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
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
Working hostels are simply brilliant and I would recommend them to anyone. Whether you are a backpacker looking to earn some dollars, or someone just staying in hostels along your travels, getting into the habit of staying in working hostels is a habit I would recommend. A working hostel holds that name as it actively looks for work for guests. So, upon arrival you can have a job in minutes, or at the most, within a couple of days. Almost always, the work is seasonal work – pruning, picking or packing fruit and vegetables. However, they also will often hire within the hostel itself but this is something I will talk about more in another post as almost all hostels follow this style of hiring.
Alongside the wonder that is word-of-mouth, working hostels act as one of the best gateways to finding a job when travelling. Not only this, but they also act as a source of the freshest and tastiest (free) produce – any crop being picked is almost always brought home by the basket load and shared. Whilst in Australia and New Zealand, I remember eating my lifetimes supply of the most amazing pineapple, melon, peaches, apricots and asparagus! As many find, when you are on a budget that enables for noodle sandwiches and not much else, being provided with this stuff is a gem.
The social life of these hostels is always wonderful too. It will be the most homely and welcoming space you will find along your travels, as they are always the smaller and less bustling hostels. Everyone knows everyone and the owners generally care about the guests like they are family. Sometimes this family vibe can feel a little intimidating upon arrival, but give it an evening of sitting on the sofa or a day in the fields, and this will pass and you will feel a part of it, so do not worry. Employers within the seasonal work industry are often known not always being as fair as they should, so by having a hostel manager or fellow pickers on your side, you have a good foundation of support to put anything right. Therefore I would recommend going through these to find seasonal work rather than sites you find online. By finding work through your hostel, it reduces your chances of having a jammy boss as working hostels have their regular farms they liase with, and so it is not in the farms interest to be stingy with any employees.
I recommend spending some time on Google prior to working out where to stay, as these days people seem to be pretty good at writing reviews of places they have stayed and/or worked. Also, if in doubt don’t be afraid to hop on the phone. By calling the hostels, you get a much better insight into the vibe of the place and what is on offer job and social-wise – try not to go solely on the website or online reviews. A chat is always the best source of information. I found that once you start staying and/or working in these type of hostels, you can easily gather up contacts and information from fellow veg pickers, as to which direction is best to head next.
Most places take people on for anything from two weeks to two months, and sometimes more. This is why working hostels provide the perfect pit-stop for sad looking wallets. They also always offer cheaper rates for guests staying for longer periods of time, even if just a couple of weeks.
I have focused this particular post on a few key hostels in Queensland, Australia. Over the following weeks I will follow up with information on other areas in Australia, and around the world. I will also write specifically about seasonal work itself as knowing where in particular to go, and when to go is the key to finding work in this area – there are hubs around the country and the time of year depicts what is happening and where, and how much you will be paid. In the mean time, there are lot of websites out there with this information on so you can gather a good picture of the details needed to get stuck into seasonal work out there.
Working hostels in Queensland, Australia
Bundaberg
This is a key spot for those looking for seasonal work, and has easy access to the beautiful area surrounding it. It is a popular spot for backpackers stopping to work, so gathering a good group of friends during your stay here is guaranteed. Bundaberg is also known as the ‘gateway to the reef’, with exquisite underwater sites to see, along with vast quantities of fruit and vegetables to pick. This has led to many travellers taking their days off to qualify as an Open Waters Diver from just $299.
Below is just one hostel, loved by all who stay there, but hop on Google for a long list of places to kip and find work in Bundaberg.
The Grand Hostel
Attached to a hotel, this hostel is efficiently run and offers great support for working travellers and a cosy place to stay for as short or as long as you need.
http://web.me.com/msconnor/GrandHotel/Welcome.html
Bowen
This place is a gem in the crown of the Whitsundays, which are an essential spot to explore during your travels in Australia. Bowen offers untouched beaches, with endless amounts of snorkelling and diving to be done. It does not have quite the amount of work other areas do, but is well worth researching and timing it right to spend some time in this beautiful place.
Barnacles Backpackers
This peaceful hostel is perfectly located 500m from the beach and provides transport, links and support to find work in the area.
www.barnaclesbackpackers.com
Ayr
The little town of Ayr has a great spirit and almost always has work during the season due to its abundance of water, escaping any drought issues any other spot might face.
Delta Hostel
This well-established hostel provides you with all manor of fruit and vegetable picking in the area, along with a renowned family vibe. Backpackers often pay more than one visit to this place, with Delta having many regulars up their sleeves.
http://www.deltabackpackers.com/delta/
Ayr Backpackers
Another very welcoming hostel, with connections to almost all the farms in the area. With a treat of a swimming pool in the back yard, you can soak your tired muscles and soak up the rays holding a ice cold stubby once your day is done.
www.ayrbackpackers.com.au
Atherton
Tucked away in the beautiful rainforest, this spot is a haven of natural beauty and often thought of as Australia’s best kept secret. With Cairns just an hour south, you can explore the outdoors and then grab your dose of city life if need be too.
Atherton Travellers Lodge
A home away from home – soak up a few weeks of life as a proper local thanks to this small and cosy hostel.
Address: 37 Alice Street, Atherton, Queensland
Telephone: +61 (7) 4091-3552
Tags: australia hostels, hostels, work abroad, Youth Hostels