If you are a people person, working seasons gives you the chance to make dozens of new friends, and create your own web of contacts that stretches across the globe.

While casual workers, like beggars, cannot be choosers when it comes to finding a job abroad, one industry that always needs more hands is the hospitality sector. Wherever there are people, there are places to feed and water them, and a cheerful smile always helps a drink taste better.

That’s right, we’re talking about finding bar jobs abroad!

Unlike a professional career move, casual work does not require hundreds of hours of planning, or years of previous experience. Although it is possible to find a job in a bar before you fly out to your destination of choice, in many cases vacancies are advertised through word of mouth or local signage.  In popular European resorts such as Magaluf and Ibiza, the accepted method of finding a job is to turn up and ask the bars what shifts they have going, even if you have never pulled a pint in your life.

This requires its own strategy, as hundreds of other eager workers will do exactly the same thing. The trick is to arrive early in the season, to get established in a bar before they have all the staff they need.

In the Balearic Islands – well-established hotspots for European revelers – the main summer season runs from May to September,  so arriving in late April or early May gives you a better chance of finding both work and cheaper accommodation. The later you arrive, the less choice you have.

Expect a modest living wage, but the lifestyle encourages lazy days and hectic working nights, so few people finish the summer out of pocket.

Bartending Abroad for Fun and Money

During the winter, the best place to find bar work is in a ski resort, although it is unlikely you would just serve drinks. One of the most popular ski season jobs is a chalet host, when people cook and clean for holiday groups staying at a chalet throughout the season – which runs from approximately November to April in the northern hemisphere.

Unlike the summer resorts, in the winter it is better to apply for a job before heading out. While it is not unknown for companies to take staff on midway through a season, many prefer to recruit on masse before customers begin to arrive. Find a great guide to the biggest European ski employers here.

However, working flat out for six months and spending Christmas away from home can be tough for some people, and there are always a number of workers who do not last the season and need to be replaced. While not a guaranteed approach, it can be possible to fill these roles on a job-by-job basis by contacting employers directly.

If you do not fancy looking after a small group of people for the duration of their stay, it can be possible to polish your bartending skills, but expect to help in the restaurants as well, perhaps in low responsibility jobs such as waiting staff or dishwasher. Qualified chefs are in high demand at ski resorts, but would need to commit to the entire season as they are not easily replaced.

As ski resorts are isolated places, companies usually include accommodation and sometimes food expenses, or deduce a percentage of your wages to cover the living costs. In summer resorts this is rare and you are expected to find your own accommodation.

The alternative to seasonal bar work is urban bar work – going to the tourist magnets that need capable hands all year round. These establishments are found in big cities, especially country capitals, which are full of visitors every month.

Again, the vacancies are often found through word of mouth or cold calling, although city employment agencies often have notice of upmarket venues that need experienced staff. However, the Internet has dozens of websites advertising vacancies, including BarVacancy.com where employers and potential employees can post details of their requirements and skills and match themselves up, and JobMonkey, which posts about resort jobs worldwide. MyGulliver is another great resource for international jobs across the hospitality sector.

Do not underestimate the power of Gumtree either – you can find jobs listings conveniently divided up into major cities in the UK, Ireland, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.

At the other end of the scale, youth hostels are used to a high turnover of causal staff and can provide the ideal first job in a new city as it combines paid work with a secure place to live, cutting back on commuting costs.

For all bar jobs, a confident, upbeat personality and willingness to work is essential. Bar work demands long hours in hectic environments, and drunken customers can test patience beyond endurance. Those who struggle to stay up late will find the working hours a strain, as bar shifts start mid afternoon and rarely end before the small hours.

As mentioned earlier previous experience is not always required and on-the-job training is normal practice, but the industry’s high turnover rates damage job security – if you do not pull your weight it is simple for employers to find more motivated workers.

On the other hand, bar jobs offer the ultimate flexibility as it is easy to leave and move on to another bar if you do not like the venue, your colleagues or your boss!

Have Fun Repping for a Club

Our article on club repping jobs gives a great taste of what the work entails, but as it is easy to burn out after an exhausting few seasons, many reps move into less hectic roles.

This does not mean returning to Britain for a desk job – far from it. In fact, anyone with experience in public relations may be interested to know they could swap their dreary office for the tropics and build a full-time career in another country.

Karl Webster, 32, is the Eastern Caribbean Regional PR Manager for super-luxurious Sandals Resorts International.  He is responsible for the PR of four resorts across St. Lucia and Antigua, and no two days are the same, which Karl sees as a bonus: “One of the great aspects of the position is that the work is incredibly varied and diverse.” However, the job splits into two broad areas: international and regional responsibilities.

International responsibilities include liaising with the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts, Unique Vacations, Inc, in Miami to organise press group visits to the resorts. Karl drafts activity itineraries suiting the editorial needs of each group and the Sandals Resorts brand, such as detailed resort tours and opportunities to sample what the resorts have to offer by offering hosted meals at particular restaurants, complimentary Red Lane Spa treatments or Sandals Resorts dive programmes. Off-property activities of interest to journalists such as trips to local beauty spots, areas of conservational interest and specific cultural tours are included to sample the local culture.

Karl sees the regional PR side of the job as equally important: “We as a company have a responsibility not just to our guests and team members, but also the communities at large in the region.”

He works with the Sandals PR team in a number of projects on the islands, ranging from building schools and homes to providing charities and hospitals with linen and supporting the Salvation Army with daily food donations. An important part is raising awareness.

Karl explains: “It is my role to highlight these good-will activities to the local media. This could come in the context of inviting press to a particular charity event, to drafting a press release on the activity and sending it directly to the publications. Once the event receives coverage, I would then share this information with the rest of the company by way of a monthly report – internal communications are equally as important as external.”

Rather than contacting Sandals directly, Karl heard about this position through word of mouth. A lengthy interview process with directors in the UK and Jamaica followed his initial application, where he had to prove his suitability. Luckily, six years experience working for a London-based Marketing and PR agency came to his aid, and he was galvanised by the challenges working abroad would bring.

For more tips on how to find permanent vacancies abroad while still in the UK, read our careers abroad article. Sandals vacancies in North America are available by clicking the link, but to enquire about resort opportunities you must write directly to Sandals Resorts International, 5 Kent Avenue, PO BOX 100, Montego Bay, Jamaica, WI, including your CV.

Unlike the temporary nature of working on a European holiday resort, working in St. Lucia and Antigua meant a long-term move. Karl is keen to emphasise the help Sandals gave him in relocating: “Sandals is very aware of the difficulties ex-pats can face with when working away from home and put things in place to make the transition from the UK to working and living overseas as easy as possible. They help to provide accommodation (in the form of a housing allowance), cell phones, living allowances and a competitive salary. Not only does this help upon arrival on the island, but it’s also a great way to save money, something that is becoming increasingly difficult back in the UK.”

As already mentioned, Karl’s previous PR experience was vital for his application, and a degree is usually required for similar positions. However, personality is also crucial: “The company looks for adaptability of character and the willingness to work as part of a vast and diverse team. There is big difference between working in the Caribbean than in the UK in terms of style, approach and attitude, all of which you have to adapt to quickly in order to make the position work for yourself and others around you.”

So – working on a paradise island, highlighting its beauty to journalists in between organising charity initiatives – is there a downside? Karl admits that homesickness can be a problem, but the positives outweigh the negatives: “Missing home, family and friends can be rectified very easily with visits from them on a regular basis – which is definitely not a problem from their point of view! The best aspects would have to be the lifestyle of living on a beautiful island: the sun, sea, sand, the local Piton beer and, of course, the selections of rums the island has to offer!”

So would he recommend the job? “Absolutely, it has given me invaluable experience both in working away from home and for a company and culture outside of the UK. I’m sure whatever my future employment role is, Sandals will stand in good stead on my CV and I highly recommend others in PR to seek similar opportunities.”

How did you get your job?

I went along to a walk-in interview that was being held at the Big Reunion in Butlins. Following this I was invited to a group interview in London and was then offered a place on the Club 18-30 Induction Course which is the final stage of the recruitment procedure. Unfortunately though, my University Finals were at exactly the same time so I was unable to attend the induction. Luckily the Club 18-30 Overseas Department suggested that as I had performed quite well in the two interviews if I call back following my exams in June their was the possibility of a high season repping position being available. As soon as my exams ended I pestered them for about a fortnight calling almost every day and eventually I was sent out to Zante with just 3 days notice where I was to work for Club 18-30′s sister company Sunset Holidays.

What happened when you arrived at the resort?

I flew out to Zante right at the end of June when the resort was in full flow and was based in Laganas with 3 other reps. I was very much thrown in at the deep end as the resort was in full flow and undermanned, subsequently training was extremely basic and very brief. I shadowed the senior rep Steve for a couple of days watching what he did and making notes. I also had to learn about the excursions, teach myself the paperwork and find all of the hotels which were spread across the whole of Laganas. On my second day the resort manager took me into the office to explain the company hierarchy and strict code of conduct, the next thing I knew I was attempting to look after 6 hotels and a few hundred guests.

Manage a Hot European Club

I am sure that to begin with I was out of my depth but I gave it a go and seemed to pick up the main aspects of the job to a reasonable standard. As with most reps in their early days I was really nervous about delivering the welcome meeting speech. I can recall my first quite vividly. There were about 80 guests all packed into a small bar called Piggies. To be candid I was kicking myself. However, as I became more experienced and confident at public speaking welcome meetings became one of the highlights of the week and there was always a lot of competition between the four of us to see who could get the biggest laugh or slip in the best gag.

What about the training?

The meager amount of training I received is not the norm. At Club 18-30 all 1st year reps will have covered the basics at the induction course. Full season reps will then undertake an intensive 10 days-2 weeks of pre-season training out in the resort. Even the high season reps will partake in a structured training programme which is a slimmed down version of the pre-season training programme. In this job reps need to find their feet quickly. As a Resort Managers I need high season staff to hit the ground running. Any preparation that you can do in the UK is time well spent.

What chances are there to progress your career?

I progressed through the ranks quite quickly, too quickly to be honest. My fist season lasted just 12 weeks and I was promoted to senior rep mid way through my second season. I was again promoted at the end of the second season to Area Controller which is the equivalent of a resort supervisor. I soon realised after flying out to Crete in mid-march that a) I did not see eye to eye with the Resort Manager and b) that I really missed the hands on repping side of the Senior Rep role. Subsequently, this came to a head and I asked to be demoted back down to Senior Rep. The next morning I was summed into the resort office at 8:00am and told that I could resume a Senior Rep role but I was being transferred over to the Island of Corfu. On arrival in Corfu the Resort Manager met me and explained that he didn’t really need another Senior Rep and wanted me to resume the role of Area Controller within a month. Luckily Tenerife were short of a Senior Rep and 3 weeks later I landed in the Canary Islands. It was from this point that my Career really took off. I spent a further 1 1/2 seasons as a Senior Rep before being given my own resort to run, Gran Canaria with a team of 9 staff. Since then I have gone on to manage the resorts of Cyprus, Kos, Rhodes, and Crete.

Where have you worked?

Zante: 1 1/2 seasons
Crete: 2 1/4 seasons
Corfu: 1 month
Kos and Rhodes 1 season (both at the same time)
Cyprus: 2 seasons
Tenerife: 1 1/2 seasons
Gran Canaria: 1 season
And two weeks in Ibiza at the Club 18-30 Millennium Weekender

Are there any downsides?

The down sides really depend on the individual. If you need a lot of sleep then the late nights and airport transfers at 4:00am are probably going to take their toll. If you are quite sensitive then abusive discontent guests shouting at you might be a problem. For me though it was returning back home in November after being away for 7 or 8 months and trying to play rugby 1/2 stone heavier and totally out of breath after 5 minutes. Working for Club 18-30 the good times will always outweigh the bad ones and if they don’t then you are in the wrong job.

What’s the score with food and accommodation?

Accommodation comes with the job. The quality and location of rooms that I have stayed in has varied considerably. It could be a modern two bedroom apartment which is shared with another rep or a dark and dinghy room in the basement of Hotel complex that floods on a regular basis and is a mecca for cockroaches. I have lived in both, for me though the only really important issue as a rep was being close to the hotels in which I was repping, you really don’t spend a considerable amount of time in your room anyway. I have learnt though that female reps tend to get the pick of the rooms and they normally avoid the ones with cockroaches. understandably.

Certain accommodations are happy to feed and water their rep especially very large complexes. In smaller family run units as are common in the Greek Islands, if the rep builds a strong rapport with the hotelier then they have a good chance of being very well looked after. There may also be certain bars and restaurants around resort where reps receive discounts and freebies. In my opinion though, Holiday Reps should never expect anything for free and always be prepared to pay the full price for food and drink no matter how many discounts they have had in the past.

What are you doing now?

I now work for company called readytoREP. We have recently put together a full days practical training course designed specifically for people interested in working as Overseas Holiday Reps. From my experience of recruiting overseas staff, which I have been carrying out since 1999, far too many people are turning up at interviews with little understanding of what the job is about and the skills required. Many are also totally under prepared for the vigorous interview procedure. The readytoREP course will give potential reps a solid foundation from which they can go on and perform confidently at any Holiday Rep Interview. It will also give them a great insight into the reality of overseas life as a Holiday Rep.

I am also writing a new Foundation Degree in Travel Operations Management for Wolverhampton University.

Would you recommend working for Club 18-30?

For me working for Club 18-30 has been an unsurpassed experience. It has been my life for almost 10 years and there is absolutely nothing I wish I had done instead. Many of my work colleagues have become great friends. Numerous skills and experiences that I have gained whist working for a tour operator are transferable into copious other roles. I am now very confident in my ability to deal with almost any situation and have dealt with guests dieing whilst on holiday, serious moped crashes, 18 hours flight delays, major staff shortages, hotel over bookings, coach strikes, guests being arrested for drug smuggling, hotel rooms being smashed up, rapes, muggings and over zealous media attention. All of this happens and as a Club 18-30 rep or Resort Manager it all needs addressing and resolving in a professional and often empathetic manner. To succeed you must be 100% committed this is not a 9-5 job nor is it for the faint of heart. Would I recommend it? Definitely.

What’s the money like?

Club 18-30 reps are generally the highest paid in the industry due to the very long hours they work and limited time off. It is not unusual for a High season rep to return back to University with £3000 or £4000 saved up over the summer. Another potential perk working for Club 18-30 is that all of the guests you are looking after and spending time with will be a similar age to yourself, no families no children and no elderly guests.

What’s your most memorable experience?

There are so many that I could fill this whole blog. One of the most recent was a birthday party we organised for a rep during the very last week of the season in Crete. All of our hotels except 3 had closed down for the winter so we only had 40 guests in resort and a hand full of reps. The party kicked off in the hotel pool bar at midday and was still going strong at 7pm. The hotelier had made Ryan a beautiful birthday cake which ended up being the main weapon in a huge food fight that broke out. There were guests their in impromptu fancy dress, the hotel staff were dancing in the pool fully clothed, the reps were taking turns DJing and serving drinks. Someone else had built a ramp and was doing jumps into the pool on their mountain bike and of course the sun was shining. It had been a long hard season and everyone was letting their hair down it was a brilliant ending to a fantastic summer and most importantly guests absolutely loved it. A day never to be forgotten by anyone who was there.

What’s your most bizarre experience?

This occurred in my second season. I was summoned to one of our apartment blocks by an irate hotelier. On arrival I was instructed to “stop the naughties” as the elderly Greek hotelier described it, that were occurring around the back of the pool. On inspection I was greeted by an Animal Farm-esqe scene involving a stray mongrel dog, an Albanian bodybuilder, lashings of tatziki and an exceptionally drunk and deranged guest. Unsurprisingly the guests who wasn’t even with Club 18-30 was crippled with embarrassment and flew home a week early, I m not sure what happened to the dog or the bodybuilder.

Work at a Club on Mallorca

There are literally hundreds of bars, clubs and restaurants along the strip and they are constantly looking, if not relying on Brits to come over and work. After all, the majority of tourists are from the UK and who would understand a slurred, drunken order from a Brit than another Brit?

Don’t just rely on what I tell you, if you search the web today you will find dozens upon dozens of sites proclaiming that “Ibiza is dead! Long live Magaluf!” For instance, the BCM Club is the biggest in Mallorca and for one entrance fee you get three all-inclusive bars on 3 floors, which takes out the hassle of constantly handing over cash and queuing is a thing of the past. You also get lost of free goodies (we all love a freebie!) now, doesn’t that sound like a nightclub fit for a King?

Apart from this, quite literally amazing club in my opinion, there are lots of other venues that all offer a different twist on a night out. Consequently, there are lots of jobs, hundreds even, on offer in these places including; bar staff, cocktail waiters, dancers or promoters – whatever takes your fancy really. It’s essential though that you fully understand that these clubs stay open until the very wee hours of the morning. So, if you are the sort of person that takes on homicidal tendencies when you don’t get your eight hours, you may want to think twice about such jobs.

Of course, most people tend to adjust to working what is essentially a night shift, but you still have to be fully committed – it can be bloody hard work!

If you are not the kind of person that can handle booming trance and indie music in your eardrums for hours on end and would prefer a more sophisticated summer experience, Mallorca still has something to offer – Porti Pi. Picture a town that oozes class and distinct style, which is a playground for the rich and famous. Many celebrities have yachts moored in the summer months including apparently Peter Stringfellow (form an orderly queue ladies…thought not!)

The good thing about working in Porti Pi is that you can have the best of both parts of Mallorca. You can walk into Magaluf for a night as it’s walking distance away and enjoy the calming pace and tranquility of working in Porti Pi. If you have a nautical element to your CV you could look for work on yachts (maybe you’ll meet a celeb or two!). The good thing, if that interests you, is that they seek people at all times of the year – so you have far more choice when to work. If sailing isn’t in your blood and the prospect of boarding any boat instantly makes you want to projectile vomit, fear not, there are endless bars, restaurants, and rich families in need of nannies in and around the area of Palma Nova.

Where are you working?

I work at Hush in Ibiza.

Sam - Working as a DJ in Ibiza

What job are you doing?

Resident DJ and Music co-coordinator.

Why did you choose to work there?

I played at Hush in 2005 and was asked back to be the resident DJ for the following year.

What’s your day to day routine?

Sleep, eat, sunbath, work.

What’s the salary like?

Very good.

Is accommodation included?

No I had to find my own apartment.

Would you recommend this type of job?

Yes to anyone that is serious about DJing.

Do you need to be qualified?

No but you do need a skill.

What’s the night life like?

Amazing, we’re talking about Ibiza here, the party capital of the world.

Are there other things to do like sports/beach/tourist attractions?

Apart from Raving, Ibiza is a beautiful island with lots to do.

What’s so good about working there?

I’m doing my dream job 5 nights a week and on my nights off I’m seeing my fave DJs play.

Did you make some new Friends?

Yeah you make new friends everyday but the best part is seeing old faces that come out every year.

Tell us about the best and worst bits!

The best thing is you get to party with all your friends when they come over on holiday, I can’t think of anything negative about spending the whole summer in Ibiza, anyways I don’t think you could publish any stories I could tell you (laughs). If you’re looking for work at a European beach resort then try Ibiza for sure.

My best memory is playing @ Amnesia for Cream with Steve Angelo. It has been a lifelong ambition to play at a super club in Ibiza and that was made possible last summer…I was shaking so much with adrenaline when I finished that I nearly collapsed, all my friends were there to support me.

I also run my own night in Ibiza with a brilliant team, the night is called La Vita. We launched the brand in London last year and then decided to take it to Ibiza, we had an amazing summer and now look to take the brand to other countries as well as Ibiza again this summer! Our overall aim is create awareness for breast cancer and already we have raised over £10,000 which we have donated to Breakthrough!

Do you plan to work abroad again (or have you since you worked there)?

Yes I will work in Ibiza every year until my body can’t take it anymore.

Do you feel this experience will help you with your career?

Yes it’s helped 100%; it’s given me the confidence to play to crowds from all over the world.

Out of interest did you go to College or Uni in the UK?

No, I always knew I wanted to play records besides I didn’t have time for further education as I was always out partying.

What advice do you have for people who want to work in Ibiza this summer?

Well read this magazine for starters! And the best website to use is www.ibiza-spotlight.com it has apartments, club nights, tickets, etc….for jobs check out the Ship Inn when you get here and try and get here as early as April if you can so that you can check out what’s happening and tell people about yourself. Remember that thousands of people come to Ibiza and want to work for the summer, so you have to be good at what you do and be prepared to work hard in any job or your boss has another 1000 people to choose from that will do anything just to stay on the island.

Why did you choose to work in Ibiza?

I’ve been on holiday here with my best friend for the last 5 years. Before this I’d holidayed in Ayia Napa and various places with friends but nowhere compares to the White Isle. After my first holiday I was hooked. I have never wanted to spend my holiday’s anywhere else. Every year I left this place I found myself so depressed at the thought of leaving the island for another year. After the fifth year on holiday, I decided that 2 week’s just wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to be part of the lifestyle, not just a tourist. That’s when I decided I was to go back the following year as a worker.

Work Abroad in San Antonio, Ibiza

Had you worked abroad before?

I’ve never worked abroad before this was my first year. It will now be the first of many.

What job were you doing in Ibiza?

I was working as a Ticket seller. I sold Tickets for every club night/Promotion that was happening across the Island.

How did you find the job?

I actually didn’t have a job planned for me for when I arrived in Ibiza. I arrived on the Island at the beginning of May so I had a good couple of weeks before the season started to find something. I had my sights set on Café Mambo though I knew I wanted to work there. I saw a job advertised for a Female Ticket seller and after a week of persistent nagging I got offered a free trial.

What was it like?

I really loved my Job, my hours were perfect for me I started at 7pm and finished at 2am. That meant I could sunbathe all day (or sleep…ha, ha) and by 2am I’d finish work ready to party. Ibiza is famous for its Sunsets; it was great being paid to work and get to watch the sun go down every evening from the best view on the island. It just never felt like work. Working here I gained good contacts and I could often get free entry to most club nights including Pacha, my favourite club. I got to meet so many people including world famous DJ’s who used to play here every night.

What was your day to day routine?

I was going to say wake up but there was a lot of morning’s id just be getting in after clubbing all night and hitting after parties all day. In a nutshell very little sleep, sunbathe, work, party, party and more partying.

What was the salary like?

Unlike most jobs in Ibiza which are commission based. I was lucky to be on a set wage of 50 Euros a day which was good as I knew I would be able to cover my rent each week.

Is accommodation included if not, is there accommodation locally and do you know what’s the cost?

Accommodation was not included I had to find my own when I arrived on the island. Expect to pay on average 300 Euros a month rent each person, you will also be expected to pay a deposit each at the beginning of the season too, normally amount of 1 months rent. You will get this back at the end of the season from your landlord on inspection of your apartment.

My best advice on arrival to the Island is to head for the Ship inn in San Antonio’s west end. It’s a workers bar and has a pin board which landlords use to advertise accommodation.

Would you recommend this type of job?

Yes I would definitely recommend European resort jobs to anyone really. Be prepared to work hard though, you don’t get paid for being Lazy. Sick days are almost a no no, if you want to party all night and have no sleep you’ve still got to make it to work.

Do you need to be qualified?

No, I’d never done this type of Job before, you just need to be good at talking to people and not afraid to approach people. It will help you a lot to have a good knowledge of what nights are on and who’s DJ’ing where. There is so much happening across the island every night that you’re almost guaranteed to be able to recommend a night to most people. Most of these jobs are given to females though as females can easily approach both groups of male and female.

Guys tend to pay more attention to a girl trying to sell them tickets than if a guy was. For obvious reasons that’s just the way it is ha, ha.

Can you give other people advice if they want to work in Ibiza?

If you plan to work in Ibiza for a season but you don’t know any friends who want to do it with you, don’t fret. I did it on my own and id advise it more than taking a friend. I went on my own which meant i had to pluck up the courage to go and talk to other workers. If id have had friends there I’d have leant on them. By the end of the season I was so much more confident. You’ll make friends in no time. Everyone is in the same boat and everyone is so friendly. Don’t forget you’re all there for the same reason…to work hard and party harder!

Also save as much money as you can before you go, the more money you have the more freedom you’ve got out there. You want to be able to enjoy the experience as much as possible.

Are there other things to do like sports/beach/tourist attractions?

Yes Ibiza is a very Beautiful Island as a worker you tend to forget sometimes that there are other things to do apart from work and party. It’s good to take some time out, travel around the island and take in the culture. After all it’s your home too for 6 months of the year. There are some beautiful beaches to be seen and some very nice restaurants to be visited. I’d recommend Benirras beach on a Sunday where the hippies play on the bongos and at night there is a fire show. It’s a very chilled vibe.

Formentera is a great island to visit too. You can pick up a ferry from Ibiza town.

What’s so good about working out there?

I got to party every night and listen to my favourite DJs, sunbathe all day on stunning beaches. In Ibiza you have the best of the both you can party for days on end, but you can also get away from it all and totally chill out. There’s a nice balance.

Tell us about the best and worst bits!

Hmmm worst bits…I think the worst bit of the whole summer is having to leave the island once the season is finished. Having to leave all the friends you’ve spent every day with for the last 6 months.

The best bits for me was just having freedom to do what I want when I want.

Spending my days and nights with like minded people. Highlights of my summer were random villa parties, sunsets, sunrises, dancing on tables at Bora,Bora. Doing marathon sessions in space on a Sunday. Dressing up for DC10 on a Monday. Going out with the girlies to Pacha once a week and swapping the usual flip flops for some heels.

Did you make some new Friends?

I made lots of new friends out there most of whom I’m still in contact with. We meet up back at home now and party together most weekends. It definitely gives you a bigger social circle.

Did you plan to work abroad again (or have you since you worked there?)

I went back Ibiza for summer 2008, which was my 2nd season. Finding a job in Thailand was the goal for 2009.

Do you feel this experience will help you with your career?

It’s definitely helped me as a person with my confidence. It’s good to have time out of your career to travel and work abroad. It opens your mind to different avenues you may never have considered before. The whole experience is a learning curve.

Out of interest did you go to College or Uni in the UK?

No I never went to college or Uni. I’ve always worked since I’ve left school