Working in Europe

Travelling and Working in Europe
By Michael Russell

If you are like many practical travelers, you might plan to supplement or even completely finance your European holiday by working there temporarily. There are many great advantages to mixing work and travel. You get to see an inside view of the country you're working and living in that you wouldn't see if you were just a tourist. If you happen to vacation in a non-English speaking country, you're sure to practice a new language and learn something substantial from the local culture. What often happens though, is that you'll end up like many other travelers working long hours for relatively little pay. Most of the time you would be unable to save enough for all the things you had planned to do before you go home.

If you would like to temporarily work in Europe, you must do research and plan carefully. You might hear of many travelers picking up casual and sometimes illegal work harvesting fruit, laboring, or helping out in the hospitality industry. However, veteran travelers would discourage you from funding part or even your entire vacation this way. Work until you save up reasonable funds to support yourself for at least a few weeks in Europe and always have a return plane ticket handy. It is always a risk to turn up anywhere without sufficient finances. British immigration officials are especially suspicious of anybody they suspect will work illegally, so never carry references or résumés with you. If you think you may need them, ask someone from home to mail these documents to you once you've settled in Europe.