One of my careers was in economics and finance. The Honours didn't add much. I worked mainly in Treasury and Finance in Canberra and elsewhere. I hated it. My career was spectacularly mediocre, mainly due to lack of motivation due to the following reasons:
1. I hated working in an office (except for No.3); 2. I hated the office politics; 3. I spent too much time focusing on, and dating, my female colleagues. No level was beneath me - I dated management, contractors, consultants, mail room chicks... god bless em all for the mammaries (oops I mean memories);
I'm not sure about the gap year advice. The jobs market is brutally competitive these days so I suggest nailing your graduate degree/s and start applying for jobs asap. As for the type of job. If you believe a recent article, the field you're getting into is at high risk of being made redundant in the future due to outsourcing or continued computerisation.
I'm 44 and I've been through a few career iterations in my time. Currently studying bookkeeping at TAFE while the missus supports me. Was going to do nursing but I don't like hospitals...or people... or needles.
