Working With Kids Abroad

There are loads of opportunities to work abroad with kids, and it’s a great way to add an extra dimension to your CV too, especially now that the competition for jobs is so fierce.

Working abroad with kids is also a good way to expand your horizons and work with different types of children, which can be invaluable when you’re trying to work out exactly what you want to do with your career.

Although many of the opportunities for working abroad with kids don’t pay a huge amount, they often include board and lodging and can be a real chance to see the world. Added to that the fact that most of your colleagues will be in the same boat and you have a recipe for a fun adventure!

Hotels and Campsites

Hotels and campsites are a perfect place to find work opportunities with kids. The type of experience you will have will certainly depend on the type of hotel or campsite you work at – there are all manner of five star hotels in some of the most glamorous locations in the world that are keen to have trustworthy people in their kids’ clubs, and there are also basic-but-clean type campsites that offer a welcome respite for weary parents! There are a number of websites that specialise in hospitality recruitment, and it is also a good idea to look on the tour operators’ websites directly for job adverts.

Holiday Clubs

The American-style ‘camp’ holidays are increasing in popularity in Europe, so there are more opportunities available in these types of locations now. The camps tend to have a particular focus and are targeted towards certain kids, so it may be about healthy eating (so-called ‘fat camps’), or sports, or certain hobbies and skills, like playing instruments or acting. It is a good idea to make sure you are clear about the particular focus of the camp before you apply as they can vary hugely in their approach and atmosphere.

Au Pair

Working as an au pair abroad can be wonderful, especially if you get to live and work in a fabulous city! As this is a relatively un-vetted industry it is imperative that you check out your host family well in advance of committing to anything, as their treatment of you will make all the difference to your experience.

Good questions to ask are about the privacy of your accommodation, use of a car, time off (some parents seem to think they’ve employed a personal servant!) and expectations for doing laundry and cooking. Although the actual cash-in-hand salary can be pretty low, if you are in a good city and have board and lodging, there are usually cheap language classes available where you will meet other au pairs.

Although a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check is not always required when working abroad it is always worth having one to add to your CV if you are intending to find this kind of work as it is professional and helps to put your potential employer at ease. You may also be required to conduct the relevant test in your new country.