How do I include a travel gap year on my resume?

I'm planning to take a gap year to travel and I'm worried about how that'll look on my resume when I apply for jobs or internships later. Any tips on how to present this experience effectively to show growth and skills?

Listing a travel gap year on your resume can be beneficial if packaged correctly, as it can reflect personal growth, exposure to new cultures, adaptability to new environments, problem-solving, and planning skills among others. Here's how to do that effectively:

1. Choose the right section: If your travels are not related to your professional goals, consider creating a section called "Additional Experience" or "Miscellaneous" towards the end of your resume. If the travels do relate, or you gained relevant skills or experiences, they could go under "Education", reinforced by a short description of the experiences and the skills you gained.

2. Provide a summary: Summarize your travel experience in a brief and meaningful way. Example: "Gap Year: Explored 10 countries across three continents focusing on cultural immersion, gaining a broader worldview, leadership, project management, and budgeting."

3. Focus on skills and achievements: Highlight the transferable skills and concrete achievements garnered during your travels. You might have improved your language skills, gained expertise in managing a budget, learned to navigate unfamiliar places, or honed your problem-solving skills. All of these could be relevant to a potential employer.

4. Use Action Verbs: Start your points with action verbs like "planned", "managed", "navigated", or "adapted" to demonstrate your active role during your travels.

Remember that employers appreciate candidates who can bring diverse experiences and a unique perspective to their team. A well-articulated gap year travel can help you stand out and reflect you as a well-rounded individual. While drafting your resume, consider the needs and culture of the companies you're interested in to highlight the most relevant aspects of your gap year experiences.