Second Post

Essentially I have spent all my life studying and I graduated with a first last year June 2009.As part of my degree I did a one year industrial placement so I can say at least that I have one years relevant work experience in my degree subject (Information Systems) upon graduation. I decided early on in my second year of study and definitely during my placement that I would take a year out after graduating.

I have taken a year out living in South America teaching English at a university in Chile and was thinking of taking a second year out teaching English as a native speaker in another country for another  university.

By taking a second year out will it be harder to find a graduate job when I finally go back to England in 2011 ( or will employees look down on that fact), by which time I will be 24 ?

There's nothing wrong with taking two years out - employers look favourably on graduates who take time out to gain life experience such as you have. You've also shown a willingness to learn new skills and it sounds like you have been successful. You are also in a good position as a first with relevant experience during your studies will help form a very strong application when applying for a graduate role. By law employers cannot use your age as a ground for whether they hire you so don't worry about being 24 when looking for your first role.

However, while thinking about your second year away you should also consider what you will do when you get back to England in 2011. Will you be looking to find a job relevant to Information Systems? If you will be, there's no harm contacting potential recruiters this year to start the ball rolling towards a job next year and perhaps ask their advice too. Don't forget many of the gradaute schemes and jobs open to applications in September so you should be applying then for next summer to have the pick of the jobs.