Overseas Options
After several years of study, many graduates feel like a well-earned break. The lure of adventures in distant lands is powerful for Australian and New Zealand students, which is why thousands strap on their backpacks each year and head OS.
Gap years
The meaning of the term ‘gap year’ has evolved in recent years to encompass more than the traditional ‘year-off’ between school and university which it originally referred to. Now, gap year has come to refer to any year-long break – whether taken before, during or after university study – to embark on travel, volunteer or paid work.
Whether you choose to take a gap year – and when – is entirely up to you. Taking a year out before or during your degree can be a good way to give yourself a break and re-energise before the challenges of further study. However, there are also advantages in waiting until you complete your degree. If you are unsure of the direction you want to take career-wise when you graduate, then the year can be well-utilised broadening your horizons and getting in touch with your interests and career inclinations.
Even if you are clear about your career direction, taking time out to spread your wings can be valuable for your personal growth and employability. Employers recognise the added value of staff who have seen a bit of the world. And the fact that you have planned and undertaken a trip is evidence of a range of personal qualities appreciated in the workplace, such as independence, determination and curiosity.
If you want to take a gap year when you graduate but are concerned it will affect your chances of being selected for a graduate program, check with individual employers to see what their eligibility policies are.
Working overseas
The Pros
- Enhanced résumé
- Work experience and career opportunities
- Opportunity to travel in work breaks
- Knowledge and understanding about other countries, cultures and ways of life
- Personal and emotional development
- Cultivation of a global career perspective
- Adventures galore!
The Cons
- Even a working holiday comes with costs so you have to be financially prepared
- When you return from your overseas experience it is likely your peers will have made progress in their careers, so be prepared for some catching up!
Working holiday schemes
Many countries have specific working holiday visas and schemes which allow visitors to work for a certain period of time under certain conditions (ie. work type may be restricted). Each country will have different criteria, but an age bracket is usually specified (most often 18 to 30). The following countries currently offer working holiday visas to eligible applicants from Australia and New Zealand: Belgium; Canada; Chile; Cyprus; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Hong Kong; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Sweden; Taiwan; Thailand; Turkey and United Kingdom.
In addition to these countries, Australian citizens are able to work in New Zealand and there are some limited schemes allowing work in the United States. Check with your careers service or go to www.ccusa.com for more information.
Most working visas are provided on a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ basis, so it is important to select the time you think will be right for you. You can utilise more than one working holiday visa for a given period, thereby allowing you to plan a round-the-world trip with working stops in various destinations.
For some useful information about living and working abroad, and specific country visas and opportunities, see the following websites:
www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/working_os.html
www.globalexchange.com.au
www.southern-cross-group.org/visas/goingoverseas.html
www.anyworkanywhere.com
www.overseasjobs.com
www.i-to-i.com/tefl
www.jetprogramme.org
www.jobstreet.com
www.contactsingapore.org.sg
www.workingintheuk.gov.uk
www.owh.com.au
www.workinfrance.com
www.workinginbelgium.com
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.aupairinamerica.com
www.job-watch.org.au/jwtraps/jhwo.pdf
Volunteering: get involved!
Volunteering is all about getting involved and making a valuable contribution to your own community or society more broadly. It covers any unpaid work which is undertaken by choice for the benefit of others. Volunteers come from all walks of life and are active in almost all aspects of society. Volunteers can do everything from visiting elderly people to coaching a junior soccer team to raising awareness about a political cause.
Many volunteers are motivated by a desire to make a positive difference or ‘give something back’ to society. There is also much to be gained on a personal level by volunteering. As well as the natural satisfaction derived from knowing you are needed and valued, volunteering enables you to:
- Gain new skills
- Express your talents and qualities
- Enhance your employability
- Meet people and broaden your perspective
- Boost your confidence and self worth
- Feel engaged with a cause or group
Volunteering assignments can range from ongoing casual or part-time work to intensive, short-term projects. In some cases volunteering can lead to paid work, but it is best not to go into it with this as the goal.
Employability
Potential employers know that volunteering requires commitment, motivation and energy, so they look favourably on applicants who have volunteer work on their résumés. Volunteering often involves working for small organisations with limited resources – the kind of environments where initiative, leadership and a can-do attitude are needed and valued. Volunteering of any kind will develop your capacity to:
- Communicate with people
- Identify problems and find solutions
- Handle pressure
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Prioritise
What and for whom
If you want to gain volunteering experience but are not sure what kind of work you would like to do, take some time to assess the following:
- Activities you enjoy
- Skills you currently have and skills you would like to develop
- Type of organisation that you would like to work for. Think about the kind of workplace structure and culture you would be most suited to
- The self-knowledge you gain from the above assessment will help you identify a list of potential organisations that best match your needs and skills.
Get what you give
No matter what kind of volunteer work you undertake, one thing is certain: Volunteering for a cause you believe in can change the way you look at the world and yourself. More importantly, it can bring a deep satisfaction that comes with knowing you are making a difference
Volunteering OS
Undertaking volunteer work overseas is a great way to combine work experience and travel. Overseas volunteering also looks great on a résumé, as it demonstrates initiative, passion and dedication.
There are many formal and informal programs which assist students and graduates interested in volunteering OS. These programs range from weekend work camps to two-year professional placements. Volunteer organisations and your university careers services will be able to help you match your skills and interests with potential overseas volunteering opportunities.
Mentally prepared
It is wise to a remember that volunteer work is just that, WORK. It is often hard, and most OS volunteers have days when they wonder what they are doing and miss home comforts. Before committing to OS volunteering you should ask yourself:
- Why am I doing this?
- How will I manage the bad days?
- Am I prepared to live without various home comforts/luxuries?
- What do I hope to contribute?
- What can I do to get the most out of the experience?
There are no wrong or right answers to these questions, but they will assist you in determining whether you are genuinely prepared for the OS volunteering experience.
What you need
Some organisations accept volunteers with little or no relevant qualifications or experience. In these cases, pre-departure or on-site training is often provided. Many organisations, however, will require that you have skills and qualifications that match their specific needs or the needs of the host community.
Costs
Make sure you find out what costs are involved in OS volunteer placements. Does the organisation charge a fee for placements? What financial or practical assistance is provided for housing or transportation? What regular living costs will there be? How will personal expenses (for health care etc) be managed?
Culture shock
No matter how prepared you are for volunteer work, a degree of culture shock is inevitable. The intensity and duration of the culture shock will vary from person to person, and will be influenced to some extent by how prepared you are for your new environment. Depending on where you are located, you may have to deal with unfamiliar customs, conditions, weather, attitudes, gender relations, language and political/social arrangements. Services such as banks, doctors and pharmacies may be different to home, which can be stressful.
Remind yourself that it is normal to feel unsettled in a foreign place. After a period of time most OS volunteers acclimatise and start to enjoy the differences. For most volunteers, the cultural exchange that takes place between themselves and locals is one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience.
Helping hand
Volunteer organisations vary in the degree to which they support volunteers on the ground. Some agencies take a hand-holding approach, supporting you closely through every stage of the placement. Other organisations leave their volunteers alone, encouraging them to deal with their local employers instead. Take time to find out exactly what kind of assistance your volunteer organisation will provide and, if possible, talk to past volunteers who can share their experiences.
