If you’re in your 20s and keep telling yourself you’re going to go abroad… just not yet, I want to clear some things up.
There are a lot of excuses you can make that stop you from getting started. You need more experience, more money, more confidence.
I told myself that exact thing for years. I thought I needed so much more of everything before I could even consider leaving. Money, work experience, life experience, all of it.
I made the bold assumption that I could just land somewhere, and I would be able to find a job and figure it out easily. Turns out, reality looks a lot different.
It was mostly just stressful.
I had an impossible time finding work. I burned through almost every cent I had saved for the trip… and then I went home just to reset and try again.
Then I did that two more times.
Looking back, experience was the least of my problems. What I really needed was structure.
I got a lot wrong when it came to working abroad in my 20s, but after traveling for 3 years, I’ve learned a lot that would’ve been helpful years ago. This blog was written to help give you a better understanding of working abroad in your 20s and what options are available.
Why working abroad without experience can be so hard alone
Landing in a new country without lining up a job can feel freeing at first…. But it gets old fast. After a few weeks, you’ll be wondering why it feels impossible to get a job when doing that is the whole point.
Everyday, you’ll be spending money. From hostels to food to transportation to SIM cards, and setup costs. These all add up quicker than you think.
Tons of people apply to jobs that should be “easy” to get and hear nothing back. This becomes a recipe for constant stress that you might have to end your abroad plans early.
Even the friends you make in hostels and around the towns are probably a few steps ahead in making plans and going on their way. Then you have to start all over with building a new community, especially since most hostel stays only last a few days.
Or you leave that area when you finally find something.
While there are definitely some smart ways to stretch your budget, like I share in my guide on how to save money on travel, traveling without income is still very expensive. Saving always helps, but having work lined up changes the whole equation.
Traveling in general can be really tough without support. Between the constant movement and change, the instability can get really lonely.
On the flip side of things, getting hired quickly might feel like a huge win, but if you haven’t done your research, it might be very different from what you expect. And if the job makes you miserable, shifting down the line can get complicated.
Visas, tax systems, rental agreements, and employment rules are insanely confusing.
Trying to work abroad without experience is manageable.
Trying to do it without support is what makes it feel impossible.
How to work abroad without experience (what your options actually look like)
When people hear you want to “work abroad,” they imagine a sort of travel influencer or some sort of chaotic backpacking situation. Luckily, there is a very practical middle ground.
And this usually starts with a working holiday visa.
Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Japan, and even South Korea allow young adults to live and work temporarily. Most programs are available until age 30, with some extending to 35, depending on your passport.
In some destinations, you can stay up to two years. But you can also go for as short a period as you want.
You can work for six months and travel for a few more. You can work for one year, or as little as a few months if you want. Think of it like a structured gap year (whether its pre or post university, or if you never studied at all).
You get the chance to earn money while living abroad, which would’ve changed everything for me if I knew. Most roles are usually in hospitality, tourism, seasonal work, or other entry-level positions.
This is the easiest way to work abroad for young adults, especially if you don’t have experience. It’s actually designed that way… but it can be a bit confusing to navigate the process.
Other work abroad options beyond working holidays in your 20s
Working holidays are definitely the most popular option. But they are not the only option.
These range from teaching, internships, au pairing, volunteer roles, and new positions coming available all the time.
Some of these roles are paid. Others are stipend-based. Then some, as the volunteering title suggests, are focused on cultural exchange or community support.
If you want to teach English, that incredibly popular path exists (and they can get you certified too!). If you would rather be part of someone’s family, or volunteer with animals, those choices are available too.
The key here is flexibility.
When you are trying to work abroad without experience, options are important. You do not need a corporate resume, trust me.
