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Beyond Tourism
As with volunteering, work opportunities tend to fall into two categories. Some travelers want long-term jobs that allow them to integrate into a community, while others seek out short-term jobs to finance the next leg of their travels. Long-term jobs in London range across almost all fields. For short-term work, bartending or waiting tables is popular, as are hostel jobs and secretarial work.
Local papers are good resources for want ads. Working abroad often requires a special work visa; see the box below for information about obtaining one.
Your Rights. The minimum wage varies with age and length of employment. People aged 18 to 21 may not be paid less than £4.60 per hr.; otherwise the rate is £5.52. Full-time workers may not be forced to work over 48hr. per week, 13hr. per day, or six days per week. They are also entitled to four weeks of paid vacation per year. Part-time workers are now entitled to many of the benefits an employer must accord full-time employees, including paid vacation on a pro-rated basis. For more information, including details of maternity leave and anti-discrimination laws, visit www.direct.gov.co.uk.
Commonwealth Citizens. Commonwealth citizens ages 17-30 are eligible for a working holidaymaker visa, allowing them to stay and work in the UK for up to two years provided that employment is “incidental to your holiday”—no more than 12 months of that two-year period. Commonwealth nationals who have at least one UK-born grandparent (including Ireland, if born before March 31, 1922) are eligible for a UK Ancestry Visa, which gives the right to reside and work in the UK for an initial period of four years. Canadian citizens should also refer to the Student Work Abroad Programme (www.swap.ca), which has 40 offices in Canada administered by the Canadian Universities Travel Service. This program is similar to the BUNAC program available to US citizens .
Us Students. In general, US citizens are required to have a work permit to work in the UK. However, American citizens who are full-time students and are over 18 can apply for a special permit from the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC), P.O. Box 430, Southbury, CT 06488, which allows them to work up to six months (US ☎203-264-0901, UK 020 7251 3472; www.bunac.org.uk). BUNAC also offers limited assistance in finding housing and employment, and organizes regular social events. You will need to enter the UK within one semester of graduation and have at least £1000 on entry. BUNAC also has a very helpful bulletin board in their London office, 16 Bowling Green Ln. (☎7251 3472), with housing and job postings.
Work Permits And Work Visas. If you do not fall into one of the above categories, you will need a work permit in order to work in the UK. If you require a visa to travel to the UK, you will also need a work visa. You must already have a job set up in the UK before obtaining a work permit, which can only be applied for through your employer. For further information, consult www.workpermits.gov.uk.
If you’re planning on spending a substantial amount of time (more than 3 months) working in London, search for a job well in advance. Although often only available to college students, internships ...more
Traveling for long periods of time can get expensive; therefore, many travelers try their hand at odd jobs for a few weeks at a time to help finance another month or two of touring. A good place for ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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