Taking a Working Holiday in Europe – Things to Remember

Published: 03/22/2013

A working holiday in Europe can be a great way to explore the continent. In order to get the most out of this type of experience though, it will be important to remember a few things. These include:

  • If you are from the UK or any other EU country, you will not need a work visa for any of the 27 states in the EU. Of course, there are also some European countries that do not belong to the EU, so you will need the right visa in order to take up employment in these countries.
  • If people are from a commonwealth country and they want to come to work in the UK, they need to apply through their local British consulate or embassy. It is not possible to apply for this type of visa from inside the UK – it needs to be done in the home country.
  • The type of work that is going to be available will depend on where the individual intends to travel. It is usually easy to pick up bar and restaurant jobs in most of the main European cities. The ski resort areas in the Alps and elsewhere seem to always have job openings but of course, this work is seasonal. There can also be work opportunities on farms in the rural areas of the continent.
  • The best time to go looking for work in most of Europe will be during the summer months. This is when tourists flock to the continent and so many businesses will need to take on extra staff members. If people are looking for work in the ski resorts, then this type of work will be available in the winter.
  • It is best to try to arrange employment, or at least some interviews, before travelling to your chosen destination. It can be very disappointing to travel to an area you want to work in only to find that there is no work available. The great thing about the internet is that you will be able to do a good deal of your job hunt work before you arrive.
  • Online internet forums can be a good option for finding employment in different parts of Europe. Most of these countries will have their own web forum where expats gather to exchange information. By tapping into this resource, you should be able to find out about work opportunities that might not otherwise come to your attention.
  • Most of us will not be choosing a working holiday in Europe because we want to spend all of our time slogging away. Therefore, try choosing a job that will give you enough freedom to do some travelling and enjoy the local attractions. There are some employers who will try to exploit people who turn up looking for holiday work, but these individuals will only be able to exploit you if you let them.
 
Posted in: Europe Backpacking
 
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