For the ones who did work abroad programs, what was it like?

4 comments

1. What exactly do you mean by work abroad programs? I was an au pair, but idk if that’s the sort of thing you’re thinking about?

2. I did an internship abroad in Austria in the C-suite of a large steel manufacturing company. I spoke no German; most of my colleagues spoke English fairly well but obviously all the work was in German. It was awkward and I was pretty much useless. The only things I did well were editing English translations and formatting PowerPoint decks. But it was a good learning experience and I still keep in touch with my supervisor 12 years later. If not for the language barrier, I think it would have been an amazing experience.

3. After college I spent some time working in hostels to stay for free and being able to travel. 10/10 recommend as a way to save money and see the world. I met people from all over and even some I keep in touch with years later.

   My only caution is to have money/backup plan. The first I made an agreement to work at a place in Thailand that (I should have done more research on) and needed to leave after a few days. Fortunately hostels there are inexpensive so I could pay for one while I made my next move and found a place to work that was more welcoming and absolutely loved.

4. You mentioned working holiday visas. There are a couple of ways to utilize those. You can do everything independently and apply for the visa on your own and make your own arrangements for everything once you land in country. Or you can use formal programs to help you navigate everything.

   The first time I went overseas for a gap year, I used the Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP) in Canada who partnered with BUNAC in the UK. They helped with the visa application process (if you needed it), and then provided an orientation and job resources once I landed in London. I was 19 at the time, so it was nice to know that I had a bit of a local safety net if I needed it. It was definitely helpful to have a central location to look for jobs as soon as I arrived.

   The second time, I used a WHV, I did everything on my own. Applied for the Australian visa online, and did my own job search once I landed. Ended up being sponsored by my employer and gained temporary residence to stay for a couple of years.

   There are something like 50-60 member countries that take part in the working holiday visa program (the USA is NOT one of those countries). Each one has their own specific age limits and working requirements, but generally you can stay for 1-2 years in a country on the visa.

   If you’re under 30 (or 35 for some countries), it’s a simple and easy way to spend an extended amount of time exploring a country. Highly recommend it.