Getting Started
Why work overseas?
Working overseas sounds like a bit of an effort. Why work when you could just travel and party your way around the globe? Well…you’re not Paris Hilton, so unless you are expecting an appearance fee for pitching up somewhere you might need some extra cash to keep your trip going. A working holiday can also open doors that otherwise would remain invisible.
Getting a job overseas will result in more friend-making opportunities, more of an insight into the culture of the area you are based and the opportunity to become a local of sorts in a place very different to your home.
Even though the traditional stereotype is of a beach bum, Aussies have a hard working reputation globally. Being Australian will look good on your resume whether you are searching for work in London’s business district or aiming to fuel an endless winter on the slopes snowboarding and working at one of North America’s famous resorts. Your international experience will also serve you well in the local job market when you choose to return to Australia, giving your resume an edge.
How do I get a visa to work overseas?
The main concern when planning your working holiday overseas is a working visa. Working illegally without a working visa is not only stressful it can also have long lasting consequences if you are caught. Working Holiday Visas for the 18 to 30 year-olds are the most popular way for Aussies to get out here and gain some global experience. The visa agreements which exist have decided the most popular destinations for a working holiday for Australians.
The working overseas section is a great resource for starting the process of getting your working visa. Beside the usual destinations like Britain, the USA and Canada, there’s a list of countries you might not have considered.
There’s also comprehensive information on volunteering and teaching English as a second language (ESL). On all of these subjects there can be an overload of information; we have sifted through the best of it.
Can I organise an overseas working holiday myself?
The working overseas section is packed with info to help you decide whether a ski season in Canada or a year in Korea teaching English is more appealing to you. Once you know where and for what you are heading you will be able to choose whether you want to go it alone or pay for a program which includes help with the admin involved in working overseas. If you choose to do it yourself, you will deal with visas, job hunting, accommodation and the general challenges of setting up a life all on your own. But by doing this you will only be paying for the costs of the visa when you apply. This is often the cheaper and more flexible option but requires more work.
The second option is to cough up the sometimes annoyingly large fee to a company with resources and knowledge to do a lot of this stuff for you. When making this decision it is important to be clear on what is included in these fees. Often it will not include flights or the cost of insurance or the cost of accommodation or anything really accept someone to talk you through the visa process and on arrival hook you up with job agencies, a mobile phone plan and accommodation for the first week or so.
If you have the cash and don’t have the time or the knowhow, this can be an invaluable service which will reduce the stress of failed visa applications or a daunting first few weeks when you don’t know where to live or what to do.
But if you have contacts in the destination you are heading for who can help out and you want to gain all the knowledge and confidence which comes with doing it yourself then you can start planning how you will spend the hundreds of dollars you saved.
If you are doing it by yourself or you just want to make sure you have covered everything. Check out our working overseas checklist.
Or head back to working overseas.
