Pronounced “yahhhh”

Gap year work and travel

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!

Black energy mark graphic with yellow infill colour

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.

5 girls smile for a photo on a sunny evening wearing the same tshirt.

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.

Girl lies in the back of her van on sunny day

What can I do on my gap year?

Ways to earn + explore

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.

Girl sits in front of still lake on clear day

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.

Girls walk down a boardwalk on sunny day

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.

2 guys on ski lift smile with mountains in background

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.

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.

Picture of young JENZA staff member on polaroid background

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