Five things to do to get the most out of your gap year

A lot of things that happen in life are things that you cannot control and for the most part those things can dictate what kind of life you will live. The only thing you can do is your best, when submitting a job application make sure that you have created the best CV you can create, when applying for places at universities and colleges make sure that your marks are the best that they can be, and if you did not get the best that you feel you could have gotten, then upgrade, it is free and there are a lot of places you can go to get study material and support for free, including during our gap year program. The point I am trying to make is that in a world where you might end up being one of the 45% of working age South Africans without a job, you have to try and do your best in everything, including your gap year.

You do not want to let next year go to waste, even if you have been unemployed since you matriculated 3 to 5 years ago. We have compiled a list of five things we think everyone taking a gap year needs to get right in order to have what we consider to be a productive gap year:

1. Figure out what it is you want and need

If you have been on more than 2 gap years then you have never actually answered this question for yourself. This is the hardest thing that we think matriculants need to do before their gap year, you are basically trying to figure out where you want to be in three years.

You need to figure out what options you have for tertiary education and which ones you are going to apply for. Your options aren't just universities and TVET colleges, there are many training institutions and opportunities out side of the normal ones. Will you be trying to find a job, and what job would you like to have, which skills will you need, and most importantly will you have some kind of financial support. The last thing you want is to need data and certified copies to apply for something and not have anyone to help you financially here and there.

2. Set goals and follow a routine

Once you have figured out what you want to achieve in the near-term future, the next thing to do is figure out how you are going to get there and that starts with setting small, measurable goals instead of one big vague one. "Apply for university" is not a goal you can act on tomorrow morning; "research and shortlist five different courses this week" is.

A gap year with no structure is the fastest way to lose a year without noticing. Wake up at the same time every day, set aside blocks of time for applications, studying, job hunting or upskilling, and treat those blocks the way you would treat a school timetable. It doesn't need to be rigid, but it needs to exist because without a routine, days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into a wasted year. Write your goals down somewhere you'll actually see them, and check in with yourself weekly on whether your routine is moving you toward them or just keeping you busy.

3. Apply for tertiary education and bursaries

This is where a lot of matriculants freeze up, mostly because the process feels overwhelming and nobody explains it properly. Application deadlines for universities, TVET colleges, and bursaries don't wait for you to feel ready, so treat this as one of your first priorities, not something you get to "eventually."

Start by listing every institution and bursary you might qualify for, even the long shots, and note their deadlines and requirements in one place. Bursaries in particular are underused many go unclaimed every year simply because not enough people who qualify actually apply. If your marks weren't what you needed, look into upgrading your subjects; it's free through several programs like ours and it can be the difference between qualifying for a course next year or waiting another year. Keep certified copies of your documents and a working email you check often, since a lot of these processes move over email and can move fast once they start.

4. Gain work experience

Even if it's not in the field you eventually want to work in, any work experience teaches you things a classroom can't how to show up on time, how to take instruction, how to work with people you didn't choose to work with. Volunteering, part-time work, internships, helping out in a family business or community project all count, and they all give you something concrete to put on a CV that currently might be empty.

Work experience also gives you a much clearer sense of what you don't want to do, which is just as valuable as figuring out what you do want. And every reference you gain along the way is someone who can vouch for you the next time you apply for something like a job, a bursary, or a place at some tertiary institutions.

5. Learn a valuable skill

A gap year is one of the few stretches of time in your life

where you have room to learn something new without the pressure of exams or a salary depending on it. Use that. Whether it's a technical skill like coding, graphic design, or bookkeeping, or a practical trade skill, or something like public speaking or basic financial literacy pick something that adds real value to your CV or your ability to start something of your own.

Free and low-cost resources for this are more available now than they've ever been, so a lack of money is rarely the real barrier a lack of direction usually is. If you're not sure where to start, think about what skill would make you more employable in the field you're aiming for, or what skill would let you start earning on your own terms through a small business or side hustle.

Getting all five of these right at once is a lot to ask of

yourself, especially without guidance, which is exactly the gap most matriculants fall into. This is exactly what Kitso Gap Year exists for. Our FREE, structured program covers matric upgrading and tertiary application support, job readiness training and CV building, entrepreneurship training, and mentorship to help you stay on track so you don't have to work out your next three years by yourself. Applications open 01 September.