Carys Hutton had a great time in Peru, volunteering on the rainforest conservation programme. She recently filled in a questionnaire for a popular magazine about her time there and the benefits she perceived the experience had had on her job prospects. Here’s what she had to say:
When did you decide to take a gap year and why?
I decided in my final year at university to take a gap year after graduating. I wanted to follow my degree with a 
masters but wasn’t sure if this was the right choice at the right time. I have always wanted to take some time to go travelling and this seemed like the perfect time.
Where did you go and why?
I went to Peru, South America. The conservation project Travellers Worldwide advertised was the best value for money I could find and encompassed a broad range of skills, experience, and opportunities that other projects lacked. Also, Peru really appealed to me because I have never been to South America and I wanted to build the conservation project into a 4-month trip where I could go travelling afterwards and explore the continent and its culture.
What was the best thing about the year and the worst thing?
The worst thing was acclimatising to the altitude in Cusco and getting used to the locals’ style of driving (!).
The best thing was being surrounded by rainforest and the nature that it supports. Even after a month it is amazing that in the space of about 30 minutes you could see parrots and macaws, toucans, vultures, giant butterflies, leaf cutter ants, spider webs as big as a car, wild cat footprints, and a snake or two – as well as hundreds of other exotic species. It is truly amazing.
What benefits do you think it has given you in terms of employability?
I am seeking work in the environment sector and so the project is relevant to my career. It demonstrates to employers that I am serious about a career in the environmental sector and that I have a genuine interest in conservation. It also emphasises personal attributes such as: confidence, team work, hard working, dedicated, etc. These are important skills that employers look for examples in.
How would you talk about it in an interview with a prospective employer?
For my career I would emphasise my role in the project in terms of research, record keeping, species identification, and my passion for biodiversity. I would provide examples where I worked with minimum supervision to demonstrate my competence and reliability, and times where I worked as part of a team. Employers are also keen to know that you are able to work with a variety of people and so I would also give examples of this.
What advice would you give to a school leaver thinking of taking a gap year before uni?
I would advise to:
- Plan carefully – expect the unexpected
- Be flexible – it is easy to plan TOO much
- Keep in close contact with the organisation and take emergency numbers with you (including emergency numbers within the country e.g. British embassy)
- Find out what previous participants thought and talk to people that are going at the same time as you – it’s good for reassurance
- Allow time before and after the project to settle in/relax and get used to the culture
- You do not need everything on the kit list or everything your mother suggests – don’t waste money buying all the gadgets, be sensible about what you take but don’t go overboard (it’ll get very expensive)
- take a small stash of comfort food – it is very rewarding when rationed
- Check with your bank whether you can use your debit card – very important. Some cards won’t work in some ATM’s. Some won’t work in some countries. Some will charge you, some won’t. Some banks will block your card as a defence against theft and you will need to know the answers to questions about your card and account to unblock it again – e.g. where it was opened, how much money is on it, when and where you last used it and how much you spent, etc etc. You could take two different cards just in case
- Take a travellers cheque just in case (small amounts are better because they are easier to cash)
- Be aware of security and safety issues, walking around a city in the middle of the night with your camera in one hand and wallet in the other is NOT a good idea.
- You cannot exchange small change of a foreign currency when you get back so spend it all when you are there.
- Don’t miss out on opportunities surround you project – get a guide book. e.g. I wasn’t about to fly all the way to Peru and back without seeing Machu Picchu.
- Bringing photo’s of loved ones doesn’t help home sickness. Nor does talking to them every single day.
- Make sure you can make the most of every second – there is nothing worse than coming home wishing you had done more.
If you’d like to learn more about our conservation project in Peru, click HERE (or for ALL our conservation projects please click HERE)
The travel memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert titled EAT PRAY LOVE is now a major-motion picture starring Julia Roberts! She takes a year long adventure around the world to find herself and regain balance after a divorce from her husband. She travels to Italy, India and Bali to see the world and experience life through other cultures. The cultures she travels within and the people she meets along the way will shape her life and give her a new direction in mind, body, and soul …
