A working holiday visa is a great way to enable you to stay in a country for longer than a short holiday but there’s no point in a visa if you can’t find backpacker jobs! Working whilst you are backpacking helps you to enjoy your travels for longer and meet potential travel buddies whilst you are at it. As a backpacker, jobs can sometimes be hard to find and the prospect of looking for work can be a little daunting at first but here a few simple tips to make the whole process not only easier but also fun.

The Easiest Way to find Backpacker Jobs

1. Have your CV ready before you arrive. Although you will have enough to do preparing for your travels, if your CV / resume is already sorted it saves you having to do it when you get where you’re going! Have a few printed copies with you and you are good to go about handing them out.

2. Budget wisely. Try and budget so that you have enough cash to last you about a month at the beginning of your search for a job. This helps to prevent a major stress attack panicking about money. Give yourself a month to find some work, just in case.

3. Check out Hostel noticeboards. This is an easy way for companies to attract backpackers and these are mostly backpacker jobs like fruit picking, telesales or promotions.

4. Get chatting to people. Word of mouth is a great way to hear about backpacker jobs both with other backpackers and with locals.

5. Don’t be snobbish about jobs. Backpacker jobs aren’t guaranteed to be glamorous. Sometimes you have to take what you’re given. Just remember that it’s only for a short time and to fund the more enjoyable parts of your trip.

6. Chat to the staff at the hostel. This is a great way to find out what is going on. There may even be jobs going in the hostel you’re staying at.

7. Be open to moving around. If work is hard to find in one place, look further afield.

8. All work and no play is dull. See point number 2. If you have enough money to start with you don’t have to spend all day every day searching and worrying about work. If you continue to go out, explore and enjoy yourself the higher your chances are of finding work or meeting people who could help you out.

9. WWOOFing. This is where you work in exchange for accommodation and often food (although most countries do require you to have a valid work visa even for this type of work where you don’t actually receive wages). It doesn’t make you any money but if you find yourself strapped for cash for a few weeks and just want to keep your costs down this is a great way to do it.  Most places are off the beaten track and you get to live with locals and experience a different side to the country you’re in.

10. Enjoy the process. This seems strange but finding a job and working shouldn’t dampen your whole travel experience. Let your personality shine, budget wisely and be prepared so that you can gain the most from your experience.