Amongst some, there’s no denying that there’s an old school thought towards gap year’s of being a bit of a lazy detour, sort of delaying “real life” backpacking with only a vague plan to find yourself on a beach somewhere.
But what the hater’s don’t realise is:
Done right, a gap year can be one of the smartest, most employable things you can do.
If it’s structured, skill-building and packed with challenges that most graduates only face after they’ve left uni. Combine that with a Uni degree and you’re ahead of the game.
Employers Want More Than a Degree
Today’s job market isn’t just looking for textbook knowledge. Employers want life-ready people: confident communicators, problem-solvers, leaders and team players.
A structured surf adventure gap year develops exactly that (cue subtle sale of our trips in South Africa, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka)
Why Employers Love a Well-Spent Gap Year
1. You Show Initiative
It shows that you’re not blindly following the crowd, carving your own path, thinking outside the box and long-term, whilst investing in yourself. Values which employers value.
2. You Build Real-World Skills
A surfing gap year isn’t just about catching waves. It’s about:
- Earning an internationally recognised Lifeguard qualification
- Training as a Level 1 Surf Coach (ISA-accredited)
- Developing leadership, risk management and teaching skills
You’re not just surfing, you’re coaching, guiding, adapting and making real decisions in dynamic environments.
3. You Learn Teamwork and Responsibility
Living and training with a group in remote settings in developing countries takes collaboration.
You’ll learn to:
- Lead and follow within a team
- Handle pressure and responsibility (like beach safety and coaching students)
- Communicate clearly across cultures
This isn’t a group project in school it’s actual life, which employers will be able to see.
4. You Gain Global Perspective
Working and travelling in countries like Sri Lanka and Mozambique develops cross-cultural awareness, empathy and adaptability, skills that matter in any workplace, especially global ones.
What Gap Years Aren’t
- A gap in your CV. That’s a myth, use the term a chapter of growth.
- A sign you didn’t know what to do. Another myth, think more like proof you took time to figure it out.
- A waste of time? Not when you come out with international qualifications, coaching experience, and a story worth telling in every interview.
What to Say in a Job Interview
Employers will ask: “So what did you do on your gap year?”
With a surf adventure gap year, you’ll say something like:
“I spent three months in Sri Lanka, South Africa and Mozambique earning my ISA Surf Coach and Lifeguard qualifications. I worked as part of a team delivering beginner coaching sessions, living in a tight-knit community and learning leadership and communication skills I am looking forward to applying in the workplace.”
Mic drop.
Make Your Gap Year Work For You
The key? Do it with purpose. Choose a gap year that gives you:
- Structure
- Skills
- Responsibility
- Personal growth
- A story worth sharing
Discover the Gap Year That Gets You Hired (literally)
The Epic Gap Year combines travel, qualifications and personal development in Sri Lanka, South Africa and Mozambique. We will also set you up with a job interview at the end at one of our partner surf camps in UK, Spain or Australia, meaning you can finish the course in April, work a season, then head off to Uni in September if that’s the plan, or if you have taken a gap year post Uni, can get stuck into the ‘the real world’ brimming with confidence and employable skills.
Read more about the Epic Gap Yea here.