Working Holidays

Working holidays offer the opportunity to find work, get paid and travel in a number of countries around the world. The program is based on reciprocal arrangements between governments of countries and offer the perfect way to live abroad, earn money and explore.

Working Holiday Jobs

Best Working Holiday Companies

Featured Countries

Popular Destinations

You can apply for working holidays all around the globe and where you go really comes down to your personal choice and what type of experience you are interested in. Working holidays in Europe are popular with Americans, whilst Oceania is a popular destination with Brits. But there are so many options.

Some of the best destinations include Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Japan. Other countries you can apply for working holidays include Korea, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Malta, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Working Holiday Packages

Some companies have 50+ years of experience in helping people to take working holidays and offer special packages to help make the whole experience easier and hassle free. You’ll usually pay a fee which includes placements, visa, group flights and the chance to meet other participants.

On arrival you will be given accommodation for a number of days, an orientation, a city tour (great for integration) and also help with job hunting. 24/7 emergency help and support at home and abroad is also provided for peace of mind.

Visas and Requirements

Here’s a quick snapshot of some things to keep in mind regarding working holidays:

• Age restrictions apply and usually you need to be aged 18 – 35.
• The type of work that can be carried out under a Working Holiday Visa may be limited to certain occupations
• Some of the countries like Canada have a “limited number” of visas that they make available in any one year – so you may have to get your application in quick!
• There is generally a fee associated with obtaining a Working Holiday Visa, both when applying independently or through an agency
• There is usually a restriction on the length of stay in a country and this length of stay may also have entry and re-entry limitations
• Some countries require a clean bill of medical health and a clean slate regarding criminal convictions

Reasons to Do a Working Holiday

It is important to consider how you will finance your travels and while you’re likely to already have some money saved up, it may be an idea to work while abroad.

Many travellers take on gap year jobs for at least a portion of their time away and by doing so, you’ll be able to earn a wage with which to finance your travels. However, this is by no means the only benefit, as you will also get to experience life as the locals do and develop new skills.

You can work in countries all over the world, so whether you’re planning on taking a gap year in a single destination or want to go on a globetrotting adventure, you should be able find suitable jobs abroad with little trouble.

Perhaps one of the most popular destinations for working while on a gap year is New Zealand. Here you will have the chance to gain employment on a farm – which can be a great way for you to take in the country’s natural scenery while earning a wage – as well as get office-based positions in cities like Auckland.

If you’ve worked in childcare, you may want to consider looking for a job as an au pair, while hospitality and retail are some of the industries that you may be able to find a job in.

Alternatively, why not consider Australia? This is one of the most popular gap year travel destinations for Britons and by getting a working holiday visa for the country, you’ll soon be able to experience authentic Aussie culture.

While it’s possible to work in construction and retail, for something a little out of the ordinary you could get a job on a farm or ranch. Living in the outback, here you will do everything from cattle mustering to riding tractors, so this will really be a hands-on position.

Many employers will not only give you a wage but provide you with accommodation and meals, so working here may be a great way to save up cash to fund your travels around Australia.

Canada is another popular destination for many of those who are hoping to work while on a gap year. You’ll find positions in major cities like Vancouver and sport resorts like Whistler, but for a job that is truly rewarding you may want to think about being a youth camp counsellor.

These summer jobs see you work alongside young people, acting as a mentor to them and teaching new skills.

South of the border, you can also take on seasonal positions in the USA. Working full-time in the service sector for around three to five months during the summer, this includes positions such as housekeeping and customer service roles at amusement parks.

Not only can this offer an in-depth insight into American culture, but after your contract is over with the money you’ve earned you’ll be able to fund your continued travels through the USA.

As one of the biggest countries in the world, it is perhaps unsurprising China is a popular destination for gap year travellers and teaching English in schools can be a fantastic way to fund your time here. You will help youngsters to pick up the language and not only will you need to plan and deliver lessons, but you’ll also be responsible for correcting their homework and keeping attendance records.

If you have been – or are planning to become – a teacher in the UK, this could be a great job that allows you to build upon your skills. Or if Asia appeals but not teaching, you could plan a trip to Japan and work a winter ski season.

No matter what you decide to go on your gap year, you can be sure of finding working holiday jobs that not only pay a wage but also prove to be extremely fulfilling.

How to Make the Most of a Working Holiday Visa

Working holiday vias are a great way to see the world, get experience for your CV and earn some money to fund your travels. But how to make the most of them?

Here are all the do’s and don’ts of a working gap year, in three easy steps…

Step 1:
Don’t… be inflexible Just because you are working, doesn’t mean you have to settle down. Picking short term jobs and being relaxed about where you work and what kind of work you do will make your experience more rewarding – not only will it be more spontaneous, but you’ll get to try things you never usually would!

Do… have a plan Being flexible doesn’t mean being unprepared. Before you set of, try to get an idea of the kind of work that is commonly available and remember to chose flight dates that don’t clash with university holidays, so you won’t have to compete for temporary work with thousands of students.

It’s also really important to work on your CV before you leave home because doing it in the country as and when you apply for jobs will mean hours spent wasted in internet cafes.

Step 2:
Don’t… assume you can only be a waitress. Don’t think that every traveller has to work in a bar of cafe. The more skilled the work, whether you’re working in an office or in construction, the better paid it is – and if you temp you can still enjoy short-term contracts. So don’t ignore any unique skills you may have because you want to move around lots.

Check out our five golden rules for getting a job abroad. Do… research your visa Working Visa’s for travellers are often specifically for funding travel and not for career opportunities. Whilst it may be possible to rack up a good list of work experience in New Zealand, in America the conditions of a visa are much stricter and you shouldn’t expect to be doing the same kind of work.

It’s also essential to consider what you want from this experience – if you settle in one place for the majority of your visa, there might be lots of things you miss out on. Casual work and temping agencies offer you much greater freedom to move from place to place, whilst still adding great experience to your CV.

Step 3:
Don’t… spend, spend, spend While you’re earning it will be very tempting to live like you would at home – going out, eating good food, and shopping till you drop.

Just remember that the more money you save, the more you will have to spend on the really important things – like snorkelling off the Great Barrier Reef, or swimming with dolphins! So put down that pint, and ignore that new dress, because the rewards will be worth it.

Do… get involved One of the best things about working in a country is the opportunity to really get to know the locals and become involved in the culture. Working will expose you to the great big world, and get you to socialise with people who don’t live in hostels.

Don’t let that experience pass you buy – get to know the people you work with, and spend time socialising. And if you don’t fancy living in a hostel, you could even see if any local students are looking for a temporary flat mate…

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