Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #659240 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 576 pages

From the Back Cover
This twelfth edition of the unique and acclaimed guide for the working traveler explains how to find temporary work around the world, not only in advance, but also when on the spot while traveling. It incorporates hundreds of first-hand accounts from people who have actually done the jobs with the finest hard factual information to offer authoritative advice on how to find work.
Work Your Way Around the World gives information on all the main areas of temporary work including the tourist industry, agriculture, teaching English, childcare, and voluntary work, plus insiders' information on how to work a passage or to earn money by using your initiative when you spot a local opportunity.
This book provides details on: picking strawberries in Denmark, film-making on a Greek island, modeling in Tokyo, busking in Amsterdam, salmon fishing in Alaska, mountain farming in Austria and many, many more.

About the Author
Susan Griffith is the author of many of Vacation Work's leading books including Teaching English Abroad and Taking a Gap Year in addition to a number of travel guides. Canadian-born Susan now lives in Cambridge, England, with her family.

Customer Reviews

Focuses on Europeans and Europe, little info on anything else
Ten years ago when I first went to Europe with the intention of finding work, short-term or long-term, my brother's girlfriend gave me this book as a gift because she found it useful. Let me say right off that I had no clue about traveling abroad or what was possible, even in a pre-9/11 world. But it seemed to me that the book concentrated heavily on Brits and Europeans and gave mostly common sense advice I could glean from my head (or a friend, if I was clueless) and come up with the same or better info if I searched the Internet. The updated version hasn't changed that much.

I'd also like to add that my brother's girlfriend (now ex) never found work abroad in her 5 years, lived off her father's money and told me I would never make it either. I told her I wasn't her, left the book behind and never saw it again. I first found a series of short-term jobs that I can only describe as experiences I can laugh about now. Then I built a life from literally nothing that has led to living and working in Europe for 10 years (and counting)...and it didn't happen because of this book.

It is true that Americans have a more difficult time finding work in Europe simply because of EU citizenship requirements, but you may not care if short-term illegal work is your goal. Showing up at the right time (and there ARE right times) and looking a certain way will more likely get you a summer job than sending a CV/resume, making calls or wasting time on placing ads. I don't know anyone who has hired anyone on paper or over the phone, even if you're already here in the country.

As with everything, there are exceptions. My best friend was placed in Poland, well-paid and provided housing for 2 years teaching English without any experience, certification or previous interview. Last year, he took a stint in Turkey during his vacation under the same circumstances. There are also plenty of opportunities, different and sometimes better, in very beautiful places outside of Europe. My friend Brad landed in South America with no intentions of staying and worked there happily for 3 years and wishes he could go back.

Buying and reading this book, however helpful it is in small ways, is not enough. Sometimes, an adventurous attitude, thirst for experience and willingness isn't enough...sometimes it's just lady luck smiling on you. In some countries, it's strictly about connections. It puzzles me as to how this book continues to be updated and sold over the years.

I'm sorry I can't be more positive because I know it's tough to write a book and there are people out there searching for some assistance. But I think it's equally important to be honest. Hopefully, this book is helping someone.

Great book for Working Vacations
This is a great book to help you finance your working vacation abroad by doing low skilled work. The next book college grads should consider purchasing if they are interested in "professional" international work and internship experiences is The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas. Check it out.

Bible for financially sustainable travel through Europe and Anglo cultures
This book is helpful to those who want to travel more but need to find a way to get by without hemorrhaging money. And even if you don't want to do this, it's interesting to read about those who do.

Reading about travelers saving up money by working long days picking fruit, getting discounted rates on cruise liners by helping the crew, or generally taking jobs that nobody else wants, I realized that personally, I was probably happier saving up money at a desk job and paying full fare. However, there's a lot to be said for working abroad providing a cultural immersion experience that just can't be achieved through mere tourism. Aside from paying work, there are some helpful listings for international volunteering organizations. And, if you're interested in teaching English, you've got it made just about anywhere in the world.

This book is so up to date, and so packed with interesting and useful information, and most remarkably, so responsive to feedback from past readers (who are mentioned by name throughout) that anyone can find something useful here.

My only criticism is that the title of the book is misleading. This book is heavily focused on Europe (200 pages) and focuses on opportunities available to those with EU citizenship. It doesn't really do justice to most of the *world*. There are more pages on Australia (44 pages), for example, than all of Latin America and Africa COMBINED.