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Working holidays

Working holidays can be a great way to expand your horizons without lumbering yourself in yet more debt.

You might not be at decision stage yet about your next career move and still have that feeling of wanting to get out there and see more of the work before making the commitment.  So why not!  You can pick up a great tan and if you've paid your own way by working on the way round, it will hurt a whole lot less on your return back home!

Working holidays can be a great way to expand your horizons without lumbering yourself in yet more debt. That said, you should still plan ahead. Its well worthwhile taking time out to think about what sort of holiday work you want to do before you set off.

Casual Work:

This could be a ranch experience in Australia, fruit picking in New Zealand or bar work in Greece. The choices are pretty limitless, but don’t expect good wages. A good time, yes, but the pay for this sort of “transitory” work is notoriously low. What do you really want - manual work with migrant workers or bright lights, big city? Choose carefully!

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL):

Completing an additional course after graduating will give you a positive start in this area of work in most countries, although you may find the cost of the course prohibitive. This is a competitive field of work, but the turnover of staff is quite high so there are always opportunities arising. Despite the state of the economy, Japan is still the most profitable place to teach. The minimum requirement is a degree and “native speaker” standard English. If you want to see rural Japan, apply for the government-sponsored JET programme.

Volunteer:

The Volunteer Service Oversees (VSO) is well known and has long promoted the recruitment of socially minded graduates, regardless of the type of degree taken. To find out more, you may want to visit www.workingabroad.com or www.worldvu.com. Both sites will be able to tell you more about the areas of voluntary work available and where to sign up for it.

Overseas placements:

If it’s career-oriented work you are looking for, you may want to try companies who may assist you in getting a placement overseas for a limited period. Alternatively, you should be able to get help and advice from your college regarding overseas internships, which are becoming more and more popular within the USA. You may also want to try American Work Experience at www.aweusa.com, which specialises in information on US summer work programmes. These programmes often lead to more serious, longer-term opportunities with a full working permit. This is great for your CV if you have chosen work that is related to your chosen career.

Seasonal rep:

If you are active, sporty and looking for some high-adrenaline activity, then this may be the right thing for you. Typically, you may find yourself doing a season in a ski resort, working in a bar/chalet or instructing, followed by a trip to the islands as a water sport instructor for the rest of the year. You should have a great time, but don't expect to make good money doing this and don't expect to make any at all unless you're pretty damn good at your chosen sport!

For more careers advice and information on choosing the right career options for you, visit working careers website or contact them on 0845 310 0360 (calls charged at local rate) and discuss your options with a Careers Advisor.