Work for travellers – what are your options?
Heading overseas for an extended period of time is a great way to see the world and to experience other cultures. But unless you have come into a lot of money recently you will need to pick up a job or two to keep you going. Getting work overseas can really add to the experience, as it gives you a taste of the local life and is also a great way to make new friends.
If you are unsure of what type of jobs you can find while travelling through Australia, Asia, the UK or any other country, here are some ideas for you:
Au Pair
If you love kids, working as an au pair is a fantastic option. Start by finding a reputable au pair agency in Sydney or whichever city you wish to work in and sign up.
As an au pair, your accommodation and food will be provided so you won’t have to spend any extra money while you are working.
Being part of a local family will allow you to really immerse yourself in the local life as you take the kids to their activities, parks and schools. If you are lucky, you may even get to travel with the family on their vacations, which is a cheaper way to see different parts of the world. The downside is that you won’t be able to travel too much while you are working with the family, but being an au pair is a great base to start from while you save, and then you can travel at the end of your contract.
Teach English
If you are heading to a country where English is not the first language, then teaching is a great way to make money. In many countries, you are only required to have a college degree and of course English needs to be your native language. Other than that, you don’t need formal teaching qualifications, although you can land better paying jobs if you do have them.
If you take on a more permanent position you can set yourself up in the country of your choice and use it as a base for travelling and seeing the world. Alternatively, you can do shorter stints and pick up casual teaching jobs while you are travelling, but the pay won’t be as good and you run the risk of not finding work right when your funds are drying up.
Exchange Work on a Farm
A popular way to travel is to ‘WWOOF’. That is, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.
WWOOF is like an exchange program, where travellers work on a farm in exchange for food and board. No money changes hands so you won’t be earning anything, but you also won’t be spending money on expensive accommodation and food. It is especially great in places like Australia and New Zealand where it can get quite expensive to travel and live.
The thinking behind the WWOOF organisation is to grow a sustainable global community based on trust, whilst giving travellers cultural and educational experiences.
Hospitality
There are pubs and cafes in almost every corner of the world, so bar tending and waitressing can be an easy win when looking for work overseas. You can go for a long-term position to base yourself in one area, or you can follow the seasons and help out local cafes in their peak period, moving on to the next place when the work dies down.
Working in hospitality is a great way to brush up on your local language skills and it is also a great way to meet new people. Serving drinks behind a bar will allow you to chat to the regular patrons and gain an understanding of their way of life. And with all of the new contacts you make, who knows where you will end up next!
Become a Freelancer
These days it is becoming less important to be based inside an office for a job – depending on your industry of course. If you work in anything that is web based you may be able to work from anywhere, as long as you have internet connection. If you are lucky, your boss might be willing to let you turn your current job into a remote position so you can keep working while you travel. Or if you have the skills to become a writer, graphic designer or web developer you could start up your own online freelance business.
As a freelancer it doesn’t matter where you are working from, and as your own boss you can pick and choose the jobs you take while also allowing yourself plenty of holiday time. But of course the downside is that you can’t guarantee a certain income at all times, so you will need to make sure you have plenty of savings in the bank in case of tough times.
