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Working Abroad in Australia and New Zealand
Your name? Hannah.
Age when you worked abroad? 22-24.
Have you ever been to college or uni - if so, where? Cardiff Uni, European Business Management.
Why did you decide to work abroad? Wasn’t sure what I
wanted to do career wise, was curious to see the rest of the world, to live in a different culture and to broaden my horizons.
What job were you doing, and was it sorted before you went? No I saved up for about 6 months before I left, didn’t work for the first 3 months while travelling around Asia but when arriving in Australia was straight on the case. All the money had gone by that stage! It was a case of working to be able to afford to go to the next place.
How did you find the job (website/agency/etc)? Mainly from knocking on doors and in the local paper. There were a great number of travellers in and out of jobs so it was fairly easy to pick up some casual work. The easiest way is just to talk to everyone and anyone (within reason!) and usually someone will know someone who knows of a job going! Employers are used to backpackers and it’s quite normal for people to be in a job from between a month and 3 months. In hostels and backpackers they usually advertise jobs on notice boards or you can even work in the hostel for free accommodation and food.
Which country or resort? Australia and New Zealand and
travelling around Asia and Central America.
How long was the season? As long as you want it to be! I had a variety of different jobs all around Australia and New Zealand ncluding sandwich making, telesales and renting cars. Oh and kiwi picking in Keri Keri, New Zealand!
Was your accommodation and food included? No, we would usually stay in backpackers (cheap accommodation for people travelling), or go into shared accommodation if we were planning on staying for a bit longer. It’s easy to eat cheaply, many bars would do backpacker specials or most places would have a camp kitchen so you could buy your own food and cook for yourselves.
Was the salary any good? Not too bad, survivable! You get to discover how to make your money last as long as possible (5 litre boxes of wine from the supermarket could usually stretch between about 5 of you!).
What were the highlights of the trip? Making some great
friends, experiencing life changing events, an earthquake in New Zealand, seeing Orang Utans in the wild in Indonesia, trekking in Laos, snorkelling in Thailand, learning to surf in Nicaragua and eating in Vegas!!!!
Were there any negatives? It does get tiring never being in one place for very long, but the positives far far outweigh any moments of homesickness or tiredness. I would do everything again in a second - in fact I wish I could. I will be planning shorter trips in the future. I would like to travel to India and South America next.
Did you make new friends? Loads, many of which I still see regularly in the UK, others from many different parts of the world which I am still in contact with through email. Travelling and working in different parts of the world has broadened my horizons no end, I have seen poverty and suffering first hand and am in no doubt about how lucky we all are to have the opportunities that we have in this country. Many of my friends who didn’t travel or work somewhere different after school or university are already regretting it.
What is the most memorable thing about what you did?
There are so many things; I will always remember the day I had been to the killing Fields in Cambodia, a truly depressing and thought provoking experience. Then later that day the World Trade Centre and Pentagon were targeted in a terrorist attack. September the 11th 2001 I was sat in a little hostel in the capital of Cambodia with many Americans and other nationalities huddled in a little room watching CNN on the tiniest TV in total horror. A surreal time.
Did you ever do anything crazy? Sky diving in New Zealand, rafting on rapids in Laos, in fact it was all crazy!
What are you doing now? Bored out of my brain working in Marketing in Newbury, Berkshire!
Would you work abroad again or recommend it to others? YES! YES! YES! Although, watch out, once you start, you can’t stop! You don’t need loads of money to go, it’s better not to be rich when you go so that you can really experience local life. If you’re in a developing country don’t be afraid of bartering, these people are just trying to make a living. RESPECT everyone and their cultures. Cover up if need be, don’t ask for trouble, there’s nothing worse than an inappropriately dressed Westerner. Try local food, it’s not that bad and usually the cheapest. Be careful with your belongings and don’t assume it’s the locals who are the enemies! Don’t be afraid to go alone you will meet tons of people but look after yourself and your friends and stick together. P.S If you’re doubting going to Ayres Rock in Australia... Don’t! GO - IT’S FABULOUS!!
For information about working in OZ and NZ visit:
www.visabureau.com
For some good job sites see:
www.bojob.com.au (yes we spelt it right!)
www.employment.byron.com.au
www.tntmagazine.com
www.careerone.com.au
www.bunac.org.uk
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