Widening horizons: The invaluable skills gained through work abroad programmes.

Choosing to work or live abroad is truly an experience that money can’t buy. Not only does it open up a whole new world of opportunities for young travellers, offering practical and real world experiences, but it allows them to develop skills that will last a lifetime and simply cannot be taught in a classroom or lecture hall. A complete no brainer for those with a hunger for real world experience and a desire to learn about the world around them.

At JENZA, we’ve seen a 99% increase in departures to work abroad programmes in the last year. Far from being seen as a stop gap between the childhood and the ‘real’ adult world, it offers a wealth of experiences highly valued by employers. And for young travellers, being able to earn as they explore opens up a world of possibilities.

From placements at summer camps in the USA to professional internships in the UK and working holiday schemes in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan, there are a multitude of opportunities available for those looking to broaden their horizons and gain experience working abroad.

Alongside enhancing their professional careers, the experience of working abroad helps young people with their personal growth, increasing their confidence and independence. Stepping out of their comfort zone will arm them with transferable skills, such as better communication skills and heightened curiosity that can be applied to many environments later in life – not just the working world.

Plus, working with a pool of international talent means young people will be interacting with people from all four corners of the world on a daily basis, building intercultural awareness and connections with those who may have very different perspectives from their own. In my opinion, this doesn’t just lead to a workplace culture that is more diverse and inclusive benefitting both individuals and businesses.

Further education isn’t the only option

Whilst many careers, understandably, require a university degree it’s time for us to move away from the idea that further education is the only path for our young people. For those who are unsure about the career they want to go into or who are interested in gaining vocational skills, the idea of working towards a degree that will leave you with a sizable amount of debt during a cost of living crisis is a hard pill to swallow. Compare this with the possibility of working a ski season in Japan or gaining hospitality experience in Australia… I know which I would choose.

And it doesn’t have to be either or, some young people find that a few months away from education is enough time to help them work out what they really want and ensure they are ready for their next academic step. Bonus, they’ve got some savings in the bank too. To find out more about JENZA, visit www.jenza.com.

About JENZA: Founded in 2023, JENZA is a new youth-led work and travel brand that arranges flexible working holidays, summer camps and international internships with pre-arranged jobs and placements in Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and UK.

JENZA exists so that young people never have to choose between getting a job and going travelling, encouraging them to earn as they explore. The brand is backed by 60+ years of work overseas expertise via its sibling companies BUNAC and USIT.

To check out the experiences JENZA offers, visit the Jenza website here.

Written by: Hannah Jeffery, Global Brand Manager at The JENZA Group