Gap year jobs to apply for before you travel
Be a gap year TEFL teacher
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) opens the door to working in practically any country, and it's a popular choice for gap years. People want to learn English for business and conversation. If you've studied business or economics, you'll have an advantage in teaching business English, but it's not required. Conversational English is more basic. If your students already have a reasonable grasp of the language and just want to improve their accents and vocabulary, you could end up getting paid to chat about the weather.
Many gap year organisations specialise in placing TEFL teachers. Most require some kind of certification before you leave, but they will train and certify you. TEFL courses start at around £200, but if you sign up for certain assignments, your course fees will be waived, and your flight costs may be reimbursed. Once certified, you can take your pick from a range of countries. Salaries vary greatly. In developed countries where there's a great demand for business English, you'll be very well paid; in poorer countries the wages are lower. You're not limited to a single country, as some contracts are for a few months only.
- Find out more about TEFL and other jobs for working travellers from the Overseas Job Centre
- Find out about TEFL training and placements from i-to-i
- Read more about choosing a gap year organisation
Work at a sports camp during your time out
MLS (Major League Soccer) Camps runs camps throughout the USA in which youngsters of differing ages learn how to play English football. MLS soccer camps last between five and eight weeks and coaches are placed with host families during this time. Coaches usually stay with each family for a week and are provided with all meals. You will need coaching experience and qualifications to work for MLS. Other soccer camps may not require certification. Take a look at the MLS Camps website to find out more.
Be a camp counsellor during your gap year
Summer camps in the US are always on the lookout for enthusiastic counsellors. Sports coaches are in high demand, but they also need staff to supervise water activities, teach arts and crafts and train budding actors and singers.
If you don't want to spend all day with kids, you could get involved behind the scenes. Camp America and BUNAC offer well-established summer camp schemes that only cost a few hundred pounds. The fee covers flights, insurance, administration costs, and organising your visa. You receive pocket money while you are working, which most people save up for travel following the end of camp. The vast majority of camps are in the US or Canada, but you may be able to find a position in Europe or Russia.