Holidays are not only a time for relaxation but also a great opportunity to take up temporary work. For this purpose, young people are increasingly deciding to travel abroad. They want to combine exploring the world with earning money, which is a great idea provided they prepare themselves properly for the trip.
Before embarking on a journey abroad for work purposes, it is worth devising an appropriate plan that will allow for the safe undertaking of work in any location. The more we learn about what may await us in the place where we want to go, the easier it will be to avoid the threats that may await us in the foreign job market.
Holiday work. How to ensure safety
Abroad, we may initially feel a little lost and scared. This is quite normal, after all, we are in unknown territory, relying only on ourselves. To minimize fear, it is therefore worth delving into information about the purpose of our journey and the potential employer before we leave. A key indicator in this regard is the opinions of former employees, which can be easily found online. Therefore, conduct in-depth research and make sure that the company you want to work for is reputable and operates in accordance with applicable regulations. Also, check the regulations themselves. Will you be able to count on insurance? Will you receive a contract? What will happen if for some reason you cannot stay at work as long as you planned? Secure yourself just in case, for example, by setting aside money for the return trip.
Consider also the option of using the support of a foreign employment agency,” says Marta Kobinska of Bravecare, specializing in connecting temporary workers with potential employers. “Even if you do not decide on this solution, learn as much as possible in order to avoid the traps that victims of fraudsters fall into – often young and inexperienced people. Safety is fundamental. In our practice, we know many stories without a happy ending, stories where it seemed that everything would be fine, and unfortunately it was not,” she adds.
In the best case, it ended with the loss of invested money, in the worst case – a drama related to getting stuck in labor camps or wandering with no money and sleeping on the street. I don’t want to scare, but these are stories from life, and that’s why we started the #LegalnieOdpowiedzialnie campaign, which aims to minimize the risk of bitter disappointment associated with taking up work in the so-called gray area,” says Kobinska.
Working illegally abroad is a bad idea
Agata Strzalka, the author of the book “I Haven’t Gone Crazy Yet (I Don’t Think)”, who has been working as a senior caregiver in Germany for years and has experienced “working illegally” herself, warns against spontaneous trips to unchecked work. “The dangers that await us are unfortunately numerous, especially when we go to a place where we cannot communicate with the environment,” says the author. “I went to a certain farmer without knowing any German. I dressed up my difficult memories in the character of Edyta, the main character of my novel, describing her adventures in a quite funny way, but at that time, I really wasn’t laughing…” she adds.
Holiday work. A contract is a priority
Once you have decided to take up paid work abroad, ask for a contract confirming your employment before the planned trip. Regardless of the type of work you take, remember that you have your rights, which you must take care of from the beginning to the end yourself, of course, if you take up work directly with the employer. If you use the services of a proven employment agency, you will have it off your head, and in addition, a coordinator will take care of you, who will help you in case of unforeseen obstacles. You can count on advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” reveals Jaroslaw Dobrowolski, a coordinator for people caring for seniors at Bravecare. The awareness of such support is an increased sense of security, especially if we take up work where “anything can happen” – and such is the care of sick and dependent people. The employment agency takes care not only of all the necessary documents but also of transport and accommodation, so the temporary worker can focus solely on the best performance of their duties, building relationships with the care recipient, and developing their competencies. In case of difficulties, e.g., in adapting to the care recipient, you can count on continuity of employment – the agency simply sends the employee to another place.
Holiday jobs
Senior care is one of the ideas for holiday activities, but it is important to remember that it is demanding work that only empathetic people will excel at, those who enjoy close contact with another person, preferably experienced in caring for, for example, a grandmother or grandfather. Other eagerly taken up seasonal earning activities are also not always easy – as anyone who has taken up the role of a waiter in a crowded seaside fast-food bar, or someone who has collected strawberries in a Dutch field, knows.
No, it’s not easy, no one promises that, but such holiday work is definitely an extremely valuable experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives, an opportunity to broaden our horizons, practice a foreign language, meet new people, and above all, a huge satisfaction from the first independently earned, often large amounts of money – of course, provided that we take care of our safety.
The article was published in:
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