An increasing number of students are choosing to do something useful and of value with their gap year rather than just taking the time off to relax. It is often seen as an opportunity to make plans for the future and check out what different options are available. For many, the most obvious thing to do is set off on a backpacking trip around the world. However, not everyone has a budget that will allow for such an adventure. If this sounds like you, you’ll be pleased to learn there are many paid gap year jobs all around the world. Here are a few examples.
- The Wine Industry
Working in the wine industry is something that could take you anywhere around the world. There are, of course, some countries that have a bigger reputation for their wine than others, such as France, Italy, Australia, and South Africa, however, there are vineyards in almost every country. Seasonal, temporary workers are always needed, particularly during the harvest season.
- Teaching English
There is a growing need for people who can speak English which means there is an equal demand for English teachers. To get an English teaching job abroad, a background in education is often preferred, however, it is possible to get work with no qualifications. As well as working for an organisation, you could also try your hand at freelance tutoring if you want to supplement your income.
- Hotel Staff
The opportunities for anyone willing to work in a hotel are vast. Think of a country you’d like to visit, and there will be opportunities in many of the hotels in that location. Getting work might not be quite, so easy unless you’re actually there in person, and you might need to do quite a lot of legwork before you hit lucky. However, there are many different hotels and hostels looking for workers.
You could, for instance, head to Europe and work in a quirky hostel in the middle of Budapest. Usually, you will need to live there and build a bond with the manager, but because they are used to travellers, hostels will offer work for free room and board. If you want to work in a traditional hotel and have a romantic side, then you could find hotels who are looking for extra workers during the busy wedding seasons. For instance, Mexico sees an increase in wedding parties, so resorts in popular Mexico destination wedding locations may be looking for additional help during this busy time.
- Musical Festival Staff
If you’re a music lover, offering your services at some of the many music festivals taking place around the world is bound to be inviting. These music events tend to take place during the summer months, but there will be a music festival taking place somewhere around the world throughout the year. You can find work as a photographer, writer, or by volunteering in exchange for free entry.
- Volunteering
Why not spend your year volunteering for one of the many charity organisations around the world? If you really need to be earning money to fund your gap year, then there might be opportunities to work for many of these organisations. Check out online forums and search engines such as DevNetJobs and Go Overseas.
- Au Pair
If you’ve got experience working with children, then why not be a nanny or au pair? It’s a fantastic way to become immersed in a foreign culture and make some money. In many non-native English-speaking countries you may also be required to teach the kids English. You could also receive a stipend that could be used to pay for you to study the local language.