But for many of those who are lucky enough to study abroad, their student bursary just isn’t enough to get them by. So do they just crack on with their studies and turn down every opportunity to embrace the local culture? Of course not! They get a job to raise the money they need to make the most of their time in another country.
If you’re planning on studying abroad in the near future, or are already out there and considering your options, here’s a list of the best work options that can help give your year abroad a much-needed cash injection.
Construction
If you aren’t afraid of a little manual labour, construction is an excellent job for students who want to get their hands dirty and make a meaningful contribution to their destination country. It gives students the opportunity to build meaningful friendships with locals, which helps to provide a more well-rounded impression of the country or city itself.
Plus, for those who are likely going to spend the majority of their working lives sitting down at a desk, making a practical, hands-on contribution to a construction project will offer good life experience and can help to create as many memorable moments as the actual act of travelling – not to mention the satisfaction that comes with seeing a project through from start to finish.
On a construction site, you can expect to help carry materials, clean sites, dig, and support with basic demolition. Unfortunately, some of the more exciting equipment requires specific training, so no, you won’t be able to drive a JCB or operate a plant hire machine. On the bright side, a typical construction worker role offers higher wages than most other jobs, and is completely accessible, with no prior experience or qualifications required. All you’ll need is to keep up.
Farming and Harvest Work
It would be a great shame if you travelled all the way across the world to see the beauty of a faraway country, only to spend most of your time sitting inside all day. That’s why farming, or specifically harvest work, is a fantastic job for any student.
When you’re not at university, you’ll be able to spend your shift working outside in the open, totally immersed in the natural splendour of the country. Like in construction, working in these settings will allow you to meet and get to know locals, gaining a more well-rounded picture of the place itself, its history, and its culture.
Farm and harvest work is one of the most accessible jobs in the world. No experience is required, along with no language skills beyond the absolute basics. The work itself is honest, and typically consists of fruit picking, vegetable harvesting, supporting vineyards, and helping to operate a farm by lending a much-needed hand with weeding, irrigation, and cleaning.
Pay will vary depending on whether it’s hourly pay or piece rate. Piece rate is more meritocratic; it just means that you get paid per bucket you fill, and the average remuneration for hourly pay tends to hover around minimum wage.
The main caveat for this role is that you should only commit to it if the weather is guaranteed to be dry; if it rains, then you’re unlikely to work at all, and should probably look at a role that’s more suitable.
Hospitality
The most popular job among students, serving is social, flexible, and offers a higher earning potential if the job is in a country with a tipping culture, like the U.S. or Australia.
Typical roles in this category include waiter or waitress, bartender, or coffee shop worker. These jobs are so popular because they are literally everywhere, in huge metropolitan cities and smaller university towns. They allow students to meet and build friendships with each other, while also meeting and serving locals who can help advise on any must-visit locations or educate them on local cultural practices and traditions.
Furthermore, serving is flexible; employees have more license to pick and choose exactly when they work, and whether it’s part-time or full-time. However, it’s also worth pointing out that the hours, especially in bars and restaurants, can be unsociable – just something to bear in mind.
In Conclusion
If you’re studying abroad, but you need a little extra disposable income, then we hope that some of the jobs listed above don’t just give you the funds you need to have fun and make the most of your free time, but also give you new opportunities to meet new friends and learn more about the country where you’ve chosen to study in.