So you’ve finished your A Levels and before going to university, you want to build up some work experience. Perhaps see a bit of the world, too. Well, hold onto your hat, as you may be able to combine the two!
Organisations such as BUNAC and Camp America offer opportunities to work in countries such as America, Australia, China and New Zealand, proving a hugely popular option for students taking a gap year. The opportunities these companies provide add a touch of gloss to a student’s CV, highlighting qualities such as initiative, ambition and teamwork.
Camp America is one of the most well-known overseas work schemes, giving students the opportunity to work at the kind of woodland-surrounded summer camps we know so well from endless American movies. As well as sampling this exciting aspect of American culture, participants receive 9 weeks of accommodation and food, as well as a month of travel time after completing your time in camp.
Camp America costs £587, which can be paid in installments, and you’ll also receive ‘pocket money’ for your work in the camp. However, joining the Camp America team isn’t as straight forward as paying your money, working on your bird calls and hopping on a plane. Rather, you have to apply for positions with them. Their website details what an application should include, but any experience in caring or coaching roles is sure to go down a treat. You can apply to be a camp counsellor, advanced skills counsellor, or a campower, which is a behind-the-scenes role. The camps offer an exhilarating array of programmes, incorporating sports, stage and screen, music, disabilities, life skills and outdoors activities, presenting the opportunity to contribute your passion and talents in a specific area. Similarly, you can link your role to your desired career path or further education, again complimenting any future applications you may make.
If, however, you would prefer a work scheme with more independence and flexibility, BUNAC offers a variety of experiences with on-going support and advice. Whilst still offering an American summer camp programme, BUNAC also provides support for working holidays in America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, along with teaching schemes in Chile and China. As well as helping you to find accommodation and sort out your visas, those kindly fellows at BUNAC also make available job databases to help you find jobs combining culture and commercialism, to put a bit of money in your pocket for the exciting travel add-ons. Oh yes, and they help you book those as well, along with group flights so you can befriend fellow travellers. What a hospitable bunch! This does come at a price however (financially of course, nothing sinister!), with visas, accommodation, spending money, flights and insurance to be accounted for, in addition to their essentials package.
Various other organisations, such as Real Gap Experience, also arrange gap years with paid work, helping you to accumulate the funding for your trip and introducing you to various cultures and people. Such schemes can be an ideal option for a gap year, combining the freedom and thrill of travelling abroad with the skills and experience to be gained from working in exciting and variable environments, which add substance to your CV. Who wouldn’t want to employ Camp(tain) America?!