Finding Casual Gap Year Work
For anyone spending a year abroad travelling it is likely that the concept of casual work will figure near the top of their agenda. Not only is it a way to earn some money for the next stage of your trip, it is also one of the best ways to meet people and get to know your surroundings properly. Even if you are in the enviable situation of having enough money to fund your trip you should still give some thought to picking up casual employment as you go - working can be an invaluable introduction to an area.
Assessing the Opportunities
Working in Tourism
Wherever there are tourists there will be employment openings. There are a variety of opportunities within the general heading of tourism:
- hotels
- restaurants
- pubs
- nightclubs
- ski resorts.
The most likely places to find a job in tourism are Europe and Australia. There are numerous openings in North America but since work permits are so scarce for this part of the world you will almost certainly need to work illegally. This is done by large numbers of people every year but if you are caught you will be put on the next plane home and your chances of a return visit are slim.
Fruit Picking
Although mechanisation is becoming increasingly common in the world of agriculture there are still fruit growers around the globe who are looking for pickers. Whether it is grapes, oranges, apples or tomatoes there are numerous chances for casual employment in this agricultural area. The drawbacks of the job are clear:
- back-breaking work
- long hours
- low pay in most cases
- basic living conditions.
For this reason locals in fruit picking areas, from the cherry orchards of the Okanagon in western Canada to the vineyards of the Barossa Valley in Australia, are somewhat reluctant to throw themselves whole-heartedly into the task of picking these produces.
The best areas for prospective fruit pickers are southern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and North America. Since many fruit growers are not over-concerned with employment regulations, persistence is sometimes more productive than having the right papers.
Labouring
If you like fresh air, hard work and working in a team then labouring could be an avenue for casual work. If you have a qualification in a trade, such as a carpenter or an electrician, then you could be in great demand in various parts of the world - there is usually work in Australia for qualified tradesmen. Make sure you take any relevant certificates and references with you.
Factory Work
One of the most boring forms of work you are likely to come across, but for that reason it tends to be well paid. There are numerous opportunities throughout Europe, Australia and America, ranging from packing tulips in Holland to processing bananas in Brisbane. A good way to find this type of work is from local newspapers, or else approach the factories directly. The best qualifications are the ability to start early in the morning (or work the night shift) and be able to sit through hours of tedium.
Miscellaneous
There are as many types of miscellaneous casual work as there are addresses in a traveller's notebook. Some of the possibilities are:
- Babysitting - proof of responsibility is useful for this.
- Deck-hand on a prawn trawler.
- Door-to-door salesperson - companies are always looking for thick-skinned individuals to sell anything from encyclopedias to double-glazing.
- Film extra - particularly in Asia where countries such as India have a massive film industry.
- Jackaroo/Jillaroo on an Australian sheep station.
- Selling time-shares in Spain.
