How to Find Short Term Work in Europe
On vacation in Europe, you can see 10 countries in 10 days, and be on a beach one minute and two hours later reach the top of snow-covered Swiss Alps by train. There are castles, historical landmarks and beautiful scenery, as well as city life and diverse cultural and language scenes. If you want to visit Europe and are having trouble with the funding, you can try to find short term work in Europe to help you pay for the costs of visiting.
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Instructions
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If you are going to Europe as a citizen of the United States or other country that would require a passport to go to Europe, obtain your passport. From the United States, you can go to any passport acceptance facility and fill out the application in person. For more information, see the US Department of State website, listed in the Resources section below.
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Obtain a work visa if necessary. Visit the "Anywork Anywhere" website (see Resources below) to find out whether you will need a work visa in the particular country in Europe, based on your country of citizenship. Note that for certain jobs, you actually need the job first and the employer must seek your work visa.
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Visit the "Transitions Abroad" website (see Resources below). This site has sections dedicated to summer, seasonal and short term work. It has links to many different opportunities for working short term in Europe, either paid or as a volunteer. Jobs include farming, au pair (child care in a family's home) and travel service jobs.
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If you are a student or recent graduate, go through a program like the Council or BUNAC work abroad. Through these programs, you get a work visa in advance, and then you can search for a job once you arrive, with help from their offices in Europe.
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A second great website for students to find short term work in Europe is "Student Traveler," (see Resources below).
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Go to "iGapyear" online which offers resources for finding summer or winter jobs, paid or volunteer, at seasonal resorts. iGapyear also shows resources for international volunteer projects, such as helping set up for a music festival in Europe. Another site, "Escape Artist," actually has live postings for jobs overseas in Europe.
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The best way to gain paid employment in Europe for the short term is to actually know someone with a company there or to work short term for your current employer in Europe. Maybe your boss will send you to France to give a presentation, and pay you for it. Or maybe you stayed at a hotel in Switzerland last year and got to know the owners. You hit it off so well that they offer you a summer job as a waiter in the restaurant, especially since you already know the language.
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Tips & Warnings
Some job packages will include housing, especially if they are volunteer work. If not, you can visit Hostel World (found on the internet), and find inexpensive housing options for European locations.
It may not be easy to find paid employment overseas. You may have to opt for a volunteer opportunity.
