Working in Europe

[Pogues Mcgogues]

Hey,

I'm eventually and finally going backpacking in September for three weeks. Everythings near enough deicided.

This is an other request relating to this, possibly not for 2011 but maybe later on. Has anyone ever worked in Europe in hostels or that? How did did you get into it? Is it okay to only realy speak English and a tad bit of German (only other language I have some knowledge in)? Is it best just to go travelling and ask around? Do a lot of hostels normally put you up as well?

Just an idea. Thought about it for a while. Just wondering if it's realistically possible.

I understand everywhere's different, but just looking for general info realy.

Thanks.

[LusciousLucy]

First of all get yourself a Working in Europe book instead of asking us first!

Then go on lots of the various work and travel websites that are out there eg Travellers Point or the Lonely Planet (Olive Tree?) and ask questions there. All the traveller websites have very good forums and chatrooms with far more answers to the questions you have.

Google 'jobs in European hostels' and see what that gives you.

Contact YHA and see if any of their hostels are hiring. Natives.co.uk is one of the big ski season websites that might be worth looking at.

Recommendations from friends and forum types about good and friendly hostels is something to consider.

My only advice is dont just rock up at a place and expect work. There are often jobs in hostels throughout the year obviously but beginning of the holiday seasons are the best time to be enquiring. Rocking up in late summer and expecting to have a job handed to you might not be so easy compared to arriving in April in Greece (for example). The books will no doubt give you addresses for organisations and how to contact some/many hostels directly.

I've only really dealt with Oz myself and sometimes it was a case of just staying on in a hostel you liked, trialling as a volunteer for a bit and then you might get lucky with a paid position. Hostel life is transient obviously and so travellers come and go, some return as the liked the place so much the previous year. There's hundreds of hostels across the area...good luck.

Having a second language is super useful and I would expect a hostel owner would expect staff to be quite good at the national language in the country you end up in.

Finding out which hostels have more of an Aussie/Kiwi/HK/US clientele might be an option if your language skills are not as strong as being fluent. I stayed in a very Aussie hostel in Austria 7 years ago and barely any other nationalities stayed there.

Having some front of house/hotel experience often helps obviously but there are all sorts of jobs to be done in hostels. Having respect and good work ethic usually helps a lot too. Getting wrecked with the guests every night and not doing your job next morning wont last you long that's for sure...and hostel life is certainly a head turner and a party. But a good job in a good hostel can be very rewarding in many ways.

You wont need a work permit either (and in Europe you will get jobs over the Aussies, Yanks and Kiwis who officially are not supposed to be working even though they do).

Good luck with your mission. Its a fun doing all the research across the websites and books.

[LusciousLucy]

If you are only going for 3 weeks, why would you want to work?

[Pogues Mcgogues]

If you are only going for 3 weeks, why would you want to work?

[philipsteak]

You wont need a work permit either (and in Europe you will get jobs over the Aussies, Yanks and Kiwis who officially are not supposed to be working even though they do).

[LusciousLucy]

I'm going on experience of ski seasons where lots of Aussie ski/snowboard bums work but illegally. They head out for the season to party and need to work sometimes. It was always funny watching them scarper out of the shops they were working in when immigration came calling round The bosses hired them anyway and it was a risk they took. Things might have changed now but it wasnt the case in the early Noughties, there were restrictions on what work the Aussies etc could do. Cant remember exactly but they werent allowed to work officialy where we were anyway.

Edited December 29, 2010 by LusciousLucy

[dakyras]

Learn how to suck a lot of cock.

[Wooderson]

From personal experience it is not easy to get work in Europe on spec.

[Pogues Mcgogues]

From personal experience it is not easy to get work in Europe on spec.