If you are currently on or looking at getting a working holiday visa and you are thinking about jobs, then this post is for you. Finding a job on a working holiday visa can be a difficult and daunting task. But there is one industry that is always in high demand, pays well and is just all-round good fun. Working in the hospitality sector on a working holiday visa is like a secret cheat code to getting the most out of your time abroad. More specifically getting a job in a hotel is the best move I think you can make. I have done hotel jobs on both my Canadian and Australian working holiday visas and it’s so much fun.
The Benefits of Hotel Work
Include but are not limited to:
- Hire year round and like to hire working holiday makers
- Ability to change departments without switching employer
- Offer structured training
- Free or heavily subsidised rent and food
- Ability to make friends straight away
- Predictable and good income
- Work in beautiful places
- Ability for sponsorship or transfer
Hotel Work as a Working Holiday Visa Job
Hotels are always Hiring
Travel and tourism significantly boost the economy of any country, and as long as destinations generate revenue, they continue to build hotels. Consequently, hotels spring up everywhere, each requiring dedicated staff. Depending on the hotel’s size, there may be as few as 15 workers or as many as over 100.
Many hotels operate 24/7 unless they are seasonal and staff turnover can be very high. This is mostly due to working holiday makers taking jobs and leaving after their six months is up. Despite the high turnover this results in, hotels still love to hire people on working holiday visas.
This is because:
- Travelers tend to be very social and open minded people
- They adapt quickly to new environments
- They have a desire to work as they need to fund their travels or risk going home
- Having people from different walks of life keeps a team intresting
- Hotels deal with guests from all over the world, so having someone that can speak more than one language is very valuable.
Important: If you are looking for working holiday visa jobs in Australia for your 88 days only remote areas count for hospitality. Find out more about eligible work here.
Ability to Change Departments
So we know why hotels like to give jobs to working holiday makers, but why are these jobs good for us? One of the best things about working in a hotel as opposed to a bar or restaurant is the fact that there are multiple departments all under one roof. This means if you arn’t enjoying a role or think you could excel somewhere else, it is easy to swap departments.
I just spent the last 10 months working in a hotel on an island of the coast of New South Wales doing half restaurant and half housekeeping. It was a great way to break up the week and keep me from getting bored of doing the same job. Not to mention I got to see more of how the hotel actually works and work across two different teams. It was great fun!
Offer Structured Training
Most (good) hotels will have very strict training in place as no two hotels are the same and their image often means more to them then say a restaurant might. This means that you can expect thorough training in the beginning with high standards maintained as you progress.
This might sound a bit daunting at first, but it is really nice to work in a place where you know your tasks and things don’t switch up every month. Since guests stay for a few days and then don’t return for a long time, the food and beverage menus change less frequently than in restaurants. Once you learn the drinks and dishes, you can rely on them without worrying about changes every two months.
Cheap Rent and Food
Okay so now we are getting into why hotels are a really good option for working holiday jobs. As hotels run all the time and the job is never truly done, many places will offer free or subsidised accommodation for a certain number of employees. This is what makes working in a hotel the ultimate travel hack. If a job is giving you accommodation, they are nearly always going to be providing you with two meals a day as well.
Once you remove the expense of rent, electricity, water, food and Wi-Fi from your day-to-day expenses, you can save a lot of money. Like A LOT!!! Just for some examples when I worked in Canada I got 3 meals a day and rent all came out to $12 per day. The last place I worked in Australia gave me 2 meals a day and rent was completely free!
Now the only thing to remember is that not all staff accommodation is created equally. I have stayed in some lovely spots and some not so nice. Some with roommates, some completely private. It’s a lottery at the end of the day but cheap rent is something you can never argue with, especially in this economy!
Built in Social Life
One of the reasons I have been doing hospitality for so long is the free built in social life. It takes a particular kind of person to work front of house so be prepared to meet lots of outgoing party people. You will always be in the know about whats going on and in no time at all you’ll have met half the town and have both work friends and local friends.
Even if you are not big into going out, having the chance to meet new people is the only way to network. It can be really easy to line up your next job or find a travel buddy to take on your next adventure.
Hotels Offer Good Pay for Working Holiday Visa Workers
As we have already established hotels never rest and there are always hours available for those who want to work. Pay can be pretty good in this area too. If you are working in Canada, you will get your full wage plus tips, meanwhile Australia has a high rate of pay and many places hire casual workers. Casual work just means you forfeit the option of sick pay and other benefits offered to permanent employees, but in return you get paid a higher wage to balance it out. This is a great option for backpackers who are only looking for 3-6 months’ worth of work per company.
If you want a better idea of how much money you can make in hospitality on a Working Holiday Visa then check out my post where I expose all my income and expenditures –> The Traveling Bartender: My Bartending Income Exposed
Not only are wages good, but combine that with cheap rent and food and you have yourself the perfect recipe for disposable income at your fingertips!
Work in Beautiful Places
Tourists spend hundreds, or even thousands of dollars on visiting stunning remote locations that not many people know about. And wherever there are tourists there will be hotels that need staffing. I have been fortunate enough to work in Waterton National Park, the Daintree Rainforest, Cradle Mountain and even the elusive Lord Howe Island. All of these are highly sort after destinations that many people never get a chance to travel to.
But because I have managed to get jobs in these places I get to really immerse myself and feel a part of the communities there. If there is a destination you dream of visiting start applying for jobs in and around the area. Many guests in hotels spend between 3-7 days in an area. You could spend as long as you like and that is something very special indeed.
Ability to Transfer or Sponsership
Remember, many hotel like to promote internally. If you are enjoying where you are or the company don’t be afraid to speak up and say you would like to stay.
In Australia hotels can sponsor you once you are in a supervisor or manager position. These often come with three-year commitments to the company so make sure you actually like the job, the location and really want to stay in Australia long term. In Canada it’s a similar deal but you can apply to become a citizen once you land a supervisor role.
If you are not thinking that far ahead or know that you just want to spend your time travelling around, then transfers are a great option. If you are working for a chain or group of hotels then speak to you manager about moving to a new location. This is a great way to continue your travels and avoid Australia’s six-month work limit in one location.
Many hotels will post internal positions to a jobs board that you will have access to either digitally or a physical print out. So keep your eyes peeled and ears open for potential work.
Tips for Getting a Hotel Job While Traveling
Be Proactive: Hotels fill vacancies quickly. If there is a particular place you have your heart set on working send your CV directly or drop it in in person where possible. A hotel may even keep your CV on file if they think you could be a good fit so check your emails frequently.
A job is a job: Hotels love to hire internally. You may have your eye on a head-bartender role, but it may be necessary to take a different role and build up your skills and knowledge.
Be Flexible: Ironically hotels don’t sleep. If you want the edge, be prepared to do morning, night or even split shifts. This makes you more hirable than someone who only wants to work 9-5 on Mon-Fri
FAQ
If you want a job that’s easy to get, stable, social, and full of opportunity, hotel work is hands‑down one of the best working holiday visa jobs you can choose. It gives you the freedom to explore, the income to support your travels, and the community to make your new country feel like home. If you’re starting your working holiday visa job journey, hotels are the perfect place to begin
