A Guide to Working Abroad

I miss seeing the Sydney Opera house everyday.

When I lived in Australia in 2008-9, I worked at a bar with a great view of the Sydney harbor. It was a great way to both fund my travels and meet people. (For more about my year in Australia, check out the story I wrote for AFAR magazine.)

My goal in life is to work as many random jobs as possible because I believe it builds character and great life skills. I have waited tables, worked retail folding clothes at the mall, bartended, photographed everything from farmers to the Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl is my hero!) for a variety of magazines, taught English in Thailand, ran photo trips in Asia and taught photography classes at American universities.  After all, what pays the bills doesn’t define you. Your character is what defines you.

In my last post, I discussed the REAL cost of travel and broke down the cost of my 7-month Latin America trip.  Now, I have complied a guide of ways to work abroad to help extend both your travels and savings. I have done many of these myself and have met people doing every option listed below.

Whether you are 18 or 68, there’s plenty of options for everyone.

Working Holiday Visas

I lived in Australia for almost a year on a Working Holiday Visa. These types of visas allow 18- to 30-year-olds to work while they travel. I worked a few random bar jobs and also photographed bands for Rolling Stone magazine. (Pretty random, I know.)

• Australia and New Zealand offer one-year visas for Americans and other many other nationalities aged 18-30, which allow you to work anywhere. Australia has a stipulation that you may not work for one employer for more than six months consecutively. Visa costs: $320 USD for Australia and $165 USD for New Zealand. Both visas include a stipulation that you must have at least $4,000-$5,000 in local currency in your bank account to enter the country, but they don’t always ask proof. (I was never asked in Australia.)
• For students or recent graduates, there are similar visa programs in South Korea ($45 USD fee), Canada ($200 USD), Singapore ($150 USD fee) and Ireland ($300 USD fee). You must do these programs within 12-months of graduating. Here’s a great guide for Working Holiday programs for Americans.
• If you have dual citizenship or you are NOT an American citizen, then consider looking into other Working Holiday Programs like Japan, Ireland, Italy and others. The programs in Australia and New Zealand are also open to a variety of different nationalities. There are far more opportunities available for non-U.S. citizens. For more info, this Linkedin article is a good resource.
• If you are interested in living in a country, a Working Holiday Visa is a good place to start. It can open doors to future careers and other visa options. Many of my friends got residency or a long-term work visa by starting with the Working Holiday program.
• Bunac is travel company that offers help with work visas for recent graduates (Ireland, intern in Britain, Canada), etc. They are great resource for information, but many of these programs you can apply for directly  without their help.

Teaching English

Teaching English is a great way to live abroad and fund your travels. I taught English in Thailand briefly and seriously considered similar opportunities in Korea and Japan. A Bachelor’s degree is required or preferred by many programs. A TEFL/TESOL certificate is not required for the programs listed below but can increase your salary. (FYI: I don’t have either certification. Private schools usually require it.) The highest paid programs are in Japan and Korea. Visas are almost always provided by employers.

The most established and highest paid programs provide the most training. Otherwise, be prepared to improvise. Be aware that many programs do not follow the traditional American/British school calendars for holidays (i.e. no Christmas break).

JAPAN

• The Jet Program is the most distinguished English teaching program in the country.  Airfare is covered, and the salary is one of the highest in Japan. Housing and transport are subsidized. (A friend who did the program made $33,660 USD/year TAX FREE and only paid $130 USD in rent/month.) The application process is tedious and requires an interview at a Japanese consulate. A Bachelor’s degree is required. I applied once, got an interview but didn’t get the job. TIP: If you get an interview, be prepared to answer the following question: What would you say to a student who asked why the U.S. dropped the bomb on Hiroshima? (Yes, I was actually asked that question!)
• Other large teaching programs in Japan include AEON, Amity, Altia, Nova and ECC (These are all recommendations from friends who have taught in Japan.)
• For more info on Japan teaching programs and work visas, check out Tokyo Becky’s detailed guide!

KOREA

Most English teaching programs in Korea will cover airfare and accommodation. The application process can take a few months. An FBI background check is required a few months before leaving. (It’s not as scary as it sounds.) The best resource for jobs in Korea and other parts of the world is Dave’s ESL Café. Average salary is roughly $23,000 USD/year. Airfare, housing and visas are covered. Most start dates are in February or August. For more information, check out this guide to teaching in Korea.

THAILAND

I taught English briefly through AYC Thailand as a substitute teacher for a few weeks in a kindergarten class. Overall, it was a great experience. I’ve considered doing it again multiple times. I was paid 1,200 BHT/day ($34/USD) but would have made more if I had signed a contract with bonuses. Transport was covered from Bangkok to the teaching location. (I was eight hours away by train in a cool little town called Sisaket.) Since I was only substituting, my accommodation was covered so I lived on a few dollars a day. (I got free lunch at school.) Salaries are higher, and there are bonuses if you sign a semester contract. Public schools semesters run roughly from May to October and November to April.

Ajarn.com is a good resource for Thailand job postings. Many of my expat friends living and teaching in Thailand used this site.

OTHER LOCATIONS

• Greenheart Travel also offers programs in Thailand, Europe, Colombia and other parts of the world. I was accepted to teach English in Medellin, Colombia through their program. (I accepted a photography teaching position in the U.S. instead.) The position was stipend-based, included the visa but did not include transport costs. I recommend the company. The staff was really nice!
• Dave’s ESL Café also has a great job board for international opportunities.

Work Exchange

Work Exchange programs are a great way to volunteer your time in exchange for room and board. Many companies link hosts with volunteers. The time frame can range from days to months depending on the host. There is no age requirement, and it’s also possible to volunteer as a family with children. I’ve met many people during my travels who have used the programs below.

• Wwoof.net specializes with opportunities on organic farms across the world.
• WorkAway offers a variety of options including positons in schools, cafes, hostels and farms. Membership costs $29/USD per year. (I’ve stayed at many amazing hostels run by staff hired through Workaway and was offered a job at a few!)
• HelpX is an alternative to Workaway that provides positions at hostels, ranches and many other options. It costs 20 Euros for two-year membership. (One of my friends is in New Zealand now working on a farm through HelpX.)

Now, I’ve given you a huge amount of options so I fully expect you all to go out and start exploring the world! You no longer have any EXCUSES!

COMING UP: Travel Tuesday Interview Series! I am starting a long-term series of interviews with inspiring people I’ve met in my travels including a 68-year-old solo traveling granny, a British family (with two teenage kids) who sold their house to travel for a year, Peace Corp volunteers, English teachers in Korea, travel entrepreneurs and MORE!