or with a friend/partner, it will be an unforgettable journey that you will undoubtedly look back on with a smile.
Take the next step!
Does it sound exciting for you to live abroad during your gap year? Are you ready for a life-changing experience? We at Next Job Abroad would like to talk further with you and help you on your way.
You get free help with applying for the right job, guidance for moving, and help finding housing in your new country – so what are you waiting for?
If you want to see which jobs abroad you can get during your gap year, you can see the open jobs abroad here.
