Should I go to Australia?

mark1234567890 · 7 July 2009 at 8:30PM

Hi everyone,

I am recent grad who is having a horrendous time finding and applying for jobs. I have become really depressed recently.

I was thinking about taking some time out to go to Australia for a year and go backpacking. I have a bit of cash but would need to work for a little while over there.

My main concern is that I am going to return and end up in the same situation that I am in now. The only difference being that my colleagues will have progressed into their careers and I will still be stuck at the starting line.

I am also scared of going all that way on my own and not being able to find a job (same as in the UK).

What would you do?

Any thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Mark

flutterbyuk25 · 7 July 2009 at 8:54PM

I would go if I was you, you never know where it may lead!

Many employers look favourably on a gap year, and recognise the experience gained by travelling and working abroad.

Do you have a specific career path you want to go into? Or have you got a general degree? If its a specific career path, then do you know anyone in that field who can give you any advice on whether the gap year will help/trouble your career?

I personally wouldn't worry about being 1 year behind, as many people your age may have taken a gap year before uni, or will after, or will work in a normal job after graduating for awhile before entering their career path.

Don't be scared of going on your own either! There are many companies out there that help you organise a year out and working visas in Oz etc. Try Bunac or Real Gap or STA Travel. Normally you fly out on set dates with other people, and they arrange for you all to swap emails etc before you fly so you can get to know them first.

I did Camp America last year (aged 26), first time travelling abroad on my own etc. I made friends with a quite a few people beforehand via email and Facebook, which made it less scary, and I had bout 4 people on the same flight as me that I had chatted with. And then made loads more friends whilst working and travelling!

You're only young once, so go out and enjoy it!

HTH

x

robpw2 · 7 July 2009 at 8:56PM

you need a certain amount of funds to visit australia
but if you have the correct amounts etc you should go and enjoy it

MrsE_2 · 7 July 2009 at 8:59PM

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

You're only young once, so go out and enjoy it!

HTH

x

Go for it:D

I'm 41, I wish I had taken education when young (had to go back to it in my 30s) & enjoying myself before settling down seriously:D

Mikazaru · 7 July 2009 at 9:04PM

I would go for it!
I'm in a similiar situation, graduated two years ago and now being made redundant. I plan on going out to Australia in October for a year on a working holiday visa.
I was worried about being behind when I come back, or come back in a year and have trouble finding a job but I'm hoping that it'll be a fantastic oppurtunity, which will outweigh any negative points.
I'm also really worried about going on my own and was considering or BUNAC or similiar, trouble is they are so much more expensive, having read many threads about it on various travellers forums have put my mind at rest though. They all say it so easy to meet people out there.
Its probably an ideal time to go though, in terms of having no commitments here.

alwaysonthego_2 · 7 July 2009 at 9:08PM

I have been backpacking around OZ and it was the best thing I ever did (apart from having kids etc). You will meet loads of people and employers love the fact that you have experiences of other cultures.

Bluefish_2 · 8 July 2009 at 9:07AM

I left by myself to backpack around Australia and it was the best thing I ever did. Before I left people would point out it could be dangerous/expensive/lonely but it was none of these things - staying at cheap hostels allows you to meet up with loads of like minded people, its easy to get jobs through hostels or TNT magazine (provided you don't mind what you're doing because there will always be lower level service jobs available whatever the economy) and it's no more dangerous than the UK. The only thing I would advise would be to avoid making plans before going, perhaps only book a week at a hostel initially as freedom is the thing that makes backpacking great. Oh, and if you get over there and decide it's not your thing you can always bring your return ticket forward (often for no cost) and leave.:j

Re: your concerns of being left behind - in my opinion people will be staying put in their jobs until it appears safer to move therefore I can't see people really progressing loads in a year. I also found that employers looked favourably on my backpacking as it showed I wasn't afraid to take risks and I was ultimately far more confident within myself as it gave me something to talk about in interviews to help break the ice.

whitfreak · 8 July 2009 at 9:19AM

I always find it humourous that people go all the way to oz to do jobs they wouldn't do at home, like fruit picking, being a cleaner etc etc. Although done correctly it will fund your travel around some entertaining places.

My advice is go for it, however, be warned my hostel in Sydney in April was full of people who couldnt find a job. And there was a growing campain to employ Australian. So try and have a plan C, and be prepared to look and do work out of the cities.

Dreaming_debtfree_dreams · 8 July 2009 at 10:57AM

Go for it! Doing casual work on a gap year on your CV will look much better than doing casual work in the UK for a year. Also I work as a debt adviser and more often than I'd like, I see people with degrees who for whatever reason didn't get their foot on the career ladder and get stuck in low paid work, and they can look physically and mentally ground down.

From my experience, I think it's just as important to think about your physical and mental well-being as how big your pay packet is. Seeing as there's less jobs about at the moment, you might as well have fun! :beer:

g_attrill · 8 July 2009 at 11:07AM

Backpacking in Aus is not difficult there is plenty of support and information there, and there should always be hostel rooms at varying prices. I had a "normal" job while I was there so don't know about backpacking work, but I can imagine that there won't be much in the city, but there should be fruit picking type work.

If it were me, I would try really hard and find a job in the UK for a few months and if you find one then take it, but if you are having problems then go travelling and try later. The working holiday visa is available until you are 30 and is nearly always granted immediately and without any more checks than a standard tourist visa.

Mini_Bear · 8 July 2009 at 11:08AM

Why not combine your backpacking and little jobs with voluntary work. perhaps in an underpriveledged school?
if i had the choice of two recent graduates for a job, one with gap yr travelling and menial jobs, and the other with the same experiences but voluntarty work too. i would always go for the person who contributed to a project and received no monetary payment in return.

Should I go to Australia?

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