Summer Work Abroad

Published on 01 September 2005
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Finding summer work abroad these days couldn’t be simpler.  The majority of the main recruitment companies like Kelly Services and Adecco all have offices around the world and there are online agencies and recruitment services offering a range of employment opportunities globally.

Working abroad for the summer or for a brief period of secondment is not just the realm of students nowadays either; many more people are taking time out to travel abroad and experience for themselves the reality and practicality of living and working in a given location to determine whether expatriating permanently is for them.

This has to be the ultimate practical way to do due diligence on a country - you can take a short period of employment and try out your new life for size!  At Shelter Offshore we always advocate the need to spend time getting to know your new country before you up sticks, relocate and expatriate...and by taking an extended working holiday you can also test out employment conditions, rates of pay, buoyancy in the market and at the same time you can network effectively getting to know employers seeking your skills on a full time basis. 

Many people find that taking a summer job allows them to take the whole family with them to try out the new life for size as children are on their school holidays anyway and one partner can potentially take unpaid extended leave from their place of employment.  If one of you has found summer work the other can try out the lifestyle for size and spend time getting to know the best areas around the town, city or even country you’re interested in relocating to.  Familiarity is the fastest way to feel at home and if you and your family can get yourselves familiar with every aspect of living abroad in a new country then you will make the permanent transition abroad easily.

Giving children and partners time to get practically used to the idea of living in a foreign country will also improve the chances of a successful relocation.  It’s a well known fact that the reason many overseas moves fail is because the trailing spouse is unhappy with the unfamiliarity of their new life.  Working abroad for the summer or for a short period and having your family accompany you will give everyone a fair chance to feel what being an expatriate is really like and you may even make friends so that when you make the move permanently you already have a network of people to support and assist you and make your life more comfortable and pleasant when you arrive.

To take an extended period of time away from your place of permanent employment requires planning and patience.  An employer will need to be informed of your intentions and have time to restructure or recruit temporary staff to fill the void you will be creating.  You will need time to plan your time away as well and also to secure work abroad in the form of a temporary summer job.  Make sure you begin your planning at least six to twelve months before you intend to leave and get everything in place in terms of accommodation and a budget on which you can manage before you get your first pay check.

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