Top tips for getting a job on your gap year

If you're keen to take part in exciting activities while on a gap year, it is worth to consider how you're going to fund this. It is quite likely you'll need to work abroad for at least a portion of your year out and, in doing so, you will be able to earn a wage to pay for your adventures.

Of course, this is isn't the only benefit to taking on gap year jobs abroad. Working - be it on a full or part-time basis - offers you the chance to meet new people, be they fellow travellers or locals.

Having a job can also give you a closer insight into what life in a particular town or city is really like away from the major tourist attractions, while you could even develop new skills.

So, what are the jobs abroad that you should be looking for?

Of course, this will depend on where and what time of year you go away - among other factors - and, while it is possible to search for work entirely by yourself, it may be an idea to enlist the services of a specialist recruitment agency. Such an organisation will work to find you positions that are suitable for you and your specific skills, making the process of finding a job much easier.

Prior to leaving, it is a good idea to consider what your skills are and which jobs you would be most interested in doing. Drawing up a CV that you can give out to both recruitment agencies and potential employers as soon as you arrive could help you to steal a march on other jobseekers.

Make sure that you've checked it carefully for any spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes prior to handing it out - any errors are likely be frowned upon. Although there may be a temptation to embellish your qualifications and achievements on your resume in order to get good-paying work, it will not pay off in the long run, especially if an employer uncovers such mistruths at a later date.

Should you have experience of working in a particular sector back home or specialist qualifications, you may want to look for similar positions in the country you are spending your gap year.

As an example, working on a cattle ranch in the Australian outback offers the perfect chance for people who back in the UK have jobs in agriculture or construction, to make the most of their skills.

Those travelling to a country where English is not the native tongue may want to try teaching the language to locals. In places like Japan and China, you'll be able to get paid work in schools teaching youngsters how to read, write and speak English, while you also gain an insight into their culture. However, to assist your job search and to ensure you make the most of your time away, it is worth trying to learn some of the native language before you leave the UK.

Seeking out paid work abroad also gives you the chance to try something completely different, so if you have always wanted to pick up some new skills, this may be the perfect opportunity for you to do so.

Regardless of what sort of position you're looking for, when it comes to being interviewed by a prospective employer it is important that you impress.

Make sure that you dress smartly - packing a couple of shirts and a pair of trousers in your backpack before you leave the UK is certainly a good idea - while doing some prior research about the company you have applied for a job with could show you have a real interest in working for them.

Keep in mind the above points and you should find the process of getting work while on your gap year is made much easier.

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• gap year
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• jobs abroad
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• working abroad