Working abroad is a great way for students to get experience and a bit of cash during the summer holidays. As the UK academic year generally runs from late September to June, thousands of university students head overseas before their courses resume in the autumn.

As their time is limited, students tend to focus on jobs that bring excitement or unusual experiences on a daily basis. Working in summer resorts is a popular option as demand for staff peaks in late spring/early summer, and volunteering abroad is a perennial favourite.

However, a small industry has sprung up to send students abroad to work at summer camps, particularly in the US. Freshers’ fairs across the country have stalls manned by BUNAC and CCUSA representatives, securing the next year’s crop of young people to spend 10 to 12 weeks looking after children at residential camps.

Alex Sawczuk was one such Manchester University student recruited by Camp America to work at Camp Shane in upstate New York when he was 20.

Unlike the general camp counsellor role, where the adult is responsible for a certain group of children and spends all their time with the same kids, Alex was an IT specialist as well and supervised the computer equipment for all campers to use.

He said: “Camp Shane specialises in weight loss and was a rather large camp. The camp itself is often involved in the media, and in fact during the summer of 2006 when I was working there they had TV crews from The Learning Channel  who were shooting a TV programme called Losing It: Tales from Fat Camp which followed several of the campers around through the time they spent there.”

Alex did not deliberately pick a weight loss camp, but applied to Camp America late in the scheme and had to take the first job offer he received, which was in late April, and began working in June.

There were several reasons for choosing to work abroad that summer: “One of my friends was doing a similar thing and I was keen to spend the summer out of the country too.

“As I was studying Computer Science at the time, my tutors were eager for me to spend the summer working in IT somehow. So when I applied I listed IT as one of my skills, as others often list sports instead.”

He did not need to be qualified to work for Camp America, but doubts he would have been placed in the IT specialist position if he did not have a background in computers. He found the day-to-day routine easy enough to cope with, if a little repetitive.

“At a summer camp you work six days a week and get three evenings off in that time. The rest of the time, you’re on duty. My typical day was the 8.30am wake-up call – boys got breakfast after the girls, but then we all enjoyed the extra hour in bed!

“Then everyone would go down to breakfast and eat, before coming back up and having to get down to the IT cabin for the first group of the day – the girls and boys timetables were offset by about half an hour to get everyone into the dining hall.

“We’d have groups in the morning followed by lunch, then several more groups in the afternoon followed by dinner. In the evening I’d once again be in there if on duty, when just anyone including staff can use the computers.”

One of the largest drawbacks to working at a summer camp is the low pay, as Alex found out, but as already mentioned the work experience and different culture can offset the financial side. Crucially, the camp provides the accommodation and food, so expenses are minimal.

Alex said: “The salary on Camp America is poor. You get basic pocket money of about $800 to $1000 for your first year and you’re on camp for about 10 weeks. However, you do get a free bed – but obviously in the same room as a bunch of kids!

“You have to pay various fees to Camp America and then they streamline the visa process. There are several agencies that can organise these things, I found out on camp that there were better alternatives to Camp America when you look at just costs and the amount of money you receive.”

However, Alex did not enjoy every moment of his time working abroad, largely because he felt constrained by camp protocol. He said he would recommend the overall experience, but thought the general counsellor jobs may give people more satisfaction than a specific position.

“If you like kids then going to be a camp counsellor can be pretty great, however the specialist jobs on the camps can easily become rather repetitive. You can have all these ideas and things you want to do, and often find yourself frustrated and unable to do them.

“In the end for the main course of my stay my job became nothing more than an internet monitor, making sure people didn’t hog the computers for too long – and understandably I found this rather frustrating and boring after a while. I didn’t intend to come all the way across the Atlantic to waste my summer doing nothing much on the internet.”

There were obvious upsides to the summer spent in the US, as Alex explained: “Meeting so many people out there, the first week before the kids was brilliant and more like Freshers’ Week at university with a little bit of work mixed in there.

“Then, once the kids initially arrived it was good to meet them all, and it was very interesting seeing all these kids and how they get on – or don’t in some cases.”

Yet even the social side of being a camp counselor was affected by his specialist IT role: “I found myself drifting away from people who I’d got on well with in the first week as I found myself pushed off into this tiny little room for the majority of the summer. I think I’d have preferred to just be a normal counsellor and see everything.

“The other big negative was the food. This was a weight loss camp and the food portions were rather stringent and rather poor quality. Often the meals just didn’t do anything for me.

“Being 6-4 and rather skinny, I often found myself incredibly hungry despite taking seconds or thirds. I quite often found myself going to Burger King or McDonalds, which was a 20-minute walk away from the campsite – mainly as that was the closest cheap food!”

Working in the US gave Alex the travelling itch, and now he has finished his degree he wants to get more IT experience in foreign climes.”

“The experience is definitely one I’d recommend to students to do one summer while they’re at university,” he said. “However, I’d say just be a general counsellor rather than a specialist if possible, as then you’ll get the biggest range of activities, as well as properly getting to know your campers.”

Each country has different requirements for foreign nationals who want to find paid work there, which can cause red tape nightmares for would-be employees.

Visa applications are notoriously complicated to complete, with some countries needing you to find a business to sponsor your entry, and others requiring enough cash in the bank to support yourself for months on end.

Certain countries will not let you in to work unless you already have a job waiting, others insist you show an acceptable amount of experience in a specific field to fulfill a vacancy quota.

It is extremely subjective, as visa and entry requirements depend on which country you come from as well as the one you want to work in, and can alter according to how well the two are getting on.
Although visas are tricky and time-consuming to obtain, trying to find work without one is often impossible. Luckily, for some people there is a short cut through the bureaucracy.

Residents of the European Union, a collection of 27 countries in Europe, can freely travel to any other member state without needing a visa, which makes it much easier to organise work in those countries.

The countries currently in the European Union are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

One of the strongest principles of the EU is the right for people to be treated without discrimination due to their nationality when applying for a job in a different member state, a regulation first introduced in 1968.

This law means that workers from one EU state get the same tax, benefit and trade union rights as those who were born in that country. In other words, workers are protected from unfair dismissal or treatment by employer simply because they are not originally from there.

Earn Money in the EU

The practical application of the regulation allow people to travel to an EU country and find a job at their own pace, which makes the process potentially both faster and slower – you could be employed on your first day, or you may have to fund your stay for weeks before a company takes you on.

However, certain EU citizens may need to register for a work permit before they can start working abroad. This generally applies to citizens of eastern European countries that most recently joined the EU, such as Romania, Lithuania and Slovakia, who want to work in a heavily subscribed country such as Germany or the United Kingdom.

It is important to remember that these benefits only apply to citizens of member states: people from elsewhere in the world who want to work in EU countries will still need a EU work visa. More detailed information about the different types is available if you click the link. Additionally, people from EU states who wish to work in a European country that has not joined the union will also need to apply for visas or work permits. The types of jobs most jobs readily available in the 27 EU countries are causal positions in typically Western areas such as factories, offices, farms, hotels, bars and restaurants. Au pairing is a popular option for people aged 25 and under, as is tourism work as fluent English-speaking workers are needed for the hordes of visitors that flood into the continent from the US, Canada, Australia and UK.

However, speaking the local language will improve your employment prospects enormously, as multinational companies need people to work across the world. This is an excellent way of gaining a skilled or corporate job, and mastering a second language as well as English could give you an advantage over the local applicants.

Tourism roles have even greater need of such skills, as Europe’s high concentration of individual languages means hotels can cater for up to a dozen different tongues.

To avoid the hazard of spending weeks looking for work, with mounting hostel costs or rent, one option is to register with a hiring agency to find either temporary or permanent work. These will usually charge a fee, but could significantly cut the cost of your expenses while job-hunting. That said, the EU itself has a job hunting service called EURES – a vitally useful resource and great starting point to find which countries are most suited for your chosen profession.

You could even work for the EU itself, as it has recently opened employment competitions for translators and interpreters – go here for more details.

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.

Teach English Abroad

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.

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.”

Many people think working abroad is a glamorous career move, but often the most vital work in other countries is tiring, difficult and demanding.

In north-west Pakistan, where the worst flooding in 80 years has swept away thousands of homes and killed at least 1,200 people, humanitarian aid workers are desperately trying to get medical supplies and basic items to people in need.

Natural disasters are sudden and devastating events, resulting in death and destruction around the globe and countries can take many years to recover from the damage to economy and infrastructure. People working for non-governmental aid agencies and missionary groups have played a vital part in stemming the death toll caused by the Pakistan floods.

Aid workers tend to work in developing countries suffering from natural disasters, ongoing conflicts or political or social upheavals that leave people living in poverty.

Broadly speaking they can be divided into two categories: development aid, which helps developing countries work towards improving their infrastructure, welfare and economic systems; and humanitarian aid, which provides emergency responses to crises.

The work of these aid workers varies in different situations, but generally involves organising and distributing food, medicine, emergency supplies and shelter to those who need it.

Many large international aid agencies – such as Oxfam, ActionAid, WorldVision and CARE – have development workers in certain countries full time, whereas others send extra help to emergencies as they occur.

But how do you find work abroad as a humanitarian aid worker? It is not an easy task, but then, it is not an easy job.

International charities and aid agencies need hundreds of people to co-ordinate and implement rescue efforts around the world, quickly responding to changing situations and unpredictable occurrences, but aid work is one sector where boundless enthusiasm can only take you so far.

Staff are sent out to potentially dangerous situations and can risk their lives at work, and so do not need the extra worry and problems inexperienced workers can bring. Perhaps surprisingly, the most desirable people are not those with compassionate natures, but those who have a proven record of getting results quickly and reliably.

This means you need experience and training in fields such as medicine, administration, fundraising, economics, planning and health work to stand a decent chance of finding a job.

You will need to prove you have important skills such as the ability to cope under pressure, solve problems, make effective and quick decisions, work in a team, manage people efficiently, respect for other cultures, adaptability and – although that list is far from exhaustive.

It goes without saying that you must be prepared to live in basic conditions for long stretches of time – you will not be able to fly home to see family and friends often, if at all, so homesickness is an undesirable trait. Aid workers need strong constitutions and robust mental health to deal with catastrophic working environments and it helps to be familiar with the destination country and preferably able to speak the local language to communicate with local authorities and officials.

Crucially, to work abroad for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) such as the Red Cross, candidates need to have experience of living abroad already. Leanne Taylor, from the British Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.uk/), told The Times the organisation wants proof its employees can deal with crises before posting them abroad.

She said:  “We look for people who have travelled and lived abroad and who have an interest in aid work. If someone’s never stepped outside the UK they’re unlikely to do a first mission with us. We need to know that they have coped with a culture clash or been in a situation where they had to be self reliant.”

Volunteer work overseas is a good way to get a foot in the door and make some contacts within the sector, but without required skills your application could be rejected for more qualified candidates.

While many NGOs offer development aid placements in African and Asian countries, they are usually low-level roles with little chance of responsibility. The next step up would be an entry-level position in your home country, which could give you more contacts and opportunities to apply for internally advertised vacancies.

This gives rise to the old conundrum of needing a job to get experience, but needing experience to get a job. While there is no easy way around this, it is easier for people to move into aid work after gaining leadership or technical experience in another sector, rather than starting straight from university.

There are a few exceptions. One is Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO), which places volunteers in one or two-year programmes according to their particular skills. While there is not a lot of choice over where in the world you will work, VSO is designed for qualified professionals with at least two years’ experience, so being accepted for a placement boosts your overall employment chances.

VSO also offer two year-long programmes for people aged 18 to 25 – Global Xchange and Youth for Development.

A useful article by Piero Calvi stresses the importance of gaining experience, and argues that no number of qualifications can compete with years of front-line work in the field, even if you have to fund it yourself on a volunteer programme.

While the best way to find available aid worker vacancies is to approach aid agencies directly, the UK Government sends funding and personnel to aid other countries from the Department for International Development (DFID), which has current job listings in other countries.  The US equivalent is  USAID and there is more information about government-sponsored overseas volunteer programmes here.

The Aid Workers Network is a useful  forum for people already in the industry, with advice pages, blogs and discussion pages.

Plenty of jobs are directly advertised on the UN humanitarian hub Relief Web and Idealist, which also lists a vast number of volunteering projects.

There is one personality trait that links the types of people who want to work abroad: curiosity.

Some may be motivated by higher wages in another country, other tempted by better weather or improved work/life balance. Perhaps the overwhelming factor in the decision is a change of scene or stagnation in current employment.

But underneath that, few people leave their job, familiar routines and family and set off into the unknown without a desire to find out more about the world.

Curiosity is an overriding tendency in journalists as well, and it is not unusual to find trainee reporters dreaming of life as a foreign correspondent, posted to some far-flung destination to cover wars, political upheaval or even an international event such as the World Cup or Olympics. Check out our story about journalism jobs in Australia run previously on WAM.

Chris Corr was not one of these people. He had no experience in journalism and had never really considered it as a career, but still managed to find work in Middle Eastern newsrooms for more than a year – earning him the envy of many journalism students.

Chris, now 29, spent just over 12 months reporting from the West Bank and Israel – based mainly in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Ramallah – before travelling back to his native Northern Ireland and enrolling on a Journalism Masters degree.

So how exactly did a rookie with no contacts manage to find work abroad?

According to Chris, it was “a total fluke”.

“I was visiting a friend in Jerusalem who knew someone who knew another person who worked for the Palestine Times,” he said.

“Anyway, they were desperately short of people and asked me if I would help out. They offered me a full-time job at the end of the shift, and I decided to stay.

“After that, I got other posts through word of mouth. They aren’t exactly advertised over there!”

During the year, Chris worked as a sub-editor for the Palestine Times before the paper folded, a freelance reporter for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and a freelance radio producer for the Independent Middle East Media Centre.

For the first role he checked reporters’ stories for factual accuracy and spelling, cut word counts down to fit onto the newspaper’s pages and wrote headlines. Work was largely office-based and required speed to meet the daily paper’s deadline.

The Palestine Times was an English-language publication, which made it easier for Chris to fit into the newsroom. He said: “I had no experience whatsoever beforehand. My only qualification was an English mother tongue.”

Working as a reporter for Haaretz, another daily newspaper published in Hebrew and English editions, Chris interviewed people, researched and wrote stories for other people to edit.  As a freelancer he both followed up stories commissioned by the editor and put forward his own ideas for newsworthy items.

For a bright university graduate, with good spelling and grammar and that vital streak of curiosity, Chris found he took to life as a print journalist easily. However, the radio producer job was more challenging than scribbling quotes into a notebook.

“I basically put together a 10-minute news bulletin of the day’s events in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel,” he said.

“I compiled and came up with the script, edited it for sound, organised interviews, recorded and held interviews, decided on what stories we covered that day and presented the show. It sounds very grand, but it was actually really small-scale.”

Living in Northern Ireland meant Chris was used to the UK’s high cost of living, and so living expenses in the Middle East worked out to be far cheaper. All the same, pay rates varied between the different jobs.

He said: “I got paid most for the Haartez work. On average, I earned about US$2,000 a month, which is a fortune in Bethlehem.”

While Chris did not speak a word of Hebrew when he arrived in Jerusalem, he found the language barrier less of an obstacle than he expected.

He said: “The language was no problem at all. Lots of people speak English out there, but even if they hadn’t, being immersed in a foreign language makes it hard not to pick up.”

By the end of the year he was almost fluent in Hebrew, and found working as a reporter was something he wanted to pursue as a career – even though he had not considered journalism before.

“I’m not sure what made me want to do it,” he said. “I just fell into it and ended up really enjoying things.”

Yet every job has its downsides, and work in foreign countries can exacerbate problems if bureaucratic and political problems arise. Chris struggled with the West Bank’s complicated visa system as large parts of the Palestine country is controlled by Israel, and visa renewal can involve leaving the country and applying for a new one, only to be refused re-entry.

Travelling between Israel-controlled regions and the rest of the area can be difficult if you only have entry to the Palestine zones, and can call for tactful diplomacy and a lot of patience.

But red tape was not Chris’ only problem – being considered a local caused more difficulties than he had anticipated.

“The worst part of working abroad was the crazy security measures in that part of the world. Entering and leaving Tel Aviv airport was hellish. I got held for about six hours on the way in, and about four when leaving the country.

“While I was there, soldiers constantly mistook me for being Israeli which, since Israelis aren’t allowed in the West Bank by law, made life difficult.”

Of course, completely immersing himself in Arabic culture had to make an impression, and Chris was awed by both residents and scenery alike.

He managed to explore quite a lot of the area as his job required some travel, and concluded: “The best parts of working abroad in the West Bank and Israel were the people, who were the friendliest and most hospitable I have ever met, and the breathtaking views found across the region.”

Nick is an American from Cincinnati, Ohio, who has lived in Vail, Colorado – a skiing mecca in the U.S. – for the last 4 years. During the summers in Colorado you can find Nick working as a ski instructor at Valle Nevado in Chile. In this WAM interview we learn from Nick how he got into the instruction business, and how to find work abroad in Chile.

What’s your background?

I grew up ski racing. Then I instructed in the mid-west, but never took it too seriously. After graduating from Miami University in 2006, I started instructing both alpine and adaptive skiing full time in Vail. I earned full certification for these specialties with PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America). Then I spent a summer working at Cerro Castor in Ushuaia, Argentina. Searching some work abroad job board won’t turn up a job this cool. (laughs)

How did you get the job?

After the season I worked in Argentina, I traveled through Chile and stopped by the Valle Nevado ski school to ask about work in the future. I got the email of the ski school director and submitted my resume.

What’s a typical day like at Valle Nevado?

I wake up and eat breakfast in the employee cafeteria. Depending on the day, I show up for work at 9 or 10 and check to see if I have any lessons. If there are no lessons booked, I check in at lesson call every hour until I get work. Usually if I don’t get work by 2 pm, I go free skiing. During the slow times I work about 2 hours a day, but during the busy times I work between 4 and 6 hours a day.

La Parva, Chile

What’s your favorite part of the job?

The ability to work and free ski in the same day. In Colorado, you either work all day or play all day, but at Valle Nevado I get to ski at least an hour or two for myself each day. In Chile there is a good balance between work and pleasure.

What’s your least favorite part of the job?

When it’s not busy, I have to show up to lesson call every hour and there usually isn’t any work. It’s hard not knowing when I’ll get work. I blame it on the fact that the ski school is very disorganized.

How’s your Spanish?

I’m told my Spanish is pretty good. I learned in during a year abroad in Argentina suring my junior year of college. It’s a great skill for any ski instructor to have.

What was the visa process like?

Good question. It’s pretty simple. I tried to get a work visa before coming to Chile, but I needed an FBI background check – a 13-week process. Valle Nevado offered me the job at the end of March and I needed to start work mid-June. When I left for Chile, the background check hadn’t come back and I arrived without a work visa. Luckily, it was easy to change my visa status after I arrived. I downloaded a few forms them snail-mailed in my work contract, copies of my passport, and visa photos. I still need to visit the ministerio de extranjeria to complete the process.

Is it strange always living in winter?

I love the winter, but it gets old. The last time I did a double winter in Ushuaia, it was basically dark all the time because it was so far south. Here in Chile it’s nice 95% of the time, which makes it easier. I get to travel to the beaches of Brazil and Chile in the off-season. It’s super important to go someplace warm between ski seasons. It keeps me sane.

Are there lots of jobs available? How can I find one?

There aren’t as many jobs in Chilean ski schools compared to Argentina. Chile wants fully certified instructors with lots of experience. In Argentina it’s easier to find work as a ski instructor. I’d guess it’s because there are more resorts and bigger ski schools.

Do you have any advice for people who want to work abroad?

Get your FBI background check done ASAP! Whenever you work abroad, be flexible and willing to adapt. Things aren’t always what they appear when you work abroad, but it’s always an adventure.

In the last blog we looked at the benefits of working abroad in the European Union for residents of member states, but now let’s consider an opportunity across the pond.

Each year, about 300 people find work in New York through a programme called the Mountbatten Internship, a sponsorship arrangement that enables non-US citizens to spend a year working at a paid job in the Big Apple.

It’s a graduate scheme that offers university leavers the chance to gain business experience with blue chip companies in one of the world’s largest financial centres.

Successful applicants can gain a qualification in international business practice – either an MBA or a postgraduate certificate depending on which programme they choose.

The placement is primarily business and management-orientated, and people will spend most of their time working at entry-level in an office, even if there is potential for work in the field.

You can expect long hours and in some cases a lengthy daily commute, as some placements are outside New York City itself.

However, the internship is classed as an exchange programme and is not open for US, Canadian or Mexican citizens, or Green Card holders: they can apply for a similar internship in London.

Most people placed on a Mountbatten Internship are British or from European Union member states, although there are opportunities for citizens of Asian and Australasian countries as well.

The programme is tough and demanding, but potentially very rewarding as well.

Paul Marshall, a former production journalist who is currently on Mountbatten’s New York programme, said it was easier to adjust to the challenging work environment if you have a clear idea of what you want from the internship.

“You have to get used to so many things that are hard, such as a new job, getting around the city, having no money, integrating with new people, so any one of these can get you down,” he said.

“The trick is not to let it and go with the flow. Having a good idea of what you want out of it – which in my case was a good job – is a good start, and I’ve taken it from there.”

Paul, who heard about Mountbatten from a friend whose brother completed the programme, is working abroad for financial services firm UBS in Stamford, Connecticut.

He said: “My job is working in the middle office for the fixed income/government section of the investment bank’s operations department.

“My responsibilities include settling trades in the variety of operating systems the bank uses, including the front office – that’s the trading floor and traders – middle office and back office, which means external clients, the bank, the Federal Reserve System and so on.

“It also entails speaking with traders, identifying and dealing with live trades to make sure they do not fail and performing the daily functions and reconciliations as per the department’s needs. An example would be looking back through old trades that have failed, or identifying old position and cash breaks or running live system checks that identify problems.

“The job is complicated, but no more so than having to bash out a live report or reporting a breaking story – although you have to be careful when playing around with hundreds of million dollar trades!”

To be in with a chance of selection, you must meet three basic requirements. Firstly, you need to be at least 21 years old before the programme starts.

Secondly, you need a first degree from a university outside the US, and many applicants even have postgraduate qualifications as well.

Finally, you must have at least one year’s worth of experience in a specific field related to that which you want to work in while you are in New York.

This means if you apply for a placement in Human Resources, you must have spent 12 months or more working either in a firm’s HR department or linked to HR, and you will have to provide evidence to prove it.

Other requirements include fluent written and spoken English, a typing speed of at least 45 words per minute and a suitable personality for living with strangers in an unfamiliar city.

Under the umbrella definition of management, business, commerce and finance, Mountbatten offers placements in 12 subcatagories.

These are: architecture, event management, executive search, finance, government, HR, IT, law, marketing, non-profit, post-production services (media), and real estate.

The selection process is thorough, said Paul, but does not involve a detailed academic analysis.

“You are matched to sponsor companies and the various jobs on offer through the programme, then have to pass a final interview before you are fully accepted.

“You have to have a degree and at least a year of work experience in the field of your degree, but the academic qualifications are only one part.

“The interviewers mainly assess you on your personality and suitability for the programme in general, such as your ability to cope with the hours, if you are happy living with four or five other people and so on.”

All interns live in shared flats in a Manhattan apartment building, and cannot find their own accommodation. This can be tough for people used to their own space, or for those who prefer a quiet home life, but is easier for graduates recently out of student houses. Married couples or partners are not encouraged to apply together.

The trade-off with Mountbatten’s apartment block is the rooms are free! Interns do not have to pay rent during their time in New York.

The internship has strict entry requirements and rules to qualify under US visa regulations, and successful applicants are expected to honour their year-long commitment to the programme.

It is not a free placement either. Although accommodation is included and you get a $1,000 living allowance every month, registering for the postgraduate certificate costs a total of £6,100.

People who opt for the full MBA face even higher bills: £2,500 and a further $32,000 to cover their 12 months in New York and then four additional months in Asia.

Not only that, you have to pay for your own flights and J1 visa expenses before you set foot on a plane.

Paul said: “The visa is a complicated process and it cost me a lot of money. You have to get a J1 working visa, which I actually had when I worked in LA a couple of years ago, but it really not a simple process.”

The Mountbatten Institute recommends that interns need at least $900 to cover basic expenses in the first few weeks, as food, electricity and telephone bills are not included either.

Serious, financial considerations might dim the internship’s appeal, but do not forget you would spend 12 months living and working in New York – an impressive addition to any CV.

With that in mind, what is the best bit of being a Mountbatten intern?

“It’s living next to Manhattan in one of the best cities in the world, with lots of like-minded people your own age,” said Paul. “Whatever you want from the city you can take – if you want to go to a 14th century Spanish history lecture on architecture you could find it, or if you want to go to a dingy dive bar every night you could do that.

“The city literally has everything in it, it’s such an intense place.”

Fancy your chances? Applicants are interviewed in London, Sydney and Bangkok, and there are two intakes per year: one in March and one in September.

More detailed information about application deadlines for both programmes is available at the bottom of this page. You can apply directly through the website.

Spending an extended time volunteering abroad can be the most intimate way to discover a new country. Paid work is exciting, but ultimately the beneficiaries are businesses and you may find yourself spending more time working for the system than experiencing another culture.

Working abroad for free, i.e., volunteering overseas, may not bring financial gains, but can broaden your mind and provide experience for a new or different career. That was Alex Quinn’s motivation when he left his home in Stretford and took six months out to volunteer in Uganda.

The Manchester University economics graduate worked for a community based organisation called the Women’s Initiative for Prosperity, spending half a year in Kamuli, a small town in Busoga, eastern Uganda, and travelled a couple of miles to the ‘subcounty’ of Buwanume for his placement as an Economic Empowerment Intern.

But what did such a grand job title entail? Quite a lot, as it turned out. Alex, who completed an MA in development economics, said: “My main focus was setting up a programme to provide the local widows and mothers with the capacity to generate incomes at some point in the future.

“This involved researching their needs and capabilities, fundraising to fund the project, then providing the women with loans in the form of livestock that they could use to breed and repay the loans hopefully within a year, which could then be recycled to other members of the community.”

Did it work? “The organisation is small, with only a couple of people directing it, and the local community which it serves is involved too.  As such I was in control of my own programme, and had a lot of influence on the whole organisation, virtually running it while I was out there, in partnership with a local volunteer called Joseph.

“We managed to get enough funding and interest to make loans to 23 women, consisting of chickens, pigs, and goats.”

Alex’s economics background was invaluable for making the project a success, as he was in charge of working out the programme’s financial details.

“I also had to design the loan repayment structures, the contracts, co-ordinate the finances of the programme, direct the purchase of the livestock – I couldn’t purchase it myself because I didn’t know the language, and my presence would’ve pushed the prices up, so I had to rely on Joseph doing what I told him here,” he said.

“Then we had to run training sessions for the women to ensure that they could take care of the animals and understood what was expected of them, helping them design business plans, budgets and repayment schedules.”

Alex came across the placement through an advert on idealist.org, and unlike some projects, he did not have to pay the organisation to join them – however he had to fund his own flights and living costs. Instead, he raised money while in Uganda to fund the loans programme.

He said: “I was the first intern and they were such a small and relatively disorganised organisation there wasn’t much to the application process, I e-mailed them asking for more details and without telling them anything about me they said they’ve love to have me, which was rather unexpected and a bit worrying!”

It was not a cheap six months – his initial three-month visa cost US$50 and needed renewing halfway through, while flights from the UK totalled more than £500 and vaccinations and malaria tablets cost about £250.

“I had to pay the ‘charity’ to pick me up from the airport, a couple of nights in a hotel, and for sorting some other things out for me, then I had to pay for my accommodation which included meals, about £60 a month, and maybe £200 for everything else. The total cost of the whole thing including spending money was probably £2, 000 to £2,500 or so and I was living on quite a tight budget.”

Spending so long in another country brings a wealth of experiences, but Alex said the best thing about his time volunteering was a bit cliché.

“The old adage that travels broadens the mind is pretty true – I find the more you see and the more you learn, the more you understand not just other people and places better, but your own environment, history, yourself and how it all interacts and influences each other. At least, for me being a ‘new institutional economist’ it does.

“There were times out there when I felt I could’ve moved there, I didn’t really miss much from home, apart from the food, but then you appreciate decent food more out there when you do get it!”

Of course, everything has a dark side – and Africa presents a challenge to anyone used to Western comforts. Yet when naming the worst thing about his trip, Alex said the obvious problems were less of an issue than he expected.

“All the usual things – mosquitoes, power cuts, the toilet or lack thereof – were awful at first but second nature by the end.

Volunteer to Work in Uganda

“I would have expected to say the worst thing was the poverty I saw, the kids without clothes, houses without contents etc but that didn’t really bother me much, if at all. Everyone generally had enough to eat, as the land is good for growing crops, they just have no real way of making money from it.

“The thing that was worst was the attitudes, the lack of ability to question and lack of desire to think for themselves. The tendency to believe what you are told from those above you without questioning them leads to a population where the majority believe in witchcraft, where everyone I met was homophobic yet had no understanding of why, where they believe “sometimes the laws of physics work” or you can pick up sexually transmitted diseases from using a urinal.

“The same is true of the technologies they import, any shopkeeper or bar tender will add up your bill with a calculator, even for the simplest of calculations, because while they understand how to use a calculator they don’t really analyse what it actually does and then do that process for themselves.”

“Having said that nearly everyone I met was happy, far happier than people in the UK. Sure, they all wanted to be rich, but due to having no expectations they were quite content with their lives.”

Casual work is one of the greatest ways to earn a living abroad, granting you the flexibility to move from country to country or city to city without the danger of life becoming as boring and humdrum as back home.

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!

Unless you absolutely hate everything about your home country, the chances are you will feel a bit nervous about upping sticks and working abroad. Luckily, many causal jobs in foreign climes are seasonal, so you can try out the work for a few months and come home again if you do not like it.

The hospitality sector is a huge employer during the summer months, as hotels, hostels and campsites need staff to look after their guests. Jade Leeming, 20, from Skipton in North Yorkshire, spent almost four months working in France as a camp courier for Canvas.

She worked at Le Bois Masson campsite in western France, near a seaside town called St Jean-de-Monts in the Vendee, from May 26 to September 10 in 2008.

She heard about the job while completing a BTEC in Travel and Tourism at Craven College, as her tutors passed on details of vacancies to their students. After applying through the company website, she attended an interview and was matched to an available campsite. People out of education who like the sound of the job can find out about Canvas’ summer 2011 vacancies here.

She said: “During the day I had to clean customer accommodations and make sure they were ready for the customers coming in after 2pm. When guests arrived in the afternoon, we would show them to their accommodation, and give them a brief introduction to the site.

“We took it in turns to do night duty, which entailed being on call if anything needed doing or if late arrivals came in. I had one full day off a week, as well as a few hours here and there.”

Jade’s motivation for working abroad was to gain experience for her later career. She said: “I’ve always liked travelling, so by working abroad for a summer I knew I would gain more experience to do it later and gain a better job within the travel and tourism industry.”

Her wages came to about £600 per month, leaving about £500 after accommodation and living expenses were deducted, yet Jade acknowledged that not every company provides food, accommodation or travel expenses for their employees.

However, she was happy with how well Canvas looked after her travel arrangements.

“My flights were all organised by Canvas themselves. They booked a flight for me from Stansted to Nantes airport, and it was an hour-long train journey to the campsite from there. I was fine without a visa because I’m from an EU country but people from other countries would need to apply for a work visa before they arrived.”

Was previous experience necessary to get accepted for the job? “Well, I had a head start because I spent the two years beforehand doing a BTEC, but speaking to other people, most of them had degrees or some sort of qualification but nothing specific. Some of the reception staff who had to interact with the foreign guests everyday had to be nearly fluent in that language, but that was pretty much the only qualification needed.”

Living in a country which speaks a different language might pose a problem for some, but Jade managed to get by on schoolgirl French. She said: “I did French at school so I knew the basics and could string a conversation together! I was not always perfect but the French staff were happy to help me and correct my worst mistakes. Being immersed into the community really helps and makes you learn the language faster – you pick up things without even realising, which was good. Also, the French staff helped a lot with anything you didn’t know.”

Although setting up her future was one of her main aims for working abroad, Jade said the best part of her time in France was gaining her own independence. “I basically lived on my own for the summer, which makes you learn a lot for yourself. I made loads of great friends who I still keep in contact with, so it lasted much longer than a summer.”

Surely spending the best part of four months abroad must have had its low points as well? Jade struggled to find anything to criticise, and finally came up with: “Probably the amount of luggage I could take with me, as I was only flying budget so the limitation of 17KG for four months was not a great. I ended up having to pay about £60 excess when I travelled out!”

And if that is all she can find fault with, it must have been a fantastic summer working in France!