Excellent Summer Job Opportunities in Europe

Europe is one of the most visited tourist destinations with its romantic cities, excellent cuisine, beautiful chateaus and rich culture beckoning to tourists from all over the world. Yet, Europe isn't only a magnet for tourists; it is also very attractive for job seekers, especially those who are looking for a temporary employment that lasts all through summer.

The hundreds of resorts, restaurants, shops, department stores and hotels in Europe offer an endless array of possibilities for temporary employment such as summer jobs. But before you head off to Europe, here are some very important and useful information you need to know about working in this region.

The Basic Citizens of the European Union are automatically entitled to work legally in Europe. There are also 'illegal' or on the black jobs available especially on farms when it's harvesting season.

It's not uncommon for some tourists working on summer jobs to get exploited when it comes to workload or salary. A good way to avoid this is to apply at reputable European or foreign companies that are actively recruiting foreign citizens.

One of the most popular summer jobs in Europe is picking and harvesting fruit in France. The month of September is the time when the vineyards of the French countryside start harvesting grapes. You can visit the vast vineyards of Languedoc or Bordeaux and find an abundance of grape picking jobs there. You can also try olive picking in Provence, which happens around November. Meanwhile, places in the south of France, especially in the Riviera area have a longer tourist season. Thus, there is an abundance of hospitality and tourism-related jobs such as bartending and other casual jobs at hotels, resorts and restaurants. You can also head for the hundreds of ski resorts up in the Alps.

Meanwhile, there are also large camping companies that will likely hire people to fill in positions such as warehouse assistant, contractors, drivers and many more. If you like mingling with people and you want to hone your conversational French through practice, then we recommend you find a job at the great cities of Nantes, Beziers, and Avignon in France. Because of the large student populations of these cities, there is an abundance of bars and other business that are ready to employ English-speaking personnel. However, you do need to have a high level of proficiency in the French language.

Many areas within Europe still have thriving agricultural and cottage horticultural industries. This presents dozens of job opportunities for the summer job seeker. These areas such as Aubrac and Lozere in France are probably the best places where you can find a casual summer job and immerse yourself into the culture of the French countryside. Tour companies and operators are also expected to be in need of English-speaking staff, so you should definitely check out these companies.

The beautiful country of Spain is another hospitable and easy going countries any summer job hunter can ever work in. The Spanish people are generally laid back and very welcoming and are willing to receive outsiders and foreigners in. This is an advantage that many summer job seekers appreciate since it makes it easier to find a casual summer job and even to learn the Spanish language.

Spain is home to hundreds of possible summer job opportunities ranging from casual jobs at restaurants and resorts to menial jobs at plantations and vineyards. Spain also has some of the most stunning sceneries in all of Europe. This makes the country very attractive for tourists who want to make the holiday more worthwhile by taking up a summer job.

Spain has been a member of the European Union since 1986. Thus, EU citizens can work freely within the country. For non-EU citizens however, you would have to present the necessary documents to be able to get a permit to work in the country. When in Spain, one of the most important things you must consider is the language. Sometimes, being conversational in Spanish may not be enough. There are many areas in and around the country that speak a regional dialect other than Spanish. If you don't know it yet, the country is divided into nineteen autonomous communities each with their own cultures, laws and customs and of course, language. The language differences can be quite difficult. For instance, a foreigner who speaks Catalan will surely find it easier to find a summer job in Catalonia than in other parts of Spain.

The best summer jobs in Spain include work at the thousands of resorts that dot the country's almost 5,000 kilometer coastline. From dazzling Mediterranean beaches to quaint little hamlets, looking for a job can be just as rewarding as taking a tour of the country. However, you should also know that about 70% of the Spanish population is employed in the countries very large service industry. So, you should expect that looking for a temporary job in this industry can be a bit difficult. Other summer jobs in the vineyards, plantations and other traditional Spanish resorts are usually taken up by the labor forces that vacillate between fruit-picking and tourism jobs.

If you have skills and abilities in water sports and outdoor pursuits, there is definitely a market for you in Spain's many resorts. One such example is the beach called L'Estartit in the Medes Islands. This is a very popular dive resort with over 65,000 dives made annually. Resorts at L'Estartit hire English-speaking personnel to man their bars, restaurants and hotels especially those with PADI diving schools that cater mainly to English-speaking tourists and clients.

Meanwhile, the legendary party scene in the Balearic Islands, especially in the clubbing capital of Ibiza offers hundreds of summer job opportunities for foreigners. The Ibiza workforce is generally young and multinational in nature. Meanwhile, Mallorca is a bit more relaxed than frenetic Ibiza. The islands are also home to thousands of expatriates who have set up their homes and businesses there. Many of these expats are looking to hire English-speaking personnel in a wide range of occupations.

Needless to say, Spain is an exciting place to work in. Definitely, working in Spain over the summer will leave you with priceless memories and experiences that you can cherish for a lifetime.

Living and working in a region as beautiful and rich as Europe is undeniably a rewarding experience. The three months you spend working on a summer job in Europe can be the most memorable and can leave you with experiences, insights and friends that can last a lifetime.