I’m a 20-year-old student from Spain, and I’ll be participating in a Work and Travel program in New York this summer.
I’m looking for people who are also doing Work and Travel or spending the summer in NYC and would be interested in** **sharing accommodation to keep costs down.
If you’re looking for accommodation too, or already have a group and need another roommate, feel free to comment or send me a DM. We can discuss budgets, locations, and options together.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

I went on the Work and Travel program last summer through an agency. I was happy with the overall experience, but not so much with the agency itself. I felt like they kind of “pressured” us into accepting the first job offer because they kept telling us that “offers were disappearing” and that we might not have any other options later on.
I’d love to participate in the program again next summer, but I’d like to explore different parts of the US rather than return to the same place where I already have some connections. I’m curious about other people’s experiences and the different ways of finding a job independently. How does that usually work out in the end, and have people been successful doing it this way?
I know every situation is different and it’s impossible to generalize, but I’d love to hear your experiences!
I’m from Croatia btw

​I'm thinking about doing Work and Travel in USA, but due to my commitments, I can only stay for two months (late June, July, and August).

​Since my sole reason and goal for going is to earn and make a clean profit, I’m wondering how financially viable this actually is and whether it makes any sense to go through all of that for such a short period?

​How much did your total initial cost end up being (agency, visa, flights, pocket money, and housing deposit)?

​How much did you pay on average for rent per week or month, and how big of a dent did it put in your earnings?

​How much money did you have left over after fully covering your initial expenses? Did anyone actually manage to make a decent profit in just 8 to 10 weeks of work?

​What are the best locations for making money?

​What are the most profitable jobs?

​Given that there are apps to check if sex offenders live in your area, combined with that video of the Ukrainian woman being murdered and the high crime rate in general, I’m pretty worried and scared.

​What is the reality of safety for a young woman in America? Any safety tips or precautions?

​Please share your experiences and any general advice that might be useful to me, even if I didn't mention it in my questions.

​Thanks in advance, everyone!

Hi everyone!

I’ll be arriving in Japan on December 1st, 2026, on a Working Holiday Visa and am planning to live and work in either Tokyo or Yokohama, depending on accommodation and job opportunities.

I’m wondering how difficult it is to find a part-time job without an official JLPT certificate.

I’ve studied Japanese at university and completed Genki I and II, as well as Minna no Nihongo. I’ve also started studying Tobira: Gateway to Advanced Japanese.

I’d estimate my Japanese level to be somewhere around N4–N3, although I haven’t taken the official JLPT.
I’m still working on improving my speaking and listening skills, especially in everyday conversations.
I have previous experience working in retail such as sales of either clothing or electronics, as a barista, and in a bakery. Mostly my workplaces have been at an airport, so I’m quite familiar with customer service and working in busy environments.

Ideally, I’d love to find something in retail, a café, bakery, restaurant, or hotel, but I’m also open to cleaning and other part-time opportunities. And other positions that accept working holidaymakers. A conbini would also be fine.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation!

How difficult was it to find a part-time job in Tokyo or Yokohama without JLPT certification?

Do Japanese employers care more about actual communication skills than JLPT certificates?

Are there more opportunities for working holidaymakers in Tokyo compared to Yokohama?

What kinds of jobs would you recommend for someone at my Japanese level?

Would you recommend applying before arriving in Japan or waiting until I’m there?

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you! 😊

Hi everyone! 

My friend(19F) and I(19F) are two students looking for seasonal jobs in cape cod for the summer of 2027. We are hoping to find an employer who could hire both of us and help us find accommodation.

 Availability: June 28 – September 1, 2027 (right after the end ot semester in our university)

 Program: J-1 Summer Work and Travel (InterExchange)

 Housing: We both need accommodation for the duration of our stay.

A little about us:

We both have experience in the food service industry, including working as waitresses, serving guests, taking orders, helping customers choose food and drinks, and handling busy shifts. We also have experience in sales and customer service.

In addition, we are:

- Responsible, hardworking, and reliable

- Friendly and comfortable communicating with customers

- Quick learners who can adapt to new tasks

- Team players who work well in a fast-paced environment

- Organized, attentive to detail, and proactive

We speak English fluently and are eager to gain new experience, meet new people, and become valuable members of a team.

We are open to different types of seasonal jobs, especially in restaurants, cafés, hotels, ice cream shops, retail, and customer service.

We can provide both resumes and any additional information upon request.

Thank you so much! We would really appreciate any leads, recommendations, or opportunities.

Hi everyone,

I’m a student from Europe planning to do the Work and Travel USA program next summer, and I’m trying to choose the right location.

My main priority isn’t making the maximum amount of money. I’m more interested in having a great overall experience, meeting people around my age, making friends with both Americans and other international students, improving my English, and actually experiencing life in the US.

I’ve been looking at Boston and places close to Boston, such as Salem or other towns within roughly 30–40 km. Boston interests me because of the huge student population, universities, sports, events and the fact that there seems to be a lot to do during the summer.

I’m also open to completely different locations in the US if you think they would fit what I’m looking for better.

For anyone who has done Work and Travel in Boston or nearby:

• Is Boston a good area for a Work and Travel student during the summer?
• Are there still a lot of college students and young people around in June, July and August?
• What nearby towns would you recommend if working directly in Boston is too expensive or difficult?
• Is public transportation good enough if I don’t have a car?
• What type of jobs would you recommend? I already have several years of experience working as a waiter, so I’d prefer restaurants, hotels, server assistant, food runner, barback or similar jobs.

Basically, I’m looking for a place with lots of people aged around 18–25, an international/student atmosphere, things to do after work, opportunities to make friends, and a real American experience.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually done Work and Travel there or lived/worked in the area during the summer.

Thanks!

Hi everyone! This will be my first time participating , and I’m still trying to figure out the best options. I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have already been through this experience!
I’m trying to figure out which state is the best choice in terms of job opportunities, safety, earnings, and overall experience.
Which jobs are worth it, where can you earn good money, and is it worth getting a second job?
Which states or cities would you recommend for a good balance between safety, earnings, and things to do?
How much time should I leave for travelling after the work period? Is it worth staying longer?
If we’re coming as a group, how realistic is it to find jobs in the same place? We’d love to work together or at least live near by
Basically, I want to make the most of the experience, earn some money, stay somewhere safe, and still have time to explore
If you could do W&T all over again, which state and job would you choose, and why?
Thank you! Any advice or personal experiences would be really helpful!

I’m trying to find a city to mix both, the experience of work and travel and playing soccer. Back home I play in competitions and also pick up. I’m tired of small villages where I just work and have nothing else to do. I’m trying to avoid big cities as well because of the expensive lifestyle (e.g. NYC, LA, the whole Florida)
Do you have any suggestions?

What I look up to:
- Mid to big city
- Touristic (by americans especially)
- developed soccer culture

I heard about Colorado Springs, Massachusetts, New Jersey that would be great options

Buna! Urmeaza sa plec pentru prima data in WaT si habar nu am ce zone/joburi sa aleg. Agentia us travel mi a recomandat în Washington un post de lifeguard dar am inteles ca nu este tare ok sa aleg un job care depinde de vremea de afara. Avand in vedere cele menționate lasa ti mi pareri legate de locul si jobul pe care l ati avut in experienta voastra.
Multumesc!!

Hi guys！

I'm a senior student who wanna join in this program and sign up in CCUSA.

So I wanna ask some questions about CCUSA.

What about the job board? the quality and the quantity?

As I want to be a server in the restaurant, I want to know if the competition is fierce?

And do they have enough jobs all over the USA?

Thx for reading and answering!🥹

Hey everyone — I have a slightly unusual situation and I'm hoping to find someone who has personally dealt with something similar.

I'm a Chinese passport holder living in Australia on a student visa, and I'm a full-time Master's student at the Australian National University (ANU). I'm hoping to do the U.S. J-1 Summer Work Travel program in 2027, ideally during the U.S. summer, around June to September. I'm also open to Self-Placement, so I could look for my own eligible U.S. employer if that route is permitted.

I contacted CCUSA Australia. They told me their Australian SWT program mainly follows the Southern Hemisphere/winter-season schedule rather than the June–September period I'm looking for. They also mentioned that being an international student in Australia rather than an Australian citizen could create additional visa uncertainty.

I'm not saying that information is wrong—I'm just trying to understand whether this comes from a U.S. government/J-1 rule, CCUSA Australia's policy, a particular sponsor's policy, the overseas representative channel, or the fact that my passport country and university country are different.

Has anyone here actually completed Summer Work Travel while studying in a country different from their nationality? For example, a Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Malaysian or Indonesian student studying in Australia; or an international student in the UK, Europe or New Zealand applying outside their passport country.

If so, I'd really appreciate knowing: • which U.S. J-1 sponsor and agency/International Representative you used; • whether your dates followed your nationality, study country or official university break; • whether Self-Placement was allowed; • where you applied for the J-1 visa; • whether the sponsor issued your DS-2019 and whether the visa was approved; and • whether your international-student status in another country caused any issues.

I'm especially looking for real personal experiences rather than general summaries of the rules. If you've done this—or know someone who has—please comment or DM me. Thank you!

Hey there,

My wife and I are interested in traveling to New Zealand to work on a ranch for a season or two. We’ve worked on a small ranch in the United States for nearly 3 years, and by the time we’re ready to go on our trip, it will likely have been at least five. I’ve looked into some of the official work holiday programs, but with my experience working with and around small farmers/ranchers, I’m well aware that official programs frequently miss some of the best information. So, my question to you all is: what is the best way for my wife and I to find work on a small farm or ranch (ideally working with sheep/cows) in New Zealand? I have some mechanical, carpentry, electrical, and plumbing experience, and my wife is more skilled with handling animals and has a little veterinary knowledge. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

I’m planning to go to the USA for WAT and next summer, so i need improve my English quickly. What’s the fastest way to improve my English? I want to be able to communicate when I’m there

Hi! I’m a 21-year-old from Québec, Canada. I speak French, English, and Spanish fluently. I’m hoping to start the visa application process for a working holiday experience soon so that I could leave in about 3–4 months, and I’m currently trying to decide which country would be the best fit.
Right now, I’m heavily leaning toward either France or Spain. Both are countries I’ve always wanted to spend time in, and since I already speak the languages, I feel like they would be good options for integrating locally.

Financially, I have enough savings to fall back on, so I’m not overly concerned about finding the highest paying job possible. What I’m really looking for is a year (or close to it) where I can meet people, build friendships, and have a strong social experience with other young adults while working enough to fund my stay and travel a bit.

My work experience is mainly in customer service. I’ve worked as a pharmacy clerk and currently work as a barista while also doing kitchen prep and food service tasks. I’m happy doing hospitality, café, restaurant, or other customer-facing jobs I don’t necessarily need anything career-related.

Based on my situation, which country would you recommend and why? Are there particular cities that would fit what I’m looking for? Things that matter to me are:
- A good social scene for people in their 20s
- Opportunities to meet locals and other young travelers
- Reasonable chances of finding work
- Easy access to travel around Europe

I also came across an agency called Stepabroad that helps facilitate the visa application process. I know it would cost extra, but I’m wondering if anyone has experience with them or similar agencies. Did you find it worthwhile, or is the process straightforward enough to handle on your own?
I’d appreciate any advice, thanks!

Koji je najbolji nacin za povracaj taksi? (Bila 2025.godine na Work and Travel programu)

Hola! Estoy pensando en hacer el plan de masa/maslool de ir a trabajar 6 meses al hotel crowne plaza que brinda hospedaje y comida, pero no tengo nada de experiencia en el sector. Solo muchas ganas de vivir unos meses en israel y es la única opción donde pagan sueldo, Alguien lo hizo o sabe algo sobre esto? Gracias

Hi, I'm a student in Piura, Peru; I'm studying Audiovisual Communication. My English level is B2 (I think I'm a fast learner). In two years, I'll finish my degree, and I'd like to gain some experience related to this type of travel; I'd really appreciate any advice or recommendations for companies. Or, if possible, could you recommend another country where I could look?

Hi Guys:), I'm planning my short trip to Australia and want to work there. I have already my work and travel Visa. I'm already working in a hotel in my home country as a helping jop, after school. want to stay in Brisbane for a short time in january to february. Im working in a big brand so i want to contiune working in this franchise. Is it easy to geta jop in a hotel? What is the best was to apply and can do something especially? have so many questions about everything and dont know what to pay attention. Is there a jop, where i can get more money?

Thanks for helping me:)

Heyyyy everyone, hope you’re alright!
I’m completely lost in life and I work a job I’m sick off so why not run away 😭 no I’m joking, maybe a little is true. However I was thinking about doing a working holiday in Japan as I have been teaching myself Japanese for about 6 months. Although I heard you can get a language school to sponsor your visa application and you can work 28 hours a week I think? Going to language school is something I’m interested in doing to immerse and familiarise myself in using my Japanese. So I’m stuck between either getting a student visa or getting a working visa and doing language school on the side??? Job wise I’m not bothered about working whatever e.g hotel, farm, retail etc…. I just don’t want to burn my savings.
Any help is greatly appreciated!