How to Work and Travel

Hello!
I am a 23 year old Canadian female with a Bachelor's degree in science. I would like to travel and work for a year, but I'm very unsure of where to begin looking. I'm interested in such broad places such as Europe, Aus/NZ, USA.. and jobs healthcare, administrative, customer service, and waitressing.. That my google searches are way too broad to stumble upon things that I'm interested in. I'm not a student anymore so I can't get jobs that way. And everything I've come across "SWAP" and "GoInternational" make you pay 700$ to have them 'help' you find a job.. no guarantees. I'm just not sure where to even begin and I would need a job that I could live off of abroad. The kind of experience I hope for is to meet new people roughly my age and experience new culture. Any tips, helpful websites, or any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sarah

Sarah, for some one so bright, you do not seem to have done much research.

What you are looking for is a WHV (Working Holiday Visa) which is available to you to be able to work in all those lovely places you have mentioned (apart from the US).

As for "gointernational". Everything these guys do, you can do so very easily yourself. Save your $700, take a deep breath and step out into the void.

Narrow down the options first by finding out where you can get a work permit relatively easily. Countries that offer a WHV to Canadians aside, you can basically forget about working anywhere in the European Union unless you can offer skills unavailable in the EU. For jobs in customer service, waitressing and so on, you'll find yourself competing with lots of EU citizens who can be hired without any visa, so unless you have a WHV you don't stand a chance.

Also note that for most service related jobs, you are required to be more or less fluent in the local language. The same goes for healthcare, and in fact for most other jobs too. It's probably better to focus on countries where you already speak the language from day 1. You could try to find an English-speaking job in another country, but that way you'll never learn the local language and end up spending most of your time in the international community, which IMO contradicts your intention to familiarize yourself with another culture.

With a science degree, you might be eligible for various NAFTA professional jobs in the U.S. You need to line up the job first and then you might need either a TN or H-1B visa (head to http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html and settle in for a nice long read).

If you really want a low-skill job, these are sometimes filled in seasonal tourist areas by short-term employees with an H-2B visa--again, you need to get the job first. Remember, though: in our country the less skilled the profession, the less vacation leave, insurance coverage, etc. you're likely to get.

I agree that you should go for a WHV - try Australia or NZ for starters as you speak the same language so it will be easier to get work.

As all places, 20% of folks are out of work.

Its better to get a working student visa.
Comunity college serves many purposes.

Any school is only the fundamentals.

What did you take at school, to educate the inner you?
What's your second love?

Here in Spain, I use my uni every day. Art History, geology, Anthropology. I just don't make a living at it. But kit gave me more reasons to travel. And better questions to ask.

We are all students in the long run.

Thank Gawd I don't have a tv. Youtube has brit documentaries on everything.

Working overseas is a school for loving people.
*see profile
ç(;oD>

20% of people out of work? I dont think thats accurate
I think Gawk was referring to Spain.

are jobs everywhere if you're resourceful
So you're saying those 33% of all Andalucians who are currently unemployed are just being unresourceful? Or the 1 out of 2 young Spaniards who are out of work at the moment?

20% of people out of work? I dont think thats accurate. There are jobs everywhere if you're resourceful. As for your specific scenario, I say get a WHV in NZ or Australia . There, you can find a job in your field. Then the international experience will look good on your resume when you return. Or you could find other job opportunities abroad that use your education.

Good luck, and have fun out there.

Im not here to debate why people are unemployed. Im only saying as an individual you can find work. Maybe it's just my experience, but I have found that a lot of people who are out of work are that way because they aren't willing to take a lower paying job or because they are too lazy. I found this many times during the US recession. The same recession where, in the most unemployed state in the US, I was offered more than one job and ended up starting my own freelance business. But I had resources to use. Sometimes you have to hard choices, but there are jobs.

As all places, 20% of folks are out of work.
Wouldn't Gawk be referring to all places? Sure, spain, has higher unemployment, I get that, but all places means all places? I just have a thing about people making sweeping statements and using random made up statistics. Hey look facts and numbers.

Conclusions for the OP: she should consider places with lower unemployment. Australia and NZ come to mind. Don't go to Spain. Find an area in your field of study that requires travel. Is Bankia hiring?

What sort of job in healthcare do you envision doing?

Other than a purely clerical or office job, any healthcare field is going to require some sort of license/certificate/training. Having a BS in science only qualifies you to get more specialized education. It doesn't, by itself, give you any special qualifications in healthcare.