Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

DD18- summer work in Europe?

36 replies

Cathpot · 18/01/2023 22:34

Hi looking for ideas for DD. Her interrailing plans for the summer have just fallen over and she’s very flat about having no plans- especially after saving up . She would like to find some summer work that would allow her to have some time in Europe and still get to have a mini adventure. She currently works as a waitress at the weekends, is comfortable on boats/ competent crew sort of level. She’s done volunteering with kids gymnastics so she’s happy fielding small children. No second language- did French at gcse but I’m not sure she would get much past ordering an icecream! I’m sure there must be something suitable but I don’t know what to suggest- looking for ideas from the hive mind…

OP posts:
minipie · 19/01/2023 21:57

I came across an article here which suggests that the process for getting EU work visas for Brits has become easier recently. In this case it’s talking about ski staff but the same would apply to summer holiday staff.
Suggests the chances of getting hired without an EU passport may not be so bad.

Havanananana · 19/01/2023 22:53

@minipie

The article you link to only talks about staff for France and specifically for ski resort jobs, not about seasonal employment in general in the EU. It is also dated July 2022, so it would be interesting to know what actually happened this season - did many UK passport holders actually get jobs, or more specifically, were their employers able to secure work permits for them? What level of qualification or previous seasonal employment history was needed?

All of the jobs actually posted on the website (coolskijobs.com) require an EU passport or the right to work in the EU, so it seems that the article was being a bit optimistic about the prospects of British workers getting jobs in France.

"In this case it’s talking about ski staff but the same would apply to summer holiday staff. Suggests the chances of getting hired without an EU passport may not be so bad."

I can't read anything in the article that supports either of these statements. The process for getting a work permit appears to have been streamlined for French ski resorts, but there is nothing that suggests that inexperienced and unqualified staff have any chance of finding an employer willing and able to obtain a work permit for them. As stated in my previous post, qualified workers with an existing history of working several pre-Brexit seasons and with language skills (such as ski instructors and resort managers) have been able to get work permits this season, as they were last year. The entry-level jobs such as reps and bar staff seem to be filled by employees from Ireland or "Brits" with an EU passport - e.g. people who have grown up in the UK but who have a European parent or grandparent and so are able to get an EU passport.

LondonMummer · 20/01/2023 08:32

How about the turtle volunteering in Kefalonia. Lots of single travellers do it so there's a strong social element as well as some structure. And Kefalonia is lovely

Outfor150 · 20/01/2023 08:41

LondonMummer · 20/01/2023 08:32

How about the turtle volunteering in Kefalonia. Lots of single travellers do it so there's a strong social element as well as some structure. And Kefalonia is lovely

Isn’t that the sort of thing that you have to pay them to do, as opposed to them paying you?

OnLockdown · 20/01/2023 08:43

She could do a TEFL qualification. She would be paying them but she wouldn't need a visa, she would meet people, and she would end up with a useful qualification. Many people go to Europe to do them.

LondonMummer · 20/01/2023 08:43

I haven't done it although I saw them whilst I was there. If she was going to go Interailing I'm assuming this doesn't have to be a money making exercise.

Original poster
Cathpot · 20/01/2023 18:20

@LondonMummer
i will look at that thanks-she has saved up a reasonable amount for inter- railing that was going to cover her ticket and a month of accommodation/ food so doing something that costs isn’t off the table at all. She had a good look at the sailing website this afternoon and will put her CV together tomorrow.
Your ideas have made her feel much better that with a bit of effort she can find something.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cathpot · 15/07/2023 10:49

Just an update in case anyone in a similar situation. DD is currently in kefalonia on a turtle conservation project- using the money she had saved for interrailing. It isn’t cheap but 2 weeks there is less than she would have spent interrailing so she will have some savings left. Thank you @LondonMummer for the suggestion. She is absolutely loving it- nearly everyone is early 20s- she is 18 but fitting in well , lots of different nationalities. There aren’t that many who have come alone but she is sociable and you are put into various work teams so that’s been fine. As a bonus she is also loving all the turtle activities- even getting up at 5am to survey nests- biking to the beaches as the sun comes up. They work them reasonably hard but on a day with 2 shifts you get time off in the afternoon and she has 2 full days off next week and has organised to go places with people she works with. I think being busy is also helpful for her travelling on her own and the activities are enjoyable. I’m so pleased for her and grateful to the people who helped us think it through.

OP posts:
LondonMummer · 15/07/2023 10:52

Cathpot · 15/07/2023 10:49

Just an update in case anyone in a similar situation. DD is currently in kefalonia on a turtle conservation project- using the money she had saved for interrailing. It isn’t cheap but 2 weeks there is less than she would have spent interrailing so she will have some savings left. Thank you @LondonMummer for the suggestion. She is absolutely loving it- nearly everyone is early 20s- she is 18 but fitting in well , lots of different nationalities. There aren’t that many who have come alone but she is sociable and you are put into various work teams so that’s been fine. As a bonus she is also loving all the turtle activities- even getting up at 5am to survey nests- biking to the beaches as the sun comes up. They work them reasonably hard but on a day with 2 shifts you get time off in the afternoon and she has 2 full days off next week and has organised to go places with people she works with. I think being busy is also helpful for her travelling on her own and the activities are enjoyable. I’m so pleased for her and grateful to the people who helped us think it through.

Gosh I'm so pleased to hear that. Thank you for the update. Hope she gets to go on a boat trip on her day off. The Queen Bee was amazing and there was a group from the turtle conservation project on board when we did it.

cafecreme · 15/07/2023 11:17

That’s a great update. I’m looking at similar for my dd next summer.

Original poster
Cathpot · 15/07/2023 12:20

Yes she is booked on the Queen Bee tomorrow! There are a group of employees running it who are full of advice about things to do , places to eat etc.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page