No one should have to choose between seeing the world and getting an education and with the advent of distance learning, no one has to. Many universities now offer such a huge range of year abroad programmes for their students it can be difficult to know which one is best. Here, we look at the benefits of spending a year working, studying or volunteering abroad as part of your degree.

Why take a year abroad?

There are many personal and professional reasons to spend a year abroad including everything from building up professional experience for your CV, to learning about new cultures, to making new friends. Whatever your motivation, one of the best aspects of distance learning is its flexibility. If you want to strike healthy balance between travel experiences and education, you have the freedom to do so, opting only to study for a semester at a time.

What sort of programmes are on offer?

Generally speaking, students are widely encouraged to study at partner universities abroad but always speak directly to your department about other opportunities available. If you want to study in Europe try the Erasmus scheme; for work experience in countries as far as China try Generation UK; you can always contact the European Voluntary Service for opportunities to travel whilst doing something meaningful.

Tell me about the technology behind distance learning

If you don't want to visit a university every day to continue your studies, long distance learning is a great alternative. Once you have made the arrangements with your university you will be able to follow the syllabus at a pace that makes room for all your adventures abroad. Distance learning involves logging in and visiting the latest technology virtual classrooms where you will be able to access high quality academic content whenever it best suits you.

You will log in to a centralised virtual classroom where you can collect your assignments, interact with tutors and peers and so much more. Although these classrooms are carefully designed to ensure that support is available to help you complete coursework and assignments, if you need more practical assistance, companies like Ivory Research can also be very useful.

Strike a good balance

Remember, whichever programme you choose, travelling and studying requires a lot of commitment and there is no shame in getting some help along the way. Take a look at these Dissertation examples by Ivory Research and consider whether writing resources might be useful for you whilst you're on the road.

If you wish to shorten your job search and find the best one for you, you have to follow the tips given below:

• Seeking the advice of a professional career coach will cut down on your time to look for a job. The coach will provide effective advice and will help you in identifying a suitable job for you which will enhance your skills, knowledge and expertise and will take into account your work preferences, value and personality.

• A professional resume writer will prepare a perfect resume for you highlighting your skills and your USP. Job search is a highly specific zone where if you do not have clear goals then you might get lost. Hence, a professional resume writer will incorporate keywords and catchphrases and address issues in your resume which is current in the industry to get you an interview for your dream job.

• Just bagging an interview is not enough. It is just the first step to a long and prosperous career. It is wise to prepare for interviews beforehand so that you do not mess up at the crunch time. A coach is capable of training you to the often asked questions in an interview like “tell us about yourself”. Remember in most cases the first impression is the last usually.

• Do an honest self evaluation and work towards eliminating your weaknesses. It is important to stay ahead of the competition. So, check your competitors and study their resumes nicely so that you can work on your own weaknesses and get rid of them to achieve your goal. Remember there is shortcut to search jobs but no shortcut to achieving success.

• Haven’t you considered promoting your photos? May be its time then. Photos speak volumes about your personality and thus having a couple of them always helps. Have some in action photos to cut down on your job search.

Follow a methodology and do not just sit and send resumes continuously. That does not help. Properly prepared resume being sent to proper places help.

Changing job is not such an uncommon affair as you might think. There are many people who change their career at various points in life. Some people do it for valid reasons while others for a need of change and adventure. It actually helps some others to find a proper perspective in life. Today the trend in the job arena is to shift companies and to shift the entire career.

You should think about career change definitely if the current job that you doing is not making you happy and is something you started by chance. This happens to many people. When your career is the one you have chosen most often it will not make you happy after a certain point. This is the indication that you should start contemplating on a change. By changing your career you might be able to use talents and skills in a better way. All you have to do is remain open to ideas. However, think deeply before you wish to quit your present job because financial stability is also important.

Sometimes it is seen that in spite of having a stable job some people do not derive satisfaction out of their present job. In this case he/she may be in need of a change. A change that will pose new challenges and demand new enthusiasm for work. You might feel charged up and may want to explore new territories. Do not let this feeling go waste because you may be as successful in the new field. Some people are really multi talented and it is a sin to waste their talents just by being stuck with the present job whereas a change can fetch you name, fame and of course money.

If you think that having a baby has changed your circumstances and that you cannot go out to work, you can quit your present job and start working from home as many women are doing these days. In this way they can take care of the baby and continue to work independently. When you feel that you cannot contribute anymore to your present career look for a change.