Finding Work Abroad

Many participants on our programmes choose to gain work whilst overseas.  On our coaching programmes, paid work is set up in advance although some participants supplement their coaching hours with alternative work.  Participants on play sport programmes find that gaining work whilst overseas helps provide a structure to their time and enables financial independence.  Players attending our academies do not usually obtain paid work as they are short and intensive programmes. 

Sport Lived provides assistance in finding work.  So, what does this mean?  Prior to departure you will be given a handbook which contains:

- information on useful employment websites

- newspapers/magazines with job supplements

- contact details of local employment agencies

- a list of companies where previous Sport Lived participants have worked

Our staff in each city send an introductory email before participants leave the UK.  If you are looking to work whilst away, inform let them know as they can start looking into opportunities and provide you with advice.  Some Sport Lived participants have even had jobs lined up before they touched down! 

Your programme co-ordinator can check over your C.V. and covering letter once you have arrived, and can help with filling out application forms. They are clued-up as to what local employers are looking for and can provide participants with interview tips and suggestions so that you find the best possible job.  As our programme co-ordinators are resident in your chosen city, they are able to provide a ‘local’ perspective in terms of the best companies, websites and areas to look for work. 

Whilst we provide as much help as we can to help you to find work, some of the onus will be on you to find a job.  We recommend that you:

- have a CV prepared

- give some thought to the type of work you would like to undertake whilst overseas and gain appropriate work experience and qualifications prior to your departure

- are pro-active and go out and look for a job and utilise the support offered by your programme co-ordinator

 

“Whilst in Sydney I did a variety of different jobs, I started off working as a lifeguard at the local pool…Then I got a job doing after school activities once a week for primary school children, and I also did a bit of gymnastic teaching twice a week.When the school holidays came I decided I needed to get a full time job because I wanted to go travelling for a month after my programme, so I worked for 6 weeks in the city for a company doing data entry - the money was so good I earned enough to pay for a month travelling around Oz and had some left over!”

Philippa O’Sullivan, Hockey in Sydney 2007