Working behind the bar on an Australian beach is certainly a change from everyday life at school, but so-called work 'n' travel schemes can make this possible. Meanwhile, for those who prefer to go it alone, fixing up a gap year with a series of casual jobs is not too difficult to organise.

Mira Bangel decided to make the most of her first opportunity to experience the big, wide world. Only three days after passing her German school-leaver's exam, she boarded a flight to Australia.

She was desperate for a change of scene and believed that learning to rely on her own resources for a while on the other side of the planet would strengthen her character.

So how did she organize the trip? "Well I did it all myself and so I not only saved the agency fee but learned a great deal from having to research everything myself," said Mira, 24.

Professional help

The question of whether to seek professional help in arranging a working holiday is the first question that people should ask themselves.

Going it alone calls for self-confidence and the ability to plan thoroughly. Once away from home, the traveller will need to feel happy about making contact with people to secure a job and accommodation. Agencies, on the other hand, often maintain an office in the destination country where clients can go for help and job-seeking advice.

"People who tend to be disorganised will have a hard time managing on their own", said Ramon Tissler of the International Centre for Education and Careers in the German city of Muenster. Travellers must be able to rely on themselves and keep cool in difficult situations such as when finding a job proves to be harder than they imagined.

When planning a stay abroad the internet can be a great help. Future work 'n' travellers can find out how to organise a working holiday visa, health insurance while living abroad and how to set up a foreign bank account and apply for a credit card.

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