If you’ve been thinking about a working holiday but haven’t quite pulled the trigger yet — this one’s for you.
You’ve probably had the thought before. A working holiday in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Ireland — somewhere new, somewhere exciting, somewhere that isn’t your usual routine. Maybe a friend did it and came back glowing. Maybe you’ve been eyeing it for a while but just haven’t committed yet.
And honestly? That hesitation makes total sense. A big move like this comes with a lot of questions.
“Do I have enough saved up? What if I don’t find work? Will this hurt my career? I don’t really know anyone there… what if I get lonely?”
We hear these all the time from young Canadians who are so close to making it happen — and we get it. These are real concerns, not silly ones. But after helping Canadians go abroad through Canada’s International Experience Canada (IEC) working holiday program, we can tell you with confidence: these worries are almost always bigger in your head than they are in real life.
Let’s walk through the five most common ones, and what’s actually waiting on the other side of them.
“I don’t have enough savings to go”
You Don’t Need Much.
This is probably the most common thing we hear — and it’s the one that causes the most unnecessary delays. When people picture a working holiday, they imagine a huge upfront cost: flights, first month’s rent, gear, insurance, emergencies. It can feel overwhelming before you even start.
But here’s the thing that changes everything: you’re not going on a vacation. You’re going to work. That’s literally what a working holiday visa is — through Canada’s IEC program, you’re legally allowed to earn money while you’re abroad. So you’re not just spending savings, you’re also building them as you go.
Working holiday destinations tend to have solid minimum wages. Australia, for example, sits at around AUD $25/hour, with even higher rates on weekends and holidays. New Zealand, the UK, and Germany are similarly competitive. And in Go International’s hospitality programs in the UK, France, Japan, Greece, etc. and farm roles in Germany, accommodation is included — which takes care of your biggest monthly expense automatically.
Good to know: We recommend arriving with around $4,000–5,000 CAD to get settled comfortably before your first paycheque comes in. That’s a very manageable savings goal — and a much smaller number than most people expect.
If you’ve been waiting until you feel like you have “enough” but don’t have a specific number in mind, try setting a clear target. Once you have that, it becomes a lot easier to make a plan and actually get there.
“I don’t know anyone there”
Everyone Goes Alone First.
Here’s something that surprises a lot of people: going solo on a working holiday is incredibly common — and for many participants, it ends up being one of the best parts of the whole experience.
When you arrive somewhere new without a built-in social circle, you naturally open yourself up to meeting people in a way that’s harder to do when you already have someone familiar by your side. And working holiday communities are genuinely warm and welcoming — they’re full of people who are in the exact same situation as you, looking to connect.
Think hostels, share houses, working holiday Facebook groups, and colleagues on the same visa as you. The social infrastructure for making friends as a solo traveller is really well established in most IEC destinations — especially places like Australia and New Zealand where the backpacker community is huge.
A lot of the closest friendships that come out of working holidays are between people who arrived alone and met on the ground. The adjustment period is real, but it usually only lasts a couple of weeks. After that, most people describe a social life they couldn’t have imagined back home.
It’s totally normal to feel a bit nervous about going alone. But you might be surprised how quickly that nervousness turns into confidence once you’re there.
“What if I can’t find a job?”
Jobs Find You There.
Finding work abroad can feel daunting when you’re planning from home, but the reality on the ground is usually a lot more encouraging than people expect.
Working holiday visa holders are well-known to employers in IEC destinations. Hospitality businesses, farms, ski resorts, tourism operators — they all understand what a working holiday visa is, and many of them actively look for participants to fill roles. You’re stepping into a job market that already has space for people like you.
That said, preparation does make a real difference. The participants who hit the ground running are usually the ones who’ve done a bit of research, updated their CV, and have a plan for their first few weeks. When you go through Go International’s job placement programs, your job can be sorted before you leave Canada — so you’re arriving with work already lined up, not starting from scratch. Not to mention all the job support from our partnering team abroad!
Realistically speaking: Your first job abroad probably won’t be your dream role — and that’s okay! Most people find work within a few weeks of arriving when they’re proactive and prepared. And once you’re settled in, lots of doors open up from there.
“This will hurt my career”
Your Resume Needs This.
We hear this one a lot, and we really want to put it to rest — because it’s one of the biggest myths around working holidays.
Canadian employers today genuinely value international experience. A working holiday on your resume signals that you took initiative, adapted to a new environment, managed yourself independently, and gained perspective outside of a classroom or office. That’s not a gap — that’s growth.
The skills you build abroad are also the kind that are hard to learn any other way: navigating unfamiliar situations, working across cultures, problem-solving on the fly, managing your own finances in a new country. These are things that stand out in interviews and make your answers specific, personal, and memorable.
Something to consider: Some of the most mobile, energetic, and obligation-free years of your life are right now. The experience you gain during a working holiday — and the stories you come back with — can genuinely set you apart in ways that a standard entry-level path might not.
And if you’re worried about a gap on your timeline? Frame it well. Most hiring managers will appreciate the honesty and the initiative it took to make the leap.
“I’m worried about missing home”
Home Will Still Exist.
This one comes from a really understandable place. You might miss your friends’ big moments, your family get-togethers, the comfort of a place that knows you. That’s a real feeling, and it’s worth acknowledging.
And yes — you’ll probably miss some things while you’re away. Your best friend might have big news while you’re on the other side of the world. There will be moments that are hard. That’s part of it.
But what a lot of people find is that the anticipatory homesickness — the worry before you go — is actually the hardest part. Once you’re there and building a life, even a temporary one, it gets easier. You’re busy, you’re meeting people, you’re having experiences. The world back home doesn’t disappear; it just patiently waits for you to come back to it.
And the good news? With video calls, social media, and cheap international plans, staying connected with the people you love is easier than ever. Distance feels a lot smaller than it used to.
The feeling of missing home fades a lot faster than most people expect. And when they come back, they’re always glad they went — with new stories, new friends, and a new sense of what they’re capable of.
Ready to make it happen?
If any of those fears sounded familiar, you’re not alone. A working holiday is genuinely hard to regret — and the logistics are a lot more manageable than they seem.
Go International is a recognized organization under Canada’s IEC program, officially supported by the Government of Canada to help Canadians aged 18–35 work and travel abroad. We support you with paperwork, job placement, and pre-departure prep so your adventure starts right.
Reach our team today and let’s figure out the right plan for you.