Gap year, career break, the best decision you ever made... Whatever you want to call it without sounding painfully posh, we know how to do it. Earn money, explore the world, enhance your CV (preferably all at the same time).
This is where we try and convince you to run away with us
We’re taking gap years back!
Unless you have mattresses stuffed with cash or you're a Millennial (no shade here), it’s pretty hard nowadays to do a ‘typical’ nineties/noughties gap year. As in, disappearing for a year with a backpack of Bintang beer t’shirts and a few Jack Johnson chords to stay in $5 beach huts. Life has got a whole heap more expensive – with more to lose from taking time away from your studies or career path. That said, we have some serious noughties YOLO for the gap year – so we’re bringing it back. Working holiday style.
Making travel work
Working overseas allows you to travel for longer – which is surely everyone’s goal. Whether you want to bankroll your trip with a working holiday visa, fund a few months abroad with a ski season, or put your career on the map with a paid internship – we’re all about travelling to work NOT working to travel.
Earning as you explore
Yes, there are still some hefty upfront costs to working abroad. Such as flights, accommodation, visas, travel insurance, support funds and a non-crease capsule wardrobe (let us know if you find this). But the idea is that you’re working to help fund your time overseas. Kind of like a cost neutral exercise for your bucket list.
Gap year minus the gap
A gap year doesn’t have to leave a gap in your CV, finances or life plan. By adding value to your gap year with a working holiday, internship or summer/winter overseas – you’ll enhance your resume and come away with a bunch of soft skills that future employers or admissions tutors will love.
What is a gap year?
Traditionally, a gap year is a period of travelling, working or volunteering overseas between high school and college/university. A stop gap if you like, somewhere between the academic world and the ‘real world’. We were never really one for tradition, so for us, a gap year isn’t just for students, or for graduates, or for an amount of time that happens to add up to a calendar year. What defines a gap year is taking a break to do something different. Not just to travel – although that’s part of it – but to travel with a purpose. Whether that’s to earn money, grow your skills or simply to refocus on what’s next. It’s your time, we’re all about making it work for you.
Why do a gap year?
Gap years and working holidays are no longer viewed negatively by employers or education professionals. And there’s a heap of personal and professional benefits to doing one. You’ll become financially independent, build transferrable skills, and get practical job experience that won’t leave a gap in your work history. You’ll grow in confidence, independence and get all those good ‘global citizen’ traveller traits by being exposed to different people, places, cultures and groups. Plus, travel is the greatest perspective changer. There’s nothing like a metaphorical (or actual) mountaintop moment to help you take stock and figure out what’s next.
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Do a working holiday
For their flexible work visas, backpacker-friendly culture and seasonal jobs opportunities, classic working holiday destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and USA. If you’re doing a round the world ticket, building a working holiday visa into your itinerary is a great way to fund stops in Asia, Africa, Latin America or the South Pacific on the way out or way back. It depends on your nationality, but typically you need to be 18-30 or 35 and you can usually stay and work for 1-3 years.
Do a ski season
Job envy is real. And it has skis. Doing a ski season in Canada or Japan has to be one of the funnest ways to fund your time overseas. From servers to slope attendants, we’ll set you up with a job before you go so that you can start earning as soon as you land. Plus, many of our employers include discounted staff housing, lift passes and lessons – so it’s a great way to save money, stay social and work on your skills. (Or your snow angels if you're a non skier or boarder).
Do a summer in the States
Everyone’s favourite season just got hotter. Working overseas minus the year out - spend 3-4 months working and travelling in the USA between Jun-Sep. There are two options depending on your nationality and student status. One, Summer Camp USA with our BUNAC site. Most nationalities can apply, there's no need to be a student, and you get to spend the summer doing what you love - from coaching tennis, to teaching crafts, to being an all-around good human and role model. Two, is Work USA 4 months - summer camp's 'less outdoorsy' sibling. Both include a pre-arranged job in America with 30 days after to travel.
Do an international internship
Travel like a pro. From fashion to finance, put your academic skills to work with a professional internship in the UK or USA. You’ll get hands-on experience in your chosen field, build a network of global contacts, and live overseas like a local. All our internship visas allow you to do paid or voluntary internships – so interning overseas doesn’t have to leave a gap in your finances. Check out our international internship page to see which destinations will work for your nationality.
Feeling lost?
You’ve come to the right place
Finishing school, university or having a change of career can be an anxious time. Taking time out can be an amazing way to refocus and decide what’s next – while also earning money, growing your skills and seeing the world.
Get hired or get the intel
Full-time student? Spend your uni summer holidays (Jun-Sep) earning $$ and exploring America with JENZA Work USA 4 months. We'll provide your sponsorship, hook you up with a 3-4 month seasonal job, and help you sort your J1 visa. Find out everything you need to know in this online travel talk.
Meet Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (fingers crossed) get hired on the day. To register your interest, apply for Summer Camp USA over on our BUNAC camp page and let us know which city you'd like to attend. We can't wait to see your face, but don't worry if you can't make an in-person event - the quickest way to get hired is in our hiring pool.
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The team who've been
Book a call
Not sure whether you want to do a ski season in Canada, a summer in the States or a gap year doing all of the above? All our team have worked the world, so can give you first-hand advice on where to go, what jobs you can do, and how the heck to fill out that visa form.
JENZA Travel International Ltd, trading as JENZA, is a company registered in Dublin, Ireland with Registered Company No. 707281 and registered address at 29-31 South William St, Dublin, Ireland, D02 EY96.