Get to work

Working holidays

Who says you can’t mix business with pleasure? Earn money, grow your skills and fund your adventures with a working holiday in the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Work when you want, travel when you want.

Working holidays minus the work stress

Why do a working holiday?

Like a bad tribal tattoo. Or surviving freshers' week three times. A working holiday in Australia, New Zealand or Canada is a rite of passage for many Irish 18-30 somethings. It’s the chance to live abroad for an extended period, get overseas job experience and fund your travels with either casual work or career work. Or both. It’s your working holiday, work it your way.

Job access

All our working holidays have the option of an Essential or Ultimate package, which includes access to the USIT Job Hub. From server jobs in Sydney to construction jobs in Canada, you can apply for jobs with vetted employers - before you go, when you arrive and for the whole of your visa. For J1, select Guaranteed Jobs for the best pick of J1 jobs this side of summer.

Visa assistance

It’s rude to ask our age (we were founded in 1959, so *counts on fingers*...), but needless to say, we’ve galloped our way around this rodeo a few times. Our team are visa pros. Where the country allows it, we’ll apply and process the working holiday visa for you. And when it doesn’t, we’ll guide you through it with the correct forms, handbooks and step-by-step help.

Work essentials

All our working holiday packages include the essentials you need to work abroad. This typically includes medical or travel insurance, bank account and tax number set-up and a SIM card. Plus, if you select Essential or Ultimate - hostel nights, socials and in-person job and travel sessions to make friends, find a job, find a place (all of the above).

All working holidays experiences

What is a working holiday

Often taken as part of a gap year or round the world, working holidays are extended trips where you’re permitted to stay longer than a tourist visa and undertake paid work. You’ll typically need to be 18-30 or 35, with no need to be a student. Depending on the country, you can usually stay for 1-2 years. Most working holidays are a one and done, where you’re only allowed one in your lifetime. The exception being Australia, where you can apply for a second working holiday visa by doing three months of specified regional work on your first visa.

Why do a working holiday

Working holiday visas are a one-time window in your twenties to work abroad without the financial restrictions and employment red tape of sponsorship or emigration visas. It’s the chance to live in a new country and do casual, career or seasonal work such as ski seasons or fruitpicking to help fund your time there. Far from being seen as a stop gap between the academic world and the real world, employers love to see working holidays on a CV. It shows you have the confidence, maturity and motivation to work and travel abroad.

Keep it in the family

€400 loyalty off Grad USA for J1 and Camp USA alumni

Has a USIT J1 or summer at camp turned you into an Americanophile? Due to graduate and wondering what's next? If you've travelled with us on a J1 or Camp USA, get €400 loyalty discount off our 1-year Grad USA program. T&Cs apply, can't be used with another offer.

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Win this winter

Canada winter jobs about to drop

Winter hiring for ski jobs in Whistler, Banff, Panorama, Blue Mountain and more are about to land. Video interviews start in June and you must have proof that you've entered the visa pools to interview, so book now to get ready.

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J1 summer jobs / Florida

Hiring: Food & Beverage, Boca Raton, Florida

Jobs available: Food & Beverage (28 openings). Pay USD $15/hour. Perks include $500 bonus for completion of contract, time and a half for overtime, and staff housing is available. 28 positions - so great if travelling with friends. Book J1 to apply on the USIT Job Hub.

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J1 summer jobs / Hamptons

Hiring: Bartenders, East Hampton, NY

Jobs available: Bartenders & restaurant staff (9 openings). Pay USD $20/hour. Spend the summer in the party and millionaire's playground of the Hamptons! Perks include tips, meals on shift and potential for end of contract bonus. Book J1 to apply on the USIT Job Hub.

J1 summer jobs / Ohio

Hiring: Food & Beverage, Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Jobs available: Food & Beverage (7 openings). Pay USD $12-13/hour + tips, plus staff housing is only $125/week! Known as the 'Key West of the North' spend your summer J1 amongst the lakeside beaches and resort life of Put-in-Bay. Perfect for hikers, outdoor lovers and alt J1-ers. Book J1 now to apply on the USIT Job Hub.

J1 summer jobs / Chicago

Hiring: 80 positions, various, Chicago

Jobs available: Front of House, Bar staff, Cooks (80 positions). Pay USD $9.48-$15.80/hour + tips. Free meals on shift, fun environment, work in the heart of Chicago on your summer J1. Book J1 now to apply and interview on the USIT Job Hub.

J1 summer jobs / California

Hiring: Hosts and Servers, Monterey, California

Jobs available: Hosts, Servers (30 openings). Pay USD $15.50/hour, plus tips. J1 California dreamin' with 50% of shift meals and an all-American summer working by the beach. Book J1 now to apply on the USIT Job Hub.

Upcoming events

Get hired or get the intel

Three girls laughing in the woods at summer camp

In-person camp hiring days | Ireland + UK

28 Jan Dublin | 01 Feb London

Meet Camp Directors face-to-face, connect with others heading to camp, and (fingers crossed) get hired on the day. To register your interest, apply for Summer Camp USA and let us know which city you'd like to attend. We can't wait to see your face, but don't worry if you can't make an in-person event - the quickest way to get hired is in our hiring pool.

Grad USA | Everything you need to know

Virtual travel talk | 5 Nov @ 17:30 GMT

Final year student or recent grad? Put your academic skill to work, learn from leaders in your field, and get a CV that stands out from the crowd with USIT's 1-year Grad USA program. Get all the intel from our team on what visa you need, what cities you can work in, and what roles you can do. But sign up soon - you only have 12 months from your grad cert date to enter the USA!

View all events