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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
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Seems like I'm not going to get any kind of 'real' job whatsoever - in my profession or otherwise, for a long time to come. So I think I might use the time to see more of the country instead of doing nothing much at home. Fruit picking seems like it might be an option for reliable, if mundane work that allows one to progressively travel around the country and see it in detail. I've seen most of Southern Australia but not really in as much depth as I'd like...anyway, my ideal would be to work say 4-10 weeks depending on how long the contract/work lasts, and use the savings to travel for 3-4 weeks at a time, before taking up the next job at a new location. I've done some basic calculations and it looks like this might be unrealistic. I have my own transport, and have the idea of camping and staying at hostels/backpackers as much as possible.
I figure if I got paid $15 an hour (the going rate for two jobs, if you work hard ), and work an average of 20 hours a week (hours tend to vary between 10-35 hours a week), that's a mere $300 per week. Accommodation would set me back roughly $100 a week, food about $70 and fuel $50 = a total of $220, leaving $80 in the piggy bank. After a month that's just $320...of course there will be other misc costs.
I might check some sites/backpacker forums as well, but decided to check if anyone here has done anything like that. I'm not having any luck finding any casual type work (bar attendant, cleaner etc) - I have retail experience but it doesn't seem to count for much.
Hopefully I'll find a way to do it though, just wondering if it's feasible.
The latter appeals to me especially, but I figure it will be harder to get that kind of work. I might give it a shot anyway.
Actually I think you'd have a decent chance if you apply well enough before the season. Probably by now they have done most of their hiring for this year.
They are always looking for people and I know that because they would recruit in the ski resorts of the USA for people to come down and work for ski season on the 4 month visa that was available for 18-30 year olds.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by wanneroo
Actually I think you'd have a decent chance if you apply well enough before the season. Probably by now they have done most of their hiring for this year.
They are always looking for people and I know that because they would recruit in the ski resorts of the USA for people to come down and work for ski season on the 4 month visa that was available for 18-30 year olds.
I wanted to do that, but you need some money to get settled and stuff - they recommended you bring at least $9000 - I have hardly any savings. Might try for next year .
I wanted to do that, but you need some money to get settled and stuff - they recommended you bring at least $9000 - I have hardly any savings. Might try for next year .
$9000!!! To go work in a ski field in Australia? That doesn't make sense.
Jeez what in the world would that be for? I reckon all you would need is a housing deposit and some spending money until your first pay check.
You can take that job in Colorado for well under that. A couple hundred bucks for the visa, round trip plane ticket to Los Angeles, a housing deposit of $300 and some spending money.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by wanneroo
$9000!!! To go work in a ski field in Australia? That doesn't make sense.
Jeez what in the world would that be for? I reckon all you would need is a housing deposit and some spending money until your first pay check.
You can take that job in Colorado for well under that. A couple hundred bucks for the visa, round trip plane ticket to Los Angeles, a housing deposit of $300 and some spending money.
I meant to work in the US for about a year...that's what they said on one of the sites, just a recommendation. On top of that you need to pay them $1000 to get you set up there. How much spending money would you recommend? Perhaps $2,000-3,000?
I meant to work in the US for about a year...that's what they said on one of the sites, just a recommendation. On top of that you need to pay them $1000 to get you set up there. How much spending money would you recommend? Perhaps $2,000-3,000?
Well it all depends what you are aiming to do with that one year and what you'll require in terms of living.
If you live in an area where you'll need a car and have to rent an apartment and furnish it, then the costs will go up. The car of course you can sell on at the end of your year and recoup some of the costs. My friend from NZ has a used $2000 BMW he keeps here in the USA for instance.
If in a resort area if there is furnished employee housing and employee transportation then that eliminates much of the other costs. My former employer had both so all you needed to get started was a $300 housing deposit and money for bed linens, an alarm clock, food and toiletries. Rent was deducted from the paychecks.
The first winter I worked in Vail, CO in 1999-2000 I think I went there with $1100 in the bank after my housing deposit was paid and I did just fine.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,054,732 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by wanneroo
Well it all depends what you are aiming to do with that one year and what you'll require in terms of living.
If you live in an area where you'll need a car and have to rent an apartment and furnish it, then the costs will go up. The car of course you can sell on at the end of your year and recoup some of the costs. My friend from NZ has a used $2000 BMW he keeps here in the USA for instance.
If in a resort area if there is furnished employee housing and employee transportation then that eliminates much of the other costs. My former employer had both so all you needed to get started was a $300 housing deposit and money for bed linens, an alarm clock, food and toiletries. Rent was deducted from the paychecks.
The first winter I worked in Vail, CO in 1999-2000 I think I went there with $1100 in the bank after my housing deposit was paid and I did just fine.
Wow, I should try and get a summer camp job in that case. Now I'll have to get accepted, somehow...I've got $2k Australian and I could save up a bit more. Reckon it's a bit late to apply for a summer job?
Wow, I should try and get a summer camp job in that case. Now I'll have to get accepted, somehow...I've got $2k Australian and I could save up a bit more. Reckon it's a bit late to apply for a summer job?
One of the kiwi gals I used to know that I worked with in Colorado got a visa extension or extra visa(however it worked out) and worked at a summer camp in New York State for a summer and had a great time.
It's probably getting a bit late for this summer to arrange visas and a camp job, but you can still try. If not you'll have plenty of time to plan for next year.
Another option you might want to look into is working in one of the US national parks like Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. There are plenty of foreign students that do that and from what I hear they have a great time and adventure. You wont make much money but it would be an interesting experience.
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), and work an average of 20 hours a week (hours tend to vary between 10-35 hours a week), that's a mere $300 per week. Accommodation would set me back roughly $100 a week, food about $70 and fuel $50 = a total of $220, leaving $80 in the piggy bank. After a month that's just $320...of course there will be other misc costs.
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To go work in a ski field in Australia? That doesn't make sense.
