London Short-Term Work

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 foreigners to get their start is by checking newspapers such as The Guardian, The Times, and The Evening Standard. Other good (and free!) employment-specific publications include TNT Magazine UK, which appears every Monday, and Metro, found in blue bins at Tube stations. The jobs published may vary by day. Most often, these short-term jobs are found by word of mouth or simply by talking to the owner of a hostel or restaurant. Due to the high turnover in the tourism industry, many places are eager for help, even if it is only temporary.

Hotel And Catering. There’s no shortage of jobs in London waiting tables, tending bars, or working in kitchen and cleaning positions. These jobs may not pay well, even for long hours of work. Also, tipping is not as customary in the UK as in other countries; many restaurants include the gratuity in the check. Another popular option is to work several hours per day at a hostel in exchange for free or discounted room and/or board.

Secretarial Work. If you can type like a demon, then temping can be a good way to pay the bills. Temps are temporary secretaries on short-term placements (from as little as one day to a few weeks); you’ll need to register with a temping agency that will match available positions to your skills. Check out www.letstemp.co.uk for referrals to temping agencies.

Further Reading On Beyond Tourism.
Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Guide of Global Volunteer Opportunities, by Paul Backhurst. Food First Books, 2005 (US$12).
The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Summer Jobs, Seasonal Work, Volunteer Vacations, and Transitions Abroad, by Michael Landes. Ten Speed Press, 2005 (US$22).
Green Volunteers: The World Guide to Voluntary Work in Nature Conservation, ed. Fabio Ausenda. Universe, 2007 (US$15).
How to Get a Job in Europe, by Cheryl Matherly and Robert Sanborn. Planning Communications, 2003 (US$23).
How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas, by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, and Zahara Heckscher. Penguin Books, 2002 (US$20).
International Job Finder: Where the Jobs Are Worldwide, by Daniel Lauber and Kraig Rice. Planning Communications, 2002 (US$20).
Live and Work Abroad: A Guide for Modern Nomads, by Huw Francis and Michelyne Callan. Vacation-Work Publications, 2001 (US$16).
Living and Working in London: A Survival Handbook, 2nd Edition, by Dan Finlay. Survival Books, 2004 (US$22).
Overseas Summer Jobs 2002. Peterson’s Guides and Vacation Work, 2002 (US$18).
Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others, by Doug Cutchins, Anne Geissinger, and Bill McMillon. Chicago Review Press, 2006 (US$18).
Work Abroad: The Complete Guide to Finding a Job Overseas, by Clayton Hubbs. Transitions Abroad Publishing, 2002 (US$16).
Work Your Way Around the World, by Susan Griffith. Vacation-Work Publications, 2007 (US$22).