Budget travelers who want to extend their trips overseas frequently check into "work abroad" opportunities. Some are pursuing study abroad programs, while others simply want to take an extended vacation in a given place but lack the resources to finance all of their plans. The first step in finding work is to consider the destination's labor laws. They vary widely, and a few might prevent you from finding a good job. Check out the following Web resources, listed in random order, which should be helpful in planning for work abroad opportunities.
There are agencies that specialize in helping budget travelers see the world and do a little work along the way to make it all possible. One example is the British Universities North America Club, started in the 1960s as a clearinghouse for those who wanted an alternative to package tours. Today, these opportunities remain geared primarily for travelers. Most opportunities are only available to those between 18-35 years of age, and the preference is for students or recent graduates. Not all of the placements are for paying positions. Peru and Cambodia, for example, are destinations for volunteer positions. You will pay both program and registration fees for most experiences.
One way of extending your visit is to find a job teaching in your preferred destination. In many places, English teachers are needed and welcomed. For most of these jobs, it is not necessary to be fluent in the destination language. Organizations such as the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) coordinate both study abroad and teach abroad opportunities for an initial, variable program fee. CIEE can match you with 35-40 hour per week teaching jobs. The host school provides housing and even a free one-way ticket home upon completion of the contract. Opportunities exist in Chile, China, Spain and Thailand.
Many travel lovers dream of being
tour guides, but are you ready to deal with (sometimes unreasonable) demands of paying guests? Are you in the kind of physical shape required to lead the bicycle and kayaking tours so much in demand these days? This is one of those jobs that has changed through the years, but it could be rewarding for the right person. Backroads.com is an example of a company looking to hire guides for adventure travel all over the world.
Maybe speaking or guiding tours are not your thing, but you do have some basic people skills and patience with the general public. You have an excellent driving record and you like the open road. There are opportunities for tour drivers at almost any destination that attracts visitors. Green Tortoise is an example of a large company that provides training and job opportunities. You earn pay and tips.
The International Student Travel Confederation has been in business since 1949. They claim to work with 60,000 students, youth and professors each year. As with all these opportunities, the money you earn will not put you on Easy Street, but it will defray your living expenses and many of your travel-related bills, too.
At first, this sounds like a great idea: visit exciting ports-of-call on your days off, live among people from all over the world, and enjoy a work environment that is carefree, even festive. All of those things might be true, but there are also many potential drawbacks. Off-time is measured in hours, not days. Crew accommodations can be cramped. You'll repeat the same itinerary for about six months before significant holidays are offered. About Cruises offers an extensive
list of employment links for considering this option, but please weigh all the pros and cons carefully. One other warning: beware of services that offer to give you an inside track on cruise jobs for a fee. Many times, they are not worth the expense.
About's Guide to U.S. and Canadian National Parks offers some tips for securing seasonal or full-time employment at either a national park or with a company that is contracted to provide services. Xanterra, for example, is a company with contracts to serve a number of U.S. National Parks. The offer
employment for international applicants who are students and have a J-1 Exchange Visitors' Visa.
If you're an American student hoping to combine work with study, this site offers valuable information about visas and cultural exchanges. It's fairly simple Web address, studentsabroad.state.gov, should be committed to memory, because it's a resource that leads to vital information. For example, a few clicks will tell you where to find the
nearest embassy and how to
replace lost or stolen documents.
This is a "town square" of information for a wide variety of work abroad prospects from TransitionsAbroad.com. They provide hundreds of links to useful articles, books and Web sites. It's a great place to start your research.
Some people who take temporary employment overseas discover that they don't want to come home. If that's your situation, this Web site offers lots of tips for finding work, getting the red tape under control and a blog that raises issues of interest to ex-pats and travelers.
