Teaching abroad is a great way to fund a love of travel, plus it’s great fun if you enjoy getting people excited about learning. But, with so many options, places, and courses to choose from, it can be daunting getting started on your job hunt, particularly if you are looking to work on the other side of the world. To help make the process stress-free for you, here are some useful pointers to consider before you begin your teaching abroad adventure.

TEFL Courses

For many, TEFL courses provide the perfect opportunity to combine wanderlust with a love of teaching, and courses are relative cheap and easy to come by. Usually, they run for about four weeks, during which time you will attend lectures, carry out assignments, and undertake a minimum of six hours observed teaching practice. This is the most sought after course because it provides students with practical experience which is hugely desirable by many language school employers, plus you can do a TEFL course in numerous different locations all over the world.

However, whilst many institutes require some practical experience, others will happily take those with only an online TEFL course and a degree. This largely depends on where in the world you are looking to teach; many places in Asia willingly accept applicants with no prior teaching experience, as long as they are native-English speakers as a lot of schools simply want to immerse their students in English, which you can help do without any specific qualifications. Other places are more difficult to get jobs, particularly English schools in the USA, such as GEOS, or in certain European countries where the competition between applicants is very high. Because employers can afford to be more selective, they are more likely to choose teachers who have relevant experience over those who don’t.

Deciding Where To Teach Abroad

Once you have completed a TEFL course, it’s time to decide where in the world you want to go. This should partly be based on your qualifications and experience, but you should also consider your passions and interests, too. You are going to be spending an extended amount of time in the place you choose, so it’s worth picking somewhere that you are really excited about visiting, whether it’s because of the culture, the landscape, or simply the food. Popular places for English teachers abroad include Asia, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Applications

Once you’ve decided on a destination, it’s time for the nerve wracking application process. Applying online is the most popular option as there are so many TEFL job sites floating around. Be careful when using this method, though, as many sites don’t have the time to moderate their listings so they are prone to scam offers and jobs in low quality institutions. Make sure you do in-depth research into any institution before even considering applying for a job there. 

Alternatively, you can apply for a job through a TEFL recruitment agency which offers a bit more security. These agencies are often the first port of call for institutions who are looking for teachers, so you are likely to find out about jobs that are hot off the press if you are signed up to a couple. Many schools also use recruitment sites to hire their staff because it is less work for them, so there is more likely to be a higher number of positions available via this route. It’s easier for you, too, because the agencies will offer you support every step of the way by helping out with interviews, contracts, and travel arrangements. In addition, agencies tend to keep all applications on file, so if you aren’t successful in the first instance, they may well contact you again once something more suitable arises.

Types of Schools

Not only do you have to decide where you want to teach, what course you want to take to be able to teach, and how you are going to apply, you also have to consider what options you have in terms of schools. Each type of school offers different benefits to its staff, and the pay varies considerably from institution to institution, so it’s worth knowing what options are available.

• Government schools – Run by the government, these schools tend to be the most reliable for teachers because funding isn’t likely to cease without notice and there is usually some kind of support available for staff. On the flip side, these are usually the worst paying gigs, so it’s worth weighing up your priorities. 
• Private schools – Private schools pay better than government schools and the students are usually of a higher standard, but you might find you have less flexibility in the classroom. Like any type of school, there are good and bad, so remember to do some research before applying.
• Language schools – Pay at a language school is considerably higher than at a government school and there will be a large amount of flexibility for you, both in the classroom and outside of it. On the other hand, teachers at these types of school find their jobs aren’t always secure. Sprachcaffe’s English language schools in the UK can be a great place to get a foot on the English teaching ladder.
• International schools – These tend to be the Top Dog of the language school world, where students are the children of expatriates or well-off locals. Pay at an international school is the best you can get in the industry and the schools are of a very high quality. However, competition for these jobs is high and you usually have to be extremely qualified to even get a look in. In addition, most of these institutions only consider two year contracts which may scupper you plans for working on the move.  

While it might seem like you have a lot to do before embarking on your teaching abroad adventure, there are lots of resources out there to help you out along the way. Remember to research the institutions you want to apply for thoroughly before making any decisions, and find out about other teachers’ experiences there, too. The hard work will pay off, though, when you are doing something you love in a fascinating place.

Also See:

Teach English Abroad Articles

The post How To Find Your First English Teaching Job Abroad! appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

To avoid forking out for a plane ticket to Thailand every time they spot a potential candidate, many TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) employers will interview you over Skype. Here at i-to-i, we’ve compiled a little list to help you know what to do and what definitely not to do!

Dos

Get a quality internet connection. If your interview connection is likely to be hacked mid-call by your housemate downloading 55 episodes of their favourite show then go somewhere else! Your local coffee shop will do, or even a quiet corner of a public library.

Make some notes. Use the fact that you’re not in the same room to your advantage. Make a list of the interview questions that employers are likely to ask and write down 2 cue words or hints for each. Common TEFL interview questions tend to be about your previous teaching experience, what your goals are (as a teacher) and how well you’d adapt to living in another culture!

Look into the camera. It may feel more natural to look straight at the employers face, however when on Skype the best route to take is looking at the camera. This will help to give your potential employer the feeling of direct eye contact, always a plus at a job interview!

Don’ts

Suit jacket on top, pyjamas on bottom. Don’t fall foul to this Skype interview disaster! Consider what you’ll do if the doorbell rings, or you have to perform an impromptu lesson demo.

Spring clean your surroundings. Make the effort to give whatever room you’re interviewing in a good once over! When you’re in the interview it’ll make you seem much more organized than if there’s a spare pair of underpants hanging off your monitor.

Don’t check yourself out! When interviewing on Skype it’s tempting to watch yourself in your little video box to make sure you’re looking your best. You wouldn’t look in a mirror at a regular interview so try your very best to avoid this. To an employer this can make you seem shy, or even worse, disinterested!

And finally, remember that even though the interview’s online, it is still an interview. Good Luck!

The post How to Prep for TEFL Job Interviews appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

If you put in the work and find the right fit, you’ll be moved into the interview phase. Interviews for jobs abroad can be different from other job interviews, and it is important to put in a little extra prep work to make sure that you are fully prepared.

People who hire from outside of a host country to fill positions are generally looking for two things: someone who can be successful in the job, and someone who will be comfortable in a foreign culture, and is willing to be pushed outside of their comfort zone.  To that end, most interview questions will fall into one of three categories: skills assessment, personality fit/drive, ability to work abroad.

Keep these three categories in mind while you are preparing for the job interview, and look online for practice interviews and sample questions to help you get started (there are some great resources below). Another element of the interview to keep in mind, which is especially important if you are interviewing over the phone or Skype, is small talk.

Why does small talk matter? Let’s face it – phone and video interviews can be a bit awkward. Without visual cues from your interviewer, you can expect to have a few moments where there is either silence, or people start talking at the same time. It’s ok! Most people who conduct business via the Internet experience this, but as the interviewee, there are ways to make the first moments of the phone interview set the stage for a smooth conversation.

First of all, make sure that you know a little bit about the person interviewing you. That way once you get on the phone and say hello, you are also ready to dive into another conversation about the person’s history with the organization, hobbies or anything else that might be appropriate. This is especially important during conference calls – with many people calling in, you might have a few minutes at the beginning to fill before everyone has had a chance to call in.

Another important element of a job interview for an overseas job is knowing as much as possible about your potential host country. Make sure that you have done research, subscribed to relevant blogs and read newspapers from that country, so that you can engage your interviewer in thoughtful discussion about current events. Imagine interviewing someone who wasn’t aware of a recent bank holiday, religious observance or long weekend? Current events can also serve as a resource for small talk topics!

If you’re looking for more resources to prepare for your work abroad job interview, check out these websites to help you with practice questions and tips for success:

• Quint Careers offers some more practical advice, for everything from the international job search to securing the interview. If you have already landed a phone interview and are looking for ways to maximize your effectiveness on a long-distance call, check out their article on phone interview etiquette.
• Working Overseas gives a comprehensive view of all elements of landing the interview, from who your interviewer might be, tactics for answering questions, and examples of “situational” interview questions.
• If you are considering including a recruitment fair in your job search, check out these tips for teach abroad fair interview etiquette at Overseas Digest. While many of the questions are teaching-specific, the information can be easily applied to recruitment fairs of any type!

Finally, the best resource for preparing for job interview is speaking directly with a hiring manager. If you know anyone who has been in charge of a job search, make a point to talk to them about what they were looking for, and candidates who impressed (or didn’t impress) them during their interview. Whether that interview was for a job abroad or not, you gain very useful insight about the interview process from someone who has experienced it from the other side.

The post Job Interview Advice for Prospective Expats appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

Travel and get paid for it. Sounds like a dream job doesn’t it? Yet is being a tour guide or other jobs in the tour industry really all play and no work?

Our very own Lucian (me!) from Working Abroad Magazine has been there, done that and even waggled his flag above the tourist crowds at places like the Trevi Fountain in Rome. I’ve been a tour manager for 2 years now and whilst I can say it’s definitely no easy ride, it is an incredible job being a guide.

Guide Tours - Job Opportunities Worldwide

First up, credentials. Do you have what it takes to be work in the tour industry? Patience, hard work and a sociable personality is a good start. Most of all, you have to be a people’s person. After all you are leading a group of people, organizing a group of people, chatting, informing, partying and even sometimes counseling a group of people. Add to the personality pot a level headed non stress-head, an innate ability to be very organized, and the ability to think-on-your-feet (and coach, car, ferry, boat or plane).

Second up, lifestyle. Are you ready to live out of your suitcase for long periods of time? Are you ready to say au revoir to your closest friends and family but bonjour to lots of short-term and great friendships. If you are ready, then let’s rumble…

Time to apply. You have to figure out what kind of guide you want to be. There are many choices out there, it depends on the destinations and the style of travel you are rooting for.

For the European coach circuit, the best known are Contiki Holidays and Busabout. Catering for 18-35 year old guests typically, both young although both very fun indeed.

Contiki specialize in tailor-made holidays all over the world, and in particular the European circuit, seeking Tour Managers, Drivers, Mobile Cooks and On-Site Reps.

The training for Tour Managers and Drivers is hardcore, and well renowned in the industry. Imagine 22 countries in 68 days, learning intensively every European history, culture, customs and also where every European city’s ATM, hospital and museum is, then you are halfway there. Minimal sleep, impromptu talks on the microphone and maximum commitment, it’s survival of the fittest and if you get through ‘boot camp’, you’re trained to an impeccably high standard and you are ready for your next biggest test of all, your first tour.

As a Tour Manager you will be guiding 51 people for the time of their lives in everything they do; travel, eat, walking tours, sightsee, excursions, party…I missed out sleep as you won’t get much of it. It’s a true 24 hour job, but a brilliant one at that. As a Driver, you have to navigate around European road signs in funny languages and take charge of a huge chunk of metal around pinball machines for cars such as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Mobile Cook; cook, and lots of it whilst living on the road with your team and 51 hungry campers. On-Site Rep – clean, cook, talk, and party for 6-8 months at a famous European city with a bunch of other fun-loving colleagues.

Busabout are more of an independent travelers circuit with a flexible “hop on, hop off” route around Europe. Driver and On Board Guides are required for the busy seasons and festivals, and although their training is not quite as intense as Contiki, the study of history and being under pressure comes with the job. The On Board Guides ‘check-in’ travelers, give spiels of the locations and interact with hundreds of passengers in places in their career, in places such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or La Tomatina – a tomato throwing festival near Valencia!

The application process for Contiki and Busabout is tough, as is the competition. Be prepared, show your public speaking skills and after a military style interrogation, you may just be placed on a training trip pre-season, typically any time around March-April-May each year. Finally, most of these positions you should hold or be able to obtain a valid European Union passport or UK work permit. Check their details before you apply.

Many regard the European circuit to be the teething process for aspiring tour guides, and experienced guides can move on to higher paid jobs at Trafalgar Tours, other global tour itineraries or hiring your services as a freelance guide.

So there is Europe, how about guiding past tigers and lions in Africa, or escorting passengers in the Caribbean? And how much does a tour guide get paid to travel the world?  Find out more in our next blog…

The post Working as a Tour Guide: An Easy Ride? appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

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.

Seize the Chance to Work Abroad!

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.”

The post The Work Abroad Dream appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

Before Booking for your Gap Year

What qualifications does it offer?

Options could be: BASI (British), CSIA (Canadian), PSIA (American)

I would recommend that if you are British that you chose the British qualification, especially if you want to work afterwards. Working in Canada and America has become difficult in recent years for non-residents with visas proving very difficult to obtain. With the British qualification you are recognised all over the world. France is a slight exception where they require the test technique if you have not achieved BASI Level 4.

What are you looking for? Lots of partying or to become a better skier?

I think this is important because if you just want lots of partying there are some great resorts like Val Thorens, Val d’isere, St. Anton, Mayrhofen, etc. and it is pointless spending money on your instructor course if you are just partying every night. Learning to ski on a hangover is too tough and not effective! So if partying is what you are after then you could work in a bar in a party resort…

If you want a bit of both, there are opportunities to party in most ski resorts but you don’t want to do it too much as it will affect your ability to make the most of your skiing. I would suggest going out when you don’t have training the next day.

Who are the coaches going to be? Are they part of the same system you are joining (BASI, CSIA etc.)?

What qualifications do they hold? Your safest bet is to go with someone who is qualified to the highest level that the system offers whether it’s BASI, CSIA, PSIA, etc. This ensures that you are going to get good tuition!

It is best that your coach is part of the same system as you. The reason for this is that every organisation has their own terminology despite expressing essentially the same thing. When it comes to your exams it is best to have learned using the same terminology as your being assessed on.

Location & Lift pass?

Look for areas which are snow sure, north facing resorts, with plenty of snow making facilities. Large ski areas will offer the biggest variety in terrain.

Quality of food and accommodation?

A gripe I hear from gap year students on some courses is that the quality of food and accommodation is on the poor side of basic. I don’t think anyone should expect total luxury but if you are staying somewhere for 10 weeks then it should be comfortable and enjoyable! You should expect to share a room unless you have paid extra not to. The chalet should be nice, ideally with some sort of social area. Staff should be friendly and the food should be of a high standard. Make sure you check these out. You spend quite a lot of hours in your accommodation and eat there almost every day so it’s worth taking the time to check.

Extras that are offered?

Are there extras included? If so what are they? Some of these can add up to being very valuable!

Cost?

Find out the cost and what’s included. Here are some of the things to look for:

• Type of lift pass? Limited or full area?
• Duration of course?
• How much does it cost to get to the resort?
• Number of hours of tuition? Number of hours shadowing? These are 2 different things. Shadowing is when you are watching a qualified instructor do their job. Tuition is when you are receiving direct feedback on your own skiing. Quite often shadowing is referred to as snow-school experience
• Are transfers included?
• Can you service your own skis or are you going to have to pay someone else?
• What sort of pass rates has the course had in the past? Obviously, the higher the better but these pass rates allow you to get an idea of the standard and seriousness of the training.

Once you have looked at and taken into consideration all of the above then you are in a much better position to make a decision. With many courses claiming they are the best it is often pretty tough to choose between them, hopefully this article will help you to ask the right questions and look for the relevant information.

If you have any further questions or there is something you are unsure about then please feel free to contact Blake. He is in a great position as he maintains many contacts and understands the British and French instructor systems inside and out.

Blake is a director of the skivo2 instructor training programme, which offers the BASI qualification, and boasts a 100% pass rate at Level 1 & Level 2. Based in Le Praz, Courchevel, follow this link for further information or email blake on blake@skivo2.co.uk

The post Training for a Gap Year Ski Job appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

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

The post Working Hostels – Victoria & New South Wales appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

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!

The post Working Hostels in Western Australia appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

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

The post Working Hostels appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.

About me.

Looking back, travelling has always been in my bones but the joy of setting up camp somewhere by working, with fun little adventures flowing from here, are in my eyes, the best. This love for combining work and travel came when I was 18: fresh out of school, in the Autumn of 2005, I headed for the beautiful and intriguing New Zealand. Planning was at a minimum, partly as that is the way I seem to do things, but also due to the fact that the 3 months prior to flying, were filled with 3 jobs, leaving spare seconds in short supply. I left with £600 in my bank and in my mind, many ideas but no set plans.

The following 12 months in New Zealand and Australia were filled with an assortment of jobs and many wonderful adventures in between. In NZ I found myself: pruning apple trees at the foothills of the Abel Tasman mountains; working in a bustling little bar by the Marlborough Sands; working at a couple of events on the beautiful Waiheke Island; pruning more apple trees in the hills of Hawkes Bay; and calling Queenstown home for 5 months, helping to run a cafe, waitress in a local restaurant and help out at a couple of outdoor adventure festivals there. Australia brought me an amazing month of working and living on a boat in the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands and a few weeks making coffees and baking cakes in return for a bed in the trendy town of Byron Bay.

None of the jobs above were organised before hand, some I had experience in, but some I didn’t. Examples like this can hopefully show you how if your ears, eyes and mind are open to new adventures and opportunities, you will learn to believe in yourself and your skills, landing on your feet anywhere you choose to go.

Taking a gap year before university was one of the best things I have done and I would recommend it to anyone. This is for a few main reasons, one being that you soak up truck loads of invaluable advice from all those you meet, helping you make the most of whatever is to come next in life. Many people head off post-university and so the piece of advice I picked up on the most was to make the most of your summers whilst studying (in the UK we seem to spend more time on holiday than in lectures, and so this is simply asking for adventures).

So, considering I had caught the travel bug, the following Spring of 2007 I decided my next venture would be to a place I had always longed to go – Kenya. Through a company this end, I got a place teaching in a school and orphanage there that summer, and fundraised for the trip (which is an adventure in itself). It was incredible and I learnt more skills and grew in confidence in that few weeks, more than ever before in such a short space of time. Upon finishing my post there, I also helped in a school I found along my travels. I will talk about this in more detail but there are many ways in which you can organise wonderful opportunities in developing countries, to work and be involved in, without paying a small fortune to a Western based company.

Before returning back for a second year of university, and after working back home for a month, I flew over to Copenhagen to volunteer at The Homeless World Cup (http://www.homelessworldcup.org/). It is an incredible event, which in those days was smaller and you received food and a bed in return for working with the team. I would recommend volunteering at events such as this to anyone, be it big or small and involving charities or not, as you will return home inspired to the brim. You do not need bundles of money or contacts, it is simply a case of finding the right kind of thing on offer. I saw the organisation advertised in The Big Issue one day, and got in touch to scout out about volunteering.  We are blessed with cheap travel these days, and so by utilising this, whilst preferably being aware environmentally, will enable you to get involved in various exciting things around the world.

Kenya Adventure!

Upon arriving home after Kenya and Copenhagen, I realised I had fallen in love with the Sunshine Continent of Africa. The next two years at university, I was incredibly lucky to have three opportunities to go and work in East Africa, expenses paid. One of these was representing the university at the African Athletic Championships in Ethiopia, with my main task being to interview the medal holders post-race. The other two trips were taking young people from the UK to Kenya and Uganda for 2 weeks of travelling in a bus, working on small projects there. It is a trip very close to my heart, and something I am still involved in from an organisational perspective. You can see more about it and watch a snippet of the documentary made one year, here – http://www.robwalkertv.com/index.php/youth-work.

These three opportunities I have mentioned above simply came from showing enthusiasm and following my heart, which at that point was with Africa, talking to people and offering to help out. So, next time you hear someone interesting speak, see a cool project, or watch an interesting documentary: get in touch or wander up to the front for a chat. Almost always, people love to be spoken to about their work and will offer opportunities or contacts if they can. Whether you are at university, working in the bustling city, or living in the hills, there is a wealth of potential and inspiring things going on everywhere, it is just a case of finding them. That is something I hope to help with, be it by posting links to documentaries and blog posts online, or by sharing sites or inspiration on how to find things in person wherever you are. If all an experience does is inspire you, and not initially lead to anything directly as such, that is priceless in itself.

In my final summer of university (2008) I lived in the crazy and full of character town of Lagos, Portugal, with a couple of friends from home. I was cooking in a cafe and the community there is one of a kind – folks from all over, working hard and soaking up the beach life for the summer. I came home bronzed, smiling, and inspired for my final year of library bound days.

The world literally is your oyster when you are looking to work abroad, and anywhere in fact. There is no one else out there with your bag of skills and unique qualities, so trust in them as they are the best thing to take with you. I took to just walking into places and asking for jobs whilst away but some friends did the same from home beforehand through the wonder of the worldwide web. So, whichever works for you, that is the best way to do it and do not worry. A bit of fear is natural and exciting, but the best advice I could ever give is to simply give it a go.

From then you will realise how easy it is and that any ‘worst-case scenario’ is not really that bad. There are always back-up plans you can have up your sleeve to reassure a worrying mind. Plus, home is only a flight away. In terms of worrying about finding work, take a rather hilarious example from my gap year: in Hawkes Bay, NZ, I was fired after one day of picking peas (may I add, this was due to a couple of team mates that took a liking to the pub more than the fields, so our group count of peas was down by rather a lot). But, never fear, the following day the team had one of the best jobs in the orchards, filling our wallets with a lot of cents and soaking up the Kiwi sunshine whilst we went.

I hope this blog will be something you can refer to when planning adventures abroad, and somewhere you can gather valuable information and inspiration. If there are any places, job types or other topics of particular interest please give me a shout too as I will do my best to get information on these for you folk.

The post The Wonders of Working Your Way Around the World appeared first on Working Abroad Magazine.