| home | working abroad | tourism
For many working in some form of tourism maybe the best way to subsidies your travelling. Hotel and restaurant proprietors often rely on foreign labour during busy seasons as the work may discourage the local working population. If you decide to apply for seasonal hotel work the earlier you apply the better your chances maybe in securing employment, some establishments may recruit several months before the summer season starts. If you plan on working in Europe, a knowledge of more than one language maybe an immense asset, but if you secure a job without speaking the language of the country and or lack relevant experience you may find yourself being placed at the bottom of the pecking order, doing menial jobs in the laundry or washing dishes. Reception and bar jobs tend to be the most sought after and better paid jobs. However jobs such as chamber maids offer you plenty of free time as your working hours maybe from early morning until mid afternoon. There can be some downsides working in hotels, you may find the hours are long and unsociable, low wages and inadequate accommodation and the working atmosphere can vary from hotel to hotel so you may enjoy working in a small family hotel compared to one of the chained hotels. CATERING If you have training in catering you will find it much easier to find work around the world compared to someone who doesn't. There are opportunities for the unskilled, you may find employment in a burger chain or sandwich shop which can be found from Venice to Vancouver. PUBS AND CLUBS If you plan on working in a pub or club it maybe worthwhile packing a pair of black trousers/skirt and white shirt in case you find a job as a bartender or waiter/ess. If you have no experience of working behind a bar find a bar job in your local area before leaving and then ask for a reference which you can then take with you. Once abroad seek out pubs familiar with your country for example Irish people may have a greater advantage finding work at an Irish pub. Handing out promotional flyers for bars and nightclubs is another job travellers frequently do. TOUR OPERATORS Working as a tour guide or rep for a tour operator is another way of combining work with travel. Jobs last for the whole of the summer season and the recruitment time is usually the preceding September/October. Knowledge of a European language is a great asset and always required if you plan to work in Europe as well as a great personality, maturity and a commitment to the company. With long unsociable hours the work of a tour rep can become stressful as you sought out customer complaints, If you are of a sensitive nature then you may want to avoid becoming a tour rep. Although accommodation is provided wages are low, but can be supplemented with commission from restaurants, selling tours and shops. SKI RESORT Ski resorts can be found the world over and with it comes a variety of jobs from operating ski lifts, waxing and mending hired skis to running chalets. Seasons differ throughout the world so you could travel from one destination to the next, but jobs are very popular amongst travellers so you must be prepared to move on to find employment, or sign a contract ahead of time. Depending on what work you do, wages can be low, but with up to four hours free in the middle of the day for skiing and having easy access to the slopes during your time off can compensate for this. CHALET STAFF Many tour operators accommodate their clients in chalets which are looked after by a chalet girl or boy. The chalet maid does everything from cleaning, preparing and cooking all meals for ten or more guests to keeping everyone happy. The standard of cookery skills can vary between companies depending on the luxury of the holiday. In most cases you will have to cook a trial meal for the tour company before being accepted for a job. You will find hours can be long anything up to fourteen to fifteen hour days are common and wages low, but there are several perks. Accommodation and food are free, as well as free ski hire and ski lift passes.