There are loads of opportunities for working overseas, and depending on which country you fancy earning a wage in will determine the jobs you can apply for. Of course, there are the usual placements in hospitality and catering, such as being a chambermaid, barman or waitress.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that is all that’s out there though. If you want your CV to stand out from the crowd when it’s time to get a full-time job back home (although you might decide to stay in your chosen destination), read up on some of the more unusual opportunities, which I’ve noted below.
Saddle up on an Australian ranch
If Australia is your destination of choice for paid work abroad, shun bar work in the cities for a placement on an outback ranch. You can live like a cowboy or girl for up to a year, depending on how everything goes, and the best bit about it is that you’ll be financially rewarded for this amazing experience.
Helping out at a working cattle station is a dream for many, and some of the tasks that are up for grabs include cattle handling, grape picking, horse riding, building and veterinary care. Don’t worry if you don’t think your skills are expert enough – the Aussies are keen on hard workers, so as long as you put the effort in they won’t complain! Once you’ve completed your time on the ranch, you will hopefully have the funds to embark on a sightseeing tour of the country. Many ranches are close to Sydney, so this is a good starting point.
Mentor youngsters for the summer in Canada
Canada is a beautiful country that is packed with national parks, fantastic wildlife and stunning scenery. Imagine getting paid to spend all of your time enjoying its great outdoors. Choose to become a summer camp counsellor and you can do just that, mentoring youngsters during the long school holiday.
The camps in Ontario are more focused on tennis and horseback riding, which is great if you’re skilled in these areas. Head to Whistler and you’ll enjoy leading adrenaline-pumping activities such as rock climbing, kayaking and mountain biking. As you look out across your surroundings during a climb, or glide past forests and lakes on a kayak, you won’t believe you’re actually getting paid to do this. There are also summer camps in Vancouver, so whichever part of Canada you fancy staying in, you should find a place to suit your interests.
Bag yourself a job in Japan
Japan might not be a country that springs to mind when you first start looking at nations to work in, but it’s a fantastic place to spend some time. Japan’s a fascinating destination to explore, not least because its high-tech and modern sights are often not far away from traditional Japanese gardens and temples. This means your days might be spent working in the city and your evenings in sushi restaurants and sake bars, but come weekend and you can hike close to Mount Fuji or take a dip in a hot spring.
[box type=”tick”]So, what kind of jobs can you do in Japan? Teaching is one option, and hopefully you’ll pick up a fair amount of Japanese in return. Restaurant, bar and hotel work, website design, translating and even acting are also potential jobs you might end up with.[/box]
