Volunteering abroad but i have no references?

111222

I was thinking of trying one of these volunteering abroad schemes but the application forms wants two references, now for the last 10 years i have been pretty much self employed i have also been unemployed for about two years of these ten years(no i don't like it but it's the way things have gone).

So i did some home school tutoring for about 5 years - i did initially work through an agency but that was maybe 6 or 7 years ago i then left the agency and worked self employed as a tutor, then i worked for a year as a courier but left on bad terms and then i worked as a year as a IT tech for which i was technically self employed but getting my work through an company, i never even met anyone in this company all over the phone interviews and work. So i can't really ask them for a reference. So basically i just don't have two needed references unless i try the tutoring agency from years back and that's still only one. I don't even know if they will give me one either.

I mean i could go back to 2000 and ask someone where i studied at Uni but i doubt anyone will remember me.

So i've just scraped by over the last 10 years, the tutoring didn't really pay well but i lived with parents so survived same with other jobs really, now unemployed and just wasting away.


Any ideas?

dawyldthing

Volunteering Solutions Official Fan Page

Go through someone like this, not sure if they do ask for references but most of the rest are just really really expensive agencies. If not see if you can use personal/ character references instead

marybelle01

Volunteering abroad isn't what it used to be. If you want to volunteer to build your own personal experience, then it almost always costs you money. This may include flights and accomodation expenses that you will have to pay - it may also include money to spend if you receive no income from the volunteering (which is quite common). To get free volunteering you have to have professional expertise and skills that are in demand - it is highly competitive and to be honest, without an in demand skill and recent work/study experience, you are going to struggle to get in.

I returned from two years managing a programme in Haiti at Christmas, and prior to that have worked abroad in a number of countries managing development and disaster relief projects. The sorts of volunteers we had were all professionally qualified and most were experienced too - doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, and the like.

I wish you luck, but I'm afraid you are going to need it.

111222

Thanks for that but it seems you have to pay to volunteer i would be looking for at least board and food, ideally some basic pay also.

Any other ideas?

marybelle01

111222 wrote: »

Thanks for that but it seems you have to pay to volunteer i would be looking for at least board and food, ideally some basic pay also.

Any other ideas?

Sorry - I posted when you did. And sorry - you have almost no chance of this. I hate to quash your hopes, but what you are hoping for isn't realistic.

mildred1978

111222 wrote: »

Thanks for that but it seems you have to pay to volunteer i would be looking for at least board and food, ideally some basic pay also.

No chance.

111222

Also i am interested in TEFL. So no chance even with TEFL, i have a degree and have about 6 years teaching experience although i never actually did my PGCE.

Maybe i should have been a bit more varied and said working abroad in areas such as teaching, there do seem to be jobs here but i am struggling for references, i suppose i could get a couple of character references.

marybelle01

111222 wrote: »

Also i am interested in TEFL. So no chance even with TEFL, i have a degree and have about 6 years teaching experience although i never actually did my PGCE.

The same applies - hard to get into and if you don't have qualifications (which cost a lot of money to get if you get the ones in demand) and experience then you are likley to end up very sorry, because there are thousands of dodgy "TEFL" organisations abroad and you have no employment protection at all in most of these places.

Look, I am sorry to pour cold water on your enthusisam - but what is it you are actually enthusiastic to do? Spend some time abroad? Because that's what it sounds like. Do you have any idea how many people with a degree and a string of other qualifications and experience you would have to compete against? It is ten years since you did your degree, and since then you have, in a nutshell, done a bit of this and a bit of that. And I guess you are struggling to get employment in this country? It isn't any easier to get employment elsewhere - it is just easier to get dodgy employment elsewhere! And you really have no idea how dodgy that employment can get! At best you may get stranded in another country with no place to live and no money, and have to be repatriated, which will cost you or your parents.

If you really want to do something worthwhile abroad, then it has to be a future aim, and first you need to do something about your lack of skills and experience - and probably qualifications too.

Turner1974

marybelle01 wrote: »

The same applies - hard to get into and if you don't have qualifications (which cost a lot of money to get if you get the ones in demand) and experience then you are likley to end up very sorry, because there are thousands of dodgy "TEFL" organisations abroad and you have no employment protection at all in most of these places.

I've found the opposite to be true. I did a weekend TEFL course in Nottingham and immediately got a job abroad with a good wage (3 times the local average) and board included. If you're not fussed about where you're placed it's quite easy.

111222

marybelle01 wrote: »

The same applies - hard to get into and if you don't have qualifications (which cost a lot of money to get if you get the ones in demand) and experience then you are likley to end up very sorry, because there are thousands of dodgy "TEFL" organisations abroad and you have no employment protection at all in most of these places.

Look, I am sorry to pour cold water on your enthusisam - but what is it you are actually enthusiastic to do? Spend some time abroad? Because that's what it sounds like. Do you have any idea how many people with a degree and a string of other qualifications and experience you would have to compete against? It is ten years since you did your degree, and since then you have, in a nutshell, done a bit of this and a bit of that. And I guess you are struggling to get employment in this country? It isn't any easier to get employment elsewhere - it is just easier to get dodgy employment elsewhere! And you really have no idea how dodgy that employment can get! At best you may get stranded in another country with no place to live and no money, and have to be repatriated, which will cost you or your parents.

If you really want to do something worthwhile abroad, then it has to be a future aim, and first you need to do something about your lack of skills and experience - and probably qualifications too.

Fire away, i am all for the advice you have to offer.

I have read about these dodgy TEFL companies and their offer of courses and of a couple of stories of being stranded just like you said, and already have this in mind. I would be looking at doing a TEFL course, i also have various IT qualifications.

I see what you are saying you really seem to be in the know but i really don't want to just give up on this, why shouldn't i be one of the ones getting the reputable job teaching English abroad.

At this moment in time it's pretty hard on the job market i am even looking into doing some forestry courses. I need to just go for one of these ideas though or i will find just passing me by again.

Do you have any links for TEFL courses that are run by decent companies, do you have any links for job search again for companies you know to be, lets say non dodgy?

Thanks again and keep replying. :T

111222

Turner1974 wrote: »

I've found the opposite to be true. I did a weekend TEFL course in Nottingham and immediately got a job abroad with a good wage (3 times the local average) and board included. If you're not fussed about where you're placed it's quite easy.

Ahh.. that sounds a bit more like it Turner1974.

Can i ask which group you did you course with and where did you find a job and also how long ago was this?

I am not fussed about where i would be placed.