A gap year is an amazing opportunity to experience different cultures, meet new people and develop unique skills. Getting a gap year job is an excellent way to do all three, and earn money at the same time!
There are so many unique opportunities out there for gap year work. Here, we round up 10 gap year jobs that will change your life:
Spend a season on the slopes
If you’re happiest surrounded by snow, why not get paid for doing what you love, supercharge your CV and have the best winter of your life by spending a working gap year on the slopes?
You could learn to be a ski and snowboard instructor with EA Ski and Snowboard Training, which guarantees you a job at one of its 30 leading resorts in Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States.
Or how about taking a ski instructor training course in Zermatt in Switzerland with Connect Snowsports?
Try your hand at teaching
You can earn money and gain heaps of experience to add to your CV by teaching English to non-English speakers during your gap year.
We’ve outlined the qualifications you could consider in our guide to TEFL and CELTA courses. Once you’ve completed your training you’ll be able to apply for paid jobs.
There’s also the option to work as a teaching assistant overseas. These gap year jobs are often available in countries including Africa, Asia and South America, and normally include accommodation.
Working in a school
You don’t have to teach to work in a school abroad. Many schools invite gap year travellers to spend time with them in non-teaching roles, supporting students and teachers. You might be asked to help students with their work or reading, accompany them on school trips or assist with clubs and sports.
These positions can be paid or unpaid, and voluntary positions often include your accommodation and meals.
For example, Pembroke House boarding school in Kenya offers jobs for gap year travellers. They also offer a year-long internship pass, so you can enjoy travelling around the country afterwards.
Choose to be a Camp Counsellor
You’ve probably seen American summer camps in films and on TV, but how about working in one?
Letz Live organises gap year placements with 900 renowned schools and organisations in the USA as well as Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the UK.
Among them are paid placements in American summer camps. You’ll spend time outdoors and learn new skills as you support young people at the camp. Fancy trying water skiing, rock climbing, canoeing or archery? Discover these and more, and make new friends along the way.
Go back to nature on a farm
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) offers paid and unpaid jobs for gap year travellers on organic farms and family homes in 130 countries.
WWOOF aims to promote a cultural and educational exchange, so you’ll be invited to join your host’s daily routine and culture, help on their farm, learn more about sustainability and meet new people.
How about helping at a smallholding in Norway and helping care for the animals, build fences and painting? Or work at a mushroom farm in France, an eco retreat in Portugal or maple syrup producer in Canada?
Cook up a storm as a chef
AdventureEXP organises paid work experience placements and gap year jobs in the USA, allowing you to gain new skills on your gap year.
The available roles depend on when you travel, but they are often in the retail, hospitality and food and beverages sectors. All the positions are guaranteed to give you at least 35 hours of work per week, and you can choose to work for between two months and a year, so it’s a great way to earn cash.
If you love cooking you could apply to work in a kitchen as a chef, which is a fantastic way to learn about different cuisines.
Excel in childcare
If you hope to work with children in the future you’ll gain valuable experience and have fun by working in childcare during your gap year.
There are so many working gap year opportunities available, including being an au-pair, working in a ski resort or teaching sports or horse riding. Explore your options with seasonal work specialists Season Workers.
Try temping
There are a huge range of temping gap year jobs available to travellers, from working as an admin assistant to covering shifts in a restaurant and serving drinks in a bar.
Try looking at what’s available on job sites such as Indeed before you travel.
You can also arrange temping jobs when you are in a destination by contacting local recruitment companies who specialise in temping positions.
Some countries require you to have a working visa even if you do temporary jobs, so research this before you travel to ensure you apply for the right visa.
Join a conservation project
If you want to make a difference to the environment, local people or animals, consider joining a conservation project. You could find yourself taking samples from coral reefs, tracking wild animals or getting involved in cleaning up beaches or forests.
It’s a fantastic option if you’re looking for gap year work that ties in with issues you really care about.
Set sail on a cruise ship
A role on a cruise ship will allow you to travel the world while you earn. Cruise lines recruit for a huge variety of roles, from housekeeping to hospitality and childcare, which are perfect for gap year work.
While you won’t be able to explore every destination, you’ll get time off to experience some of the ports you sail to.
Check out the recruitment boards of international cruise lines to see the opportunities available.
However you choose to work during your gap year, you’ll gain new skills, bolster your CV and make new contacts and friends. If you’d like more inspiration to help you plan your gap year, check out the recent posts on our blog.