Best use of 1-year deferred start gap

Question

Hi all,

I just received an offer from an MBB firm, but my start date is over a year and a half away. I'm currently a student and will be at university until said start date. Additionally, I am currently not working, and my contract includes a clause about working for competitors.

What should I do during this time? Would the gap be an issue on my resume later on? Should I try to get a job in a different industry, and if so, which industries would be most suitable? Or would additional study be a better use of the time?

Ultimately, I just don’t want to start on the back foot, since all the other incoming BAs seem to have something lined up. This, I want to build experience needed in any way possible.

Thanks!

Answer 1

First of all, congrats on the offer!!!

If I understood correctly, you’re still a student and will remain at university until your start date, so technically there isn’t really a “gap year” Am I getting that right? If so, you’re already in a good spot and there’sno red flag here

If instead I misunderstood and you do have a real gap to fill, I wouldn’t overthink it The best use of that time is to pick one or two meaningful things and do them well:

Relevant work experience (preferred): startups, scale-ups, corporate strategy, VC, product roles; anything problem-solving heavy but not direct competitors (respect your clause
Internships or part-time roles during university if timing allows
Exchange / thesis / strong academic performance if you’re still studying
Something distinctive: entrepreneurship, NGO work, or a personal project with clear impact..
Optional: light skill-building (Excel, basic coding, finance), but don’t over-invest in courses

At the end of the day, what really matters is the story: you want to show that you used that time to build problem-solving skills, take ownership, and create some form of impact.

Hope this helps,
Best,
Franco