Knock, Knock. Any jobs? I want to find work overseas?
Living and working abroad is a very unique experience. It allows you to immerse yourself in a different culture where you can learn another language, meet new people, experience different food and get a new perspective on the world. Now, if you are thinking of heading overseas on a working holiday visa but haven’t quite got enough money, don’t worry, you are not alone. You have a few options. Get work while you travel. Here’s how you can find work overseas to help fund your lifestyle.
Something to remember about finding work overseas is that you need to stay flexible in the work you do. Always remember that you are undertaking work to fund your travels rather than forge a career. Here are 10 work options that travellers often do to help them continue to travel the world.
How to Find Work Overseas
1. Consider where you are
The first thing to consider to how to make money while travelling abroad is to consider where you are. Thinking of where you are can lead to work opportunities. Instead of sitting around thinking I can’t find work, think along the lines of ‘I am in a particular area and this area specialises in this industry or industries. Therefore, I could find work in this industry or related to this industry. Some examples of what I mean are:
I am in a:
– mining town – therefore I could find a trade position. Or, as miners need to eat I could find a job in a cafe or restaurant.
– major city – therefore I could find office support, accounting, hospitality, trades, etc.
– town – servicing the farming community therefore I could find a position picking fruit and vegetables.
– beach suburb – I could find a hospitality position in a bar or cafe or maybe if this suburb has a fishing industry I could find a job on a boat.
– holiday centre – I could get a job in hospitality in one of the many cafes, bars and restaurants, or as a cleaner/room service in one of the many hotels or hostels.
– high country area or mountain areas – and there are snow resorts can I get a job in hospitality, ski or snowboard instructor, etc. If you are looking for a job in the ski resorts read my post here.
– an Industrial area – therefore I could find a trade position.
So when you find a place you like and wish to stay a while, find out about the local industry and take it from there.
2. Word of Mouth – Ask around – Door Knocking
Following on from my first of finding a travel job suggestion, sometimes it is not what you know, but who you know, or who you meet. While travelling don’t be afraid to let it be known that you are interested to find work abroad. Because someone you might talk to just might know of a job going. And that leads me to ‘asking around’. Ask the hotel, hostel or caravan park receptionist, the bar tender, the coffee shop owner if they have any jobs going. You just never know. So arm yourself with your CV and walk in to an establishment and ask if there is work available. You just never know, they can only say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
3. Tourist Brochures
Even though tourist brochures, available in a travel agency, are designed for potential visitors to a certain place, they can be a good source of work information. This is because they provide general information about a specific area. Plus, have maps of these areas (including popular tourist areas). And they mention tours available, details of special events and provide extensive lists of accommodation. You can use this available information to your advantage. You could approach accommodation mentioned in the tourist brochures if they have job vacancies.
4. Hostels
As well as being a cheap accommodation option hostels are a great source of information. There are employers who contact hostels requesting staff. This is because they know they are full of travellers who would be glad of a day or more work. Check out any noticeboards in the hostel and ask at reception.
Hostels are often staffed by travellers so you could ask if there are jobs where you are staying. You might find yourself working on reception, cleaning or driving the courtesy minibus to pick up other travellers from the airport or bus station. This work is usually found by being in the right place at the right time. So become friendly with the staff already there and make it known that you are looking for work. If you don’t get a job maybe you can ask can you work for a free bed!
5. Recruitment Agencies
Employment or recruitment agencies were originally the way women re-entered the work force; thus the abundance of office support agencies. Employers have realised the potential and flexibility gained from employing experienced staff through temping, out-sourcing and contracting so now there are agencies covering a whole gamut of professions. This is good news if you are hoping to find work as you travel abroad.
So basically you need to register with an agency. This will involve you providing them with your CV and references. You should then have an interview, either face-to-face or via the phone or facetime call and hopefully you will be put on their books for casual work. Then you need to wait for an employer to contact the agency requesting someone to fill the position. This could be for a day, week or longer.
6. The Internet
The Internet is a popular way to find a job as you travel. There are a number of specialist recruitment sites. Simply type in the type of job you are looking for and the area and then see what comes up. Also check out Facebook pages.
Travel Jobs You Could Do As You Travel
1. Teach English
Teaching English to those who want to learn English has long been a way travellers make money while they travel. Depending on the country you don’t necessarily need a qualification. Though if you want a better paying job a qualification, such as TEFL will stand you in good stead. Qualifications can be done on-line which is good news as they are cheaper and often don’t take as long to do. i-to-i is a provider of such courses and the qualification is well respected. See what courses i-to-i have available here. Once you have it, the world is your oyster as this is because many schools will sponsor your visa allowing you to work in countries you may never have thought possible. Countries in Asia, South America or Eastern Europe. If you are serious about teaching English overseas purchase a copy of my ebook Teach English Overseas. Get more details about Teaching English Overseas here.
2. Work on a Cruise Ship
Getting a job on a cruise ship will see you being paid to travel the world (or a specific part of the world). That’s why many people work on a cruise ship – you receive accommodation, meals and get to travel the world.
Cruising is very popular and o ensure passengers enjoy their cruise literally hundreds, sometimes thousands of workers are required to ensure this happens. Positions can be found as cooks, chefs, waiters, waitresses, bartending, engineering, administration, cleaning, housekeeping, to name a few. The first thing to do is decide which area you would like to work, ie. the Pacific, the Caribbean, Alaska, Asia, etc. Then find out which ships sail in these areas and then apply to the ship’s owner. My biggest tip here is that when you apply for a position, apply for a specific position, ie. bartending, this way the employer knows exactly what you want to do and if there is a position, it just could be yours. For more information on getting a job on a cruise ship check out my ebook Work on a Cruise Ship.
3. Work in a Backpacker Hostel
Everyone has to sleep somewhere and many travellers sleep in a hostel. Not only are these places a cheap place to stay but they are a great place to work. There are minimal jobs available but usually are cleaning, working on the front desk, maybe working in the bar (if there is one) and maybe driving a minibus to pick up and drop off other travellers at bus/train stations. Hostels are usually staffed by travellers who like the town/city and want to stay longer. A wage and free accommodation is usually what you will get. Maybe discounted meals and drinks. To get such a job just ask in the hostel if there are any jobs going. Another way is to check out the HostelWorld website. This site not only allows you to research and book a hostel but is a great source providing the contact details of the hostel. You can use these details to ascertain if any jobs are going at the hostel before you arrive.
4. Get a Working Holiday Visa
If you are between the ages of 18-31 years (sometimes 35) inclusive then apply for a working holiday visa. At present there are around 40 or so countries that have a reciprocal working holiday program available. Basically, if you are granted one of these visas you will be allowed to stay in that country for a maximum stay of 1 year or sometimes up to 2 years and immerse yourself in the local culture. The visa allows you to undertake work (usually typical backpacker work like picking fruit and vegetables, bar work, waitress/waiter, administration, labourer, etc.) to help fund your time there and for future travels. Pay isn’t always great but as long as you are paid. Check out my working holiday destinations page to see where you could live, work, play and travel.
5. Seasonal Work
Follow the sun
Many travellers like to follow the sun and this is possible by travelling between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. When you follow the sun you can find work in a popular holiday destinations usually in a hospitality related job (barista, waiter/waitress, washing dishes, bartending, etc) and also teaching English (particularly in Asian countries) so having some skills in these areas will be a bonus and make you more employable.
Follow the snow
If you love snow sports then you might want to follow the snow as many people do moving between the hemispheres from snow resort to snow resort. There are many jobs available including ski and snowboard instructors but you will need to be qualified to undertake these roles. Most travellers find work in the resorts in hospitality as chalet staff (housekeeping, front of office) and in the bars, restaurants, cafes and other shops that can be found in a resort.
6. Use Your Skills and Adapt Them to Where You Are
To help you find work overseas adapt your skills to the jobs available. Everyone has skills and talents they can use to find work. So get off that bunk bed and start using them.
Can you sing, play guitar, dance, juggle? then you could busk or street perform. Ensure you meet any Council/Borough/Area regulations.
Are you a hairdresser and able to cut hair? then offer fellow travellers cheap haircuts.
Can you answer the phone nicely? then you may want to contact a call centre.
Do you like children? then you could babysit, be an au pair or a nanny.
Have you used garden equipment? then you could mow someone’s lawn or tend to their garden.
Can you make coffees? then you could be a barista.
Have you got a friendly personality? then you could wait tables.
Can you teach English? then approach English language schools or teach it on-line.
Make money on-line and be a digital nomad moving from country to country.
Can you pour a beer? then approach bars to be a bartender.
Are you able to clean? Then see if there are any jobs going in the accommodation you are staying in. Cleaning bathrooms, kitchens, making beds and emptying bins.
I think you get the drift. Then adapt your skills to where you are. Are you in a seaside holiday town – then there should be lots of bars, cafes and restaurants to approach. Also accommodation where you might pick up housekeeping work. Are you in a country town – are there any picking fruit or vegetable jobs going?
These jobs will mean you need some get up and go and approach businesses yourself or you could advertise your services on such websites as Craiglist and Gumtree.
7. Work On-line
Many travellers find work on-line and be digital nomads moving from country to country. There are plenty of on-line work options.
If you have a background in web design, web advertising (like Facebook ads) or a tech background you may want to investigate websites such as UpWork which is a great website to find virtual work as you travel. I have a friend who gets loads of freelance work via this website and it allows him to continue to travel. He likes to call himself a VA (Virtual Assistant). He does need to ensure he travels with his computer and he needs good access to the Internet.
You can also create a profile about yourself and the services you provide on such websites as Fiverr, Task Rabbit and Outsource.
Some travellers also find work doing things like data entry on-line, though this is very competitive, while others do on-line surveys and watch videos and get paid for their feedback. I do on-line surveys. It can be time consuming and I must ensure I have a good internet connection. Doing surveys doesn’t pay that well but hey, it pays and every dollar helps right!
You may even want to start your own travel blog about your travels. Many bloggers make money by monetising their blog with advertising agencies such as Google Adsense, Mediavine and Raptive. Then also add affiliate programs, drop shipping and creating content for other bloggers. Some bloggers make enough money every month to fund all their travels.
Many who work on-line take their job with them and be known as a digital nomad. You may want to apply for a digital nomad visa (of which there are some 60+ countries offering these). If successful in getting one you are allowed to stay in another country for a year or two on this visa.
8. Au Pair or Nanny
If you have an interest in children then you may want to consider living and working abroad as an Au Pair, nanny or child minder. Most of these jobs apart from babysitting are usually live-in meaning, you will have your own room (near the kids) and receive food and a small wage in return for looking after someone else’s kids. There may even be holidays involved.
I did this type of work when I lived in London and I loved it. I looked after 2 girls and took them to things like dancing classes and music lessons after school. We would go to parks and for walks and I was really pleased when I tucked them in to bed at night and I then had free time.
There are many countries you could find a job as an au pair and be living and working fantastic cities like New York, Paris or Sydney. There are a number of websites such as Au Pair World, International Exchange, etc. or do a Google search.
9. Yacht Crewing
If you don’t mind the water then you may consider working on a yacht. Now there are different sizes of yacht so you will need to determine what size might suit you best. Also, you don’t necessarily need qualifications as you can learn on the job however, knowing the different knots and having a STCW95 certificate will stand you in good stead.
Smaller yachts often need crew to help them sail to far flung places. This could involve delivering a yacht to a sunny destination or sailing with the owner. Often you work for your board though some captains pay a small wage. While others might want you to contribute to the food and the running costs. As you move up the spectrum to larger yachts, there may be a number of positions available such as a cook/chef, housekeeping, crew, etc.
Popular areas to get a job on a yacht are the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. However, there are other jobs sailing to different destinations around the world. To find a job head to the docks of yacht clubs and make contact with the owners or visit websites such as Crewfinders or Superyacht Jobs. For more detailed information, read my post Yacht Crewing.
10. Typical Backpacker Jobs
As you travel the world you will find there are typical backpacker jobs. This is because they do not require you to be qualified or have extensive experience, though it does help.
Typical jobs include: fruit and vegetable picking, waiting tables, bartending, child care, office work, teaching English. But whatever work you find, as long as it pays to fund your travelling lifestyle, it doesn’t matter exactly what work you do.
Going overseas and experiencing other countries is a great thing. It can change you forever. So don’t let money worries get in the way of living your dreams of travelling around the world cause as you have just read, you can find work as you travel the world to fund your travels. What are you waiting for?
Are You Ready to Find a Job Overseas?
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