Gap year : Working abroad

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More in this section

1. Is a gap year right fo…
2. Working abroad
3. Travelling abroad
4. Volunteering abroad
5. Studying abroad
6. Staying in the UK
7. Planning your gap year
8. Travel information
9. Costs and funding
10. Selling your experienc…
11. Contacts and resources

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Enrol on a TEFL course

You can live and work abroad. All it takes is a TEFL course. Learn more today!

 

Work abroad ranges from jobs to finance you as you travel to jobs requiring or developing particular skills or experiences. Some jobs need to be organised before you go abroad, and there are others that you can apply for when you arrive at your destination.

Jobs to finance your travels

• Hospitality - cleaning, housekeeping, hotel reception jobs.
• Catering work - waiting, bar and kitchen staff.
• Tourism - tour guides, holiday reps, couriers.
• Childcare - au pair and nanny positions (be prepared to be asked for references).
• Agricultural seasonal and manual jobs - fruit picking and farm labouring.

Jobs to develop your career

Some jobs that will help to develop your career may not need extensive previous experience. For example:

• teaching - subject-based linked to your degree, or teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL);
• sports-related coaching - you may have experience through clubs and societies at your university;
• writing about your journey - if you’re lucky you may be able to sell your story (see Lonely Planet's Guide to Travel Writing for ideas).

Areas of work that are likely to require a certain level of experience include:

• environmental and conservation work;
• aid/development work;
• social or health research.

Internships

Internships combine doing a ‘proper job’ with volunteering because they provide training, supervision and experience more specialised than those offered by more general voluntary work, but they do not usually pay a salary beyond immediate expenses. An internship normally involves a job description and contract and should provide you with a qualification or reference that will be useful for your CV. Contact the major gap year providers to find out whether they offer internships, or check Intern Abroad  or Global Vision International (GVI)  for ideas.

Teaching English

Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is an excellent way of gaining experience of another country. It provides:

• contact with local people;
• good social openings;
• opportunities for learning new languages.

Some organisations that employ English language teachers offer the TEFL training required, but you may then be restricted to teaching in their institutions. If you wish to travel and teach without being tied to one organisation, investigate the costs and benefits of getting your TEFL qualification independently, for example, internationally recognised courses are available through i-to-i TEFL Courses.

For details of what is involved and a list of contacts, see English as a foreign language teacher.

Job applications abroad

When applying for work or voluntary opportunities abroad, find out whether recruitment practices in the country to which you are applying are different from practices in the UK. For advice on recruitment practices abroad, see country profiles, websites such as Going Global  and publications such as The Global Resume and CV Guide.

Work placement during your studies

If you are keen to experience work in Europe as a part of your university course, explore opportunities available under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme , which is a European Commission initiative. Enquire at your university international office to find out whether your university is a participant. Another possibility is to find an internship. Try AIESEC UK , Europlacement  or Intern Abroad  for ideas.