Contributed by @iwishgapyear

Working abroad is a great way to combine some travel, with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and earn a little money at the same time.  The culmination of having worked abroad is that you are:

• Able to understand different cultures.
• Much more employable.
• In a position to think more about your future.

Different Cultures

When you are just passing and visiting a place for a few days or even a couple of weeks, it is hard to fully understand the people, the culture and ultimately what makes the place tick.  But it you truly live somewhere for a large amount of time, you become a local.  This acceptance allows you to learn even more, shows great understanding of ‘different’ and ultimately if you can adapt to change you become much more employable.

Increased Employability

it doesn’t matter if there is a recession or not, increasing your chances of getting the job that you really want is always a good thing.  However, given the current climate, employers are increasingly looking for something in candidates that sets them apart from the rest.  If you can show an employer that you have been able to plan, organise, pay for (via part time work no doubt), carry out and be successful in a work placement abroad – then you greatly improve your chances of getting the job!

Take a Breather

After many years of working & studying, it can be good to get away from the books for good, the dull weather back home and to see the world.  Working abroad allows you to do this.  But it also allows you to think about your chosen career path and what you want to really do before you make any final decisions on the future.

If you are thinking about working abroad, then you have two different scenarios to consider when it comes to the work.  Do you go on a working holiday or do you travel for a specific job?

• Working Holiday – are where the main purpose of your trip is to travel and for you to carry out informal, casual work for a short period of time thoughout your trip in order to supplement the travel funds.
• Specific Job – this where you travel abroad with the intention of working in a specific role, with a certain company.  It is arranged before hand and you fit your travels around the job, rather than the other way around.

Each scenario has it’s Pros & Cons for travelers and it is helpful to understand the difference before you start planning.

Working Holiday

PROS

• Allow flexibility with your travel plans.
• Work as much or as little as you want.
• You can pick & choose where you want to work – if you don’t enjoy a job, move on.
• Make new friends and meet like minded travelers – eg through working in bars, clubs, hostels etc
• Pick up work relatively easily.
• Cheaper to obtain the relevant visas & work permits (if they are required).
• Can arrange a working holiday independently, without the help of a particular company.
• If you are an EU citizen, then you can work anywhere in the EU – without needing a visa! but you may need a passport.

CONS

• The pay may not be the highest.
• The work may not be the most challenging! eg cleaning work, factory work.
• Job security may not be as good with casual working holiday roles, as opposed to a specific, contracted job.
• There can be high competition for some roles, especially where there are a lot of travelers. eg Cairns or Sydney.
• Certain restrictions on visas and work permits mean you can only work for a limited amount of time in one job – usually between 3 and 6 months.
• Can be difficult to plan financially if you rely on a casual job, yet one that doesn’t offer certain guarantees.

A Specific Job Role

PROS

• Much greater job security with a guaranteed contract for a particular length of time.
• You know before you go how much you’ll be paid and the number of hours you are expected to work too.
• The greater security this brings, does allow you to plan your trip and especially any future travel that you undertake.
• Future career – you can choose a specific job role and one that relates to your future career (eg hospitality) or even a specific area of interest (eg Snowboarding).
• You can work for longer in a country (12 months or more).  This allows you to gain a better understanding of the country and the improved experience you will receive as a result will in turn make you more employable.

CONS

• You are tied down to a specific job and if you arrive to discover this isn’t for you, you could be left with a tricky decision to make.  Stick it out or return home.
• Less flexibility than the more casual work option that a working holiday brings.
• You are unlikely to be able to work for more than one company.  So whilst you might be able to switch from restaurant to room service say, you won’t be able to go from one hotel to another.
• The “longer term” visas often have restrictions which dictate that you can only work for one company.

For further information on work visas, check out our visas page.

About iwishgapyear

Oliver, the founder of IWishGapYear.com.

I’ve been interested in travel all my life and have been lucky to travel from a young age.  It’s no surprise that travel is the industry I went into and the only one I have ever known!

IWishGapYear.com is focused on the “Gap Year Industry”.  To me it’s not just backpacking and traveling – even though that might be a gap year in your life. It’s about doing something worthwhile.  It’s about volunteering to help others, working abroad to boost your CV/resume or learning a new skill, qualification or trade.

Lin Yutang once said, “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.”  Well with the help of the awesome @Monica530 and @iwishgapyear we hope to provide you with inspiration and guidance.   If you ever need anything feel free to post on my forum. I always try to reply to every question personally!

Tags: Visa, Working Abroad