What are the Work and Travel programs and how do they work?

Work and travel programs are your ticket to an adventure of a lifetime! Imagine this...

You're exploring bustling neon-lit streets and millenary culture of Japan, roadtripping in Australia or hiking through the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand. And guess what? You're not just traveling; you have the chance to earn money by working legally in those countries.

This is the magic that work and travel programs bring into your life. They transform globetrotting dreams into reality while helping you earn along the way.

Recommended reading: Explore exciting work abroad programs for travelers.

What is a Work and Travel program?

A Work and Travel program (often called Working Holiday Visa) merges the thrill of exploration with practicality. It's not just about hopping on planes or backpacking across continents, but rather experiencing life in different corners of the world while earning your keep.

This unique concept enables you to spend considerable time abroad without depleting your savings completely, as you have the right to work legally in the countries that offer this kind of program.

In such programs, travelers can find themselves working full-time or part-time jobs based on what suits their needs best. One common misconception is that jobs are only in farms, and although you could do fruit picking or work in a vineyard, there are many more options available from service industry roles like hospitality and gastronomy positions all the way up to more specialized fields like teaching or childcare.

Beyond financial support, these programs offer much more than meets the eye: they provide a successful learning journey too. You'll gain valuable self-management skills along with well-developed organizational abilities required when juggling between job commitments and exploring new surroundings simultaneously.

For example, you can search about the Working Holiday Visa New Zealand, Working Holiday Visa Australia, Work & Travel USA and Working Holiday Canada which allows participants to work and travel in the country for a period of 1 year, extendable to 2 years in some cases if meeting certain criteria. 

To apply, you'll have to meet certain requirements listed on each program's official sites, like age limit (generally 30 y/o), English fluency and nationality of one of the elegible countries. In the case of the Work & Travel USA program, is only targeted to tertiary students.

A way to work and travel around the world wtihout applying for a Working Holiday Visa is through the volunteering platform Worldpackers, of which we'll talk in detail later on this article.

How to find jobs during a Work and Travel program

Now that you know that you can legally work in different countries through Work and Travel programs, let's see how to find jobs once there.

Dive into online job boards

The process of finding a job in Canada, Australia, New Zealand or any other country will be similar to what you would do back home, with the difference that you may not know the local job search sites.

So a good start would be as easy as to google "job search sites Australia/NZ/etc" to have an overview of which are the most popular ones.

Make sure to have a good introductory letter of yourself listing your skills, interests and highlighting your willingness to learn, and an attractive CV.

Reach out to local employers directly

If you've already set foot in your target country, consider reaching out directly to local businesses there. Some employers may value your initiative and might just have openings they haven't advertised yet.

This approach requires more effort but could open doors leading towards unique opportunities unseen by most because they're not widely advertised online. Plus, direct contact allows immediate feedback upon application submission - definitely worth considering over waiting for responses from postings online.

Leverage social media platforms

Social media isn't merely about sharing your wonderful life; it's also an excellent tool when hunting for jobs.

LinkedIn stands out due to its professional focus. Make sure your profile shines bright, then start connecting with companies related to your interest and skills in your target countries.

In addition, joining Facebook groups about Work and Travel in specific countries or regions often reveals job vacancies posted by members who either know someone leaving their position or simply heard about openings at their workplaces.

Why go on a Work and Travel program?

Work and travel programs are gaining popularity among young travelers. These unique opportunities not only offer an avenue to earn a livable wage but also allow participants to spend considerable time abroad.

Gaining valuable experience & skills while working abroad

A key advantage that comes with these programs is obtaining firsthand experience working abroad, which can be beneficial for future career prospects, including fully remote job options.

Making global connections: friends & networks

You get to meet people from diverse backgrounds, creating lifelong friendships along the way - expanding both personal and professional networks.

Interaction isn't confined within workplaces but extends far beyond, as you'll probably have international flatmates as well.

In addition, making friends overseas helps ease any homesickness feelings as they become part of your support network.

An opportunity to explore new cultures and places

These programs give participants an edge over traditional tourists due to their extended stay, allowing them better insights into local customs and traditions.

This fusion makes every trip not just a fun-filled adventure but also enriches the traveler's perspective towards diverse cultures and societies around the globe, thereby truly embodying the saying "Travel broadens the mind".

Earning while exploring

Earning money while fulfilling wanderlust - sounds too good? Well, that's precisely what work and travel programs offer.

This way, financial stability becomes less daunting as participants get ample room not only to cover their living expenses but also pay for your trip without worrying about budget constraints. This makes traveling financially feasible even if one has limited resources back home.

Check these tips on How to save money for travel.

Worldpackers' work exchange programs

Besides the work and travel programs and working holiday visas, there's a much more straightforward option to experience living abroad without having to go through complicated bureaucratic processes: work exchange programs!

Worldpackers connect travelers willing to volunteer around the world with local hosts in need of a hand in their projects, whether be a holistic center, an NGO, a local school, a hostel, a permaculture project and many more. 

The main difference with work and travel programs is that by volunteering you don't get paid, but receive accommodation and, more often than not, food and other benefits in retribution for your help. As you will be volunteering and not receveing a financial payment for it, most countries don't ask for a working permit (such as working holiday visas), meaning that you can participate on a tourist visa. Another benefit is that there isn't an age limit for this, something that stop travelers over 30 to participate in most work and travel programs.

Nevertheless, always check local policies before embarking on any project. Read these 20 questions to ask your Worldpackers hosts before you commit.

Volunteering is not only a way to save money while traveling, but also to make a positive impact in local communities, develop new skills (like learning new languages) and have a cultural immersion like no other.

To participate, you just need to subscribe to the Worldpackers Community for free and start saving your favorite volunteer positions until you are ready to get verified.

These are some examples of work exchange programs that you could apply for:

• Help build and improve a community kindergarten in Tanzania.
• Help with animal care between beach paradise and mountain adventure in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
  
• Join a spiritual community in Callaway, USA, and work with them in becoming self-sufficient.
  
• Do you have skills on web development? Then you can make a website for a holistic center in Sweden while staying with them. You'll get yoga lessons and holistic therapies for free as well as accommodation and food.
• Enjoy beautiful Wales while helping in a Flower Field. You'll stay onsite in a fully equiped touring caravan!
  

Know more about Worldpackers: How to volunteer abroad using Worldpackers and Traveling with Worldpackers: your top questions answered.

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