Working abroad during the long university summer holidays or on gap years enables students to get away and earn money at the same time. Working abroad affords a fantastic opportunity to discover new cultures and gain invaluable work experience.
Many of the largest graduate recruiters are international businesses; they need employees who can demonstrate the ability and willingness to adapt to working abroad.
The majority of travelers look for a job overseas at some point during their gap year to increase their dwindling funds. Work can either earn or save the traveller crucial cash.
Working abroad is a realistic opportunity for summer holiday adventures and is a fabulous way to meet new people, retain independence and of course to earn some money.
On my gap year I took advantage of unpaid opportunities where I traded work for board and lodging. I helped clean the hostels I stayed in when visiting cities and through WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) I stayed on some amazing farms. WOOFF enabled me to visit peaceful places off the well-trodden traveler routes, the work was really enjoyable and the unspoilt views were out of this world. I feel my experiences working abroad greatly added to whole overall traveling experience.
But if trade is not for you, and you want to earn real money working abroad then teaching English is an ideal opportunity. This is perfect working abroad experience to impress graduate recruiters.
Teach English Abroad
The most commonly accepted qualification is a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate. A qualification is not required in some countries but with the certificate there are opportunities to work abroad in innumerable countries. You don’t even need to speak the local language!
Jo Stucky, a friend from university, lives in Sicily teaching English. She went out there four years ago meaning to stay a few months, get some experience working abroad and have an adventure. Jo enjoyed Italy so much she is still living there in the sunshine, with a lower cost of living, great restaurants and buzzing café culture.
“My decision to work abroad stemmed from both circumstance and childhood dream. Finding myself going nowhere in my first job after university, I decided to seize the moment and fulfill my dream of learning Italian and living abroad. Thinking back over the last few years has made me realize how many challenges I’ve got through. Arriving with an Italian vocabulary limited to ‘ciao’ certainly made life difficult but hardly impossible!
Even though I’ve only gone as far as Italy, there certainly are cultural differences that you need to get your head round at the beginning. You have days where you can sometimes feel a bit of an alien! However, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. After four years abroad, my Italian’s certainly improved which, in turn, has opened up new opportunities on the work front. And, of course, I don’t overcook pasta anymore!
I think living and working abroad is one of the most positive things you can do. It is a challenge but the satisfaction you get is second to none.”
Tags: teaching english abroad, TEFL, work abroad, working abroad
To continue the theme of working your way across Australia using working hostels, here is information on the beautiful states of Victoria and New South Wales. For more information on pro’s, con’s and general tips of working hostels in the world, see my previous post. Victoria is one of the smaller counties and not quite as touched by tourists as other parts of the country. The spots to stay and pick, prune or pack are all relatively close together here which can be a great help because if you are having any trouble finding work or with the work you do find, you can guarantee there will be some down the road. New South Wales is a haven of surf, stunning mountains, white sanded beaches and sunshine. Seasonal work is not as easy to come by here but with Sydney at the heart of NSW, there are thousands of jobs here to choose from. It is known as the capital for backpackers holding Working Holiday Visas due to its vast array of short and long-term opportunities, not to mention its vibrant and laid back beach-city vibe.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Griffith
Griffith International Hostel
These guys have links like no other hostel, with a support team including the local council, businesses and almost all of the surrounding farms. See their website for information on the specific crops being picked, but with the exception of the months of May and June, there is work year-round. Griffith is known as Australia’s ‘Wine & Food Country’, being as it is one of the most productive and bustling agricultural regions. This place would provide more of a social scene and its prime location in-between Sydney and Canberra means there is a steady flow of both travellers and locals.
Website: http://www.griffithinternational.com.au/
Cronulla Beach
Cronulla Beach YHA
Sydney’s southside surfing capital and hub of all things beach-life, Cronulla Beach YHA is the perfect ingredient to an amazing stay in this area. There is an abundance of work to come from staying at this place. Most of it is city-based stuff but there is also seasonal and laboring work in the surrounding area. Often travellers pass on their job to newbies staying there once they leave, and another great plus to this place is there are pick-ups and drop-offs by many of the employers. They are also the only backpackers hostel in the beach area so this immediately reduces competition with other backpackers looking for work.
Website: http://www.cronullabeachyha.com/
Coffs Harbour
AussiTel
This town is a little piece of Australian paradise. It is also a perfect place to learn scuba diving alongside your work, for one of the cheapest rates in the country and on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. AussiTel offer support in finding work with the local farms picking mainly blueberries. The season begins in August, and varies in the length. Any queries be in touch with them and get there as soon to the start of the season as possible to ensure you get a spot in the fields. The hostel always gets great reviews and many stay throughout the season, as many find it becomes a home away from home.
Website: http://www.aussitel.com/
VICTORIA
Mildura
Borderline Backpackers
This place is a gem in the working hostel world, largely due to its locality but also its vast contacts with the farms in the region. It is a quieter spot where they are, being far north of Victoria and on the border of New South Wales. However, with the Murray River just five minutes away, it provides the perfect post-farm spot to soak in the river and watch the sunset.
No website is available but give these guys a bell on the following and they’ll be able to help you out.
Address: 78-80 Seventh Street, Mildura, Victoria
Tel: +61 (3) 5023-0671
Echuca
Echuca Backpackers
These folk are experts when it comes to organising work for backpackers. If staying long-term, Echuca offer your seventh night in the week, free, which is rare to find. The only downfall, is they don’t provide transport to the farms. However, they do have contacts that can organise you cheap car rental, which can also work as a bonus as it allows you to adventure off into this stunning region. Located in a similar to the hostel above, right on the Murray River, and in the centre of the town so plenty of things to do.
Website: http://www.backpackersechuca.com.au/
Maffra
Cambrai Hostel
A hostel with raving reviews on every website or blog you can find, they are known as a home away from home. You can guarantee you will leave this historic little town having made a family, as the locals love spending time with any travellers passing through. Please note though that the hostel is only open for backpackers and seasonal work from October until April.
Email: cambrai (at) netspace.net.au
There are many hostels that are off the worldwide web grid based both in New South Wales and in Victoria. A good site for some more information about these hostels in Victoria, see here: http://www.backpacking-aus.com/fruit-picking-victoria.html
Tags: Australia Jobs, cheap accommodations, hostels, Youth Hostels
The previous post showed a list of working hostels in the sunshine state of Queensland, Australia. Now for Western Australia. I have chosen a few main hostels in opposite ends of the region. There are many others in-between and these are often best discovered once in the country itself, by speaking with fellow backpackers, or spending some time on Google reading other people’s posts of their experiences.
For a little more info on how to get the most out of working hostels, and the joys of them, read my previous post. In terms of seasons for Western Australia, the end of October through to end of May is the prime time to pay a visit. There will always be work around from May to October, but just more scarcely scattered around the region, so best to do some research before planting your feet somewhere.
Donnybrook
Two hours north of Perth, this little town is at the heart of Western Australia’s fruit picking community. With a welcoming and vibrant local social scene that is bundling with backpackers during the season, meeting good folk here is a guarantee.
Brooklodge
This hostel is unique as it is surrounded by acres of fields so provides a perfect space to not only save some cents but also a bit of relaxation and a stint of feeling at home, which is a welcome luxury on your travels. This space is taken up by backpackers playing frisbee, volleyball, soccer and soaking up the rays after a days work. The hostel have many many contacts in the nearby regions, and remain one of the most popular working hostels in Australia. Transport is also a given too.
They recommend contacting them before arriving to ensure you are going to grab some work.
Website: http://brooklodge.com.au/
Kunanarra
This is one of the most northern towns in Western Australia, at the heart of the Kimberly district and on the border of the Northern Territory. It has an abundance of fresh water springs and water holes to dive into so if you are a fan of exploring, this is a wonderful place to spend some time. It is surrounded by mountains and hundreds of hiking trails to keep you walking for weeks. It does get incredibly hot and humid up there, so it is recommended you go if you can handle these kind of sweltering conditions. The season is a little longer this end of the country, being from March until November, and working with Sandalwood there are year-round jobs to be found.
Kimberley Croc YHA Backpackers
These guys have been highly rated in reviews for a number of years, providing an excellent service and level of support for travellers hunting down work. They give out lists of local farmers and their numbers, which you can call and they have a generally overflowing notice board with local jobs advertised. A welcome part of this hostel is their Kimberley Croc Lodge which they have dedicated entirely to long-staying backpackers, offering long-term rates and room mates for the duration of your stay.
Website: http://www.kimberleycroc.com.au/
Margaret River
This place is the capital of backpacking in Western Australia. Its unique quality of being able to combine a job in the fields and vineyards with a great Australian holiday, means this place is a working traveller’s paradise. The town is famous for its wineries, beaches, music scene and bustling restaurants. The beauty surrounding the town is also one of a kind and is a perfect gateway to explore the region.
Margaret River Lodge
This hostel is perfectly set up for working holidays. It is slightly larger than others, but still with the familiarity and homely feel. They have had raving reviews from all that stay there, and offer a shuttle to and from your work and to and from the beach.
They have a desk and member of staff specifically allocated to helping you find work, making the whole process a lot smoother and easier. This is also a long-term stay hostel, with a 100 bed short-term lodge just next door.
Website: http://www.mrlodge.com.au/
Enjoy!
Tags: australia hostels, hostels, work abroad, Youth Hostels