Supporting Yourself on the Road: A Guide to Working Abroad

Supporting myself on the road: Broccoli farming in Tasmania

Traveling is a dream that a lot of people never get to play out in real life, mainly because funds are just too tight. However, this might not necessarily be the case if you plan it correctly; all you need to do is work out how you can earn money as you go along and I’ve never been out of work on my travels.

What type of work can you do?

There are plenty of different jobs that may be available to you. For example, you may be able to get a job in a bar or restaurant as a waiter. You need to check the regulations in the country that you are visiting – some will state that you need to be 21 in order to serve alcohol, but this varies from place to place. Some you need a licence like when I worked in PJs Irish Pub in Australia.

There’s no limits. The quiet man on my first day working in PJ Gallagher’s Parramatta, Australia!

Some people choose to work as a teacher while they are abroad as part of a TEFL or Erasmus program. However, this would involve a commitment to staying in one place for at least a few months which I did when I taught English in Hong Kong.

If you have sports skills, then there are always jobs where you can teach these to others, and they tend not to be as long-term. It is common, for example, for English and European students to travel to the US to work at summer camps for a couple of months, generally teaching things like soccer.

However, there are always plenty of jobs you can do that are slightly more unusual but would look amazing on your resume. For example, did you ever consider working on a yacht or a ferry? You do not always need experience, and some contracts are only for a month. You could find yourself sailing around the Mediterranean or Caribbean and be getting paid for it at the same time! I also worked on ferries when I lived in England.

Working on the cross channel car ferries living the travel dream and getting paid for it.

This pays a daily rate that is not fantastic, but it will help to cover your expenses while you are in the country, plus you get to be a part of something a little different.” If you’re a foreigner looking to work in Canada, there are a few things you need to know. There are a number of Canadian companies hiring foreigners for a variety of positions, so there’s definitely room for you in the job market. However, the process of getting a work visa can be complicated and time-consuming. In addition, you’ll need to make sure that your skills are VISAS-eligible. But don’t let all this discourage you! Working in Canada is a great way to experience a new culture and learn new skills. Plus, with Canadian companies increasingly open to hiring foreigners, it’s easier than ever to find a job that’s perfect for you. So if you’re willing to put in the effort, working in Canada as a foreigner can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Traveling to India? Why not consider working as an extra in a Bollywood movie? This pays a daily rate that is not fantastic, but it will help to cover your expenses while you are in the country, plus you get to be a part of something a little different.

Be prepared

You need to be sure that you are prepared for every eventuality. Make a detailed plan before you leave home rather than just trying to wing it when you get there. Without a plan in place you could find it hard to find work. You also need to be sure that you budget properly when you get there. It would be so tempting to celebrate your first foreign paycheck by spending the evening in a bar, but this will not help you to pay for accommodation and food! There is always the option to get emergency funds from home, and for this it is a good idea to make sure that you know how TransFast works just in case you do need some extra funds.

Before you leave, make sure that you have the right visas in place that allow you to work. The authorities can deport you if you try to work without one, and this can bring your travels to a very disappointing end.

All in all work hard, live your travel dreams and stay safe!