There’s something both totally thrilling and deeply discombobulating about graduating from college. For most grads, you’re in your early twenties and are launched out of the school pipeline and into the world, a place where you’re on your own for money, health insurance, and life goals.
And that can be a lot. But for many, it’s also a perfect time to be bold and seek adventure. In that spirit, I’m rounding up a few of my favorite ways to either get paid or to at least come out mostly even on travel.
JENZA (formerly BUNAC)
I know a fair number of people who did a BUNAC exchange in their early twenties and still look back on it as one of the best things they ever did. Both BUNAC and JENZA have gotten a slight rebrand, with BUNAC’s focus now on helping young people come to work at summer camps in the U.S. and JENZA as the organization helping young people looking for working holidays and international internships.
Backroads
Backroads, an active-tour company with walking, hiking, biking, and multi-sport tours around the world, regularly hires new Trip Leaders and Support Leaders. Trip Leaders are in charge of on-trip support along with equipment and logistics, while Support Leaders staff some of the tours that need additional daily trip set-up and breakdown and van support. A friend of mine worked as a Backroads Tour Leader after college for a few seasons and loved the skills she learned, the job, and the chance to see the world.
WWOOF
The organization WWOOF, Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, doesn’t offer paid work, but it does connect you with organic farms around the world that offer an educational exchange that includes free accommodations and meals in exchange for a few hours a day of work focused on ecological farming practices. I know a few people who spent time as WWOOFers and loved it. This one really requires you to have saved up some money in advance but keeps on-the-ground travel costs super low since your meals and lodging is covered. And since it’s only a few hours of work each day, you’ll have plenty of time to check out the destination as well.
Cruise ship internships and jobs
Many cruise lines have internship and job programs geared to college students, recent grads, and twenty-somethings. For instance, Carnival has a summer internship program and an 18-month leadership development program.
