Welcome and why "exploratory years" matter

Rob: G'day, and welcome to the Choosing Your Uni National Virtual Expo. I'm your host, Rob Malicki, and welcome to this session on gap years. We've got a fantastic guest for you today and we're going to be going into lots of detail. But first, I'd like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and work, and that is the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I love this country, and I'm so lucky that it's been cared for for literally tens of thousands of years.

Rob: In today's session we're going to be talking about some of your options. One of the things that I think is really important about gap years is not to call them gap years, because I hate that name. A gap sounds like a waste, but the evidence is clear that students who take a break -- whether that's before university, during university, or after university -- end up figuring out a lot of stuff. So I like to call them exploratory years. Without further ado, let's jump into this session with Sydney from Genzer.

Rob: All right, Sydney, welcome to the National Virtual Expo. Thanks for joining me.

Guest: Of course. Thank you so much for having me today.

Rob: I'm super pumped to have you here because I did a gap experience after my university and just had the best time. So I'm really looking forward to you unpacking this whole environment and the opportunities for students. But maybe before we get there, tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you end up working in this area? Because it's a lot of fun working with people and helping them travel around the world.

Sydney's background in camp work and international travel

Guest: Yes, absolutely. So my story comes from being a summer camp counsellor. I was a summer camp counsellor at home in the US, volunteering doing it growing up, and then it quickly became a paid job. I just loved it so much that I would return over the summers, and then made my way up to work as a camp coordinator and within the parks and recreation field in the US. I believed in the product so much that now I'm here in Australia recruiting Australian and New Zealand citizens to go over to the US and have that same experience. I really believe in it, and I'm excited to share it with everybody.

Guest: In terms of travel, I've been to probably 20-plus countries in my lifetime and have had the experience of living abroad in Australia and living in the US. I really believe in those experiences and what they can provide in terms of intrinsic value to an individual. Being able to chat about them, walk someone through a visa process, or answer any questions they may have about living abroad is something I'm very passionate about.

Rob: And what I take away from your story there is just how you don't know where life is going to lead you, right? You come out of school, you go to college or uni, and nobody knows where they're going to end up. Would you have ever thought you'd end up working in Australia and working in this kind of space when you were growing up?

Guest: Maybe. I always had a bit of an adventure bug and a travel bug growing up. But it's true -- it can happen in unexpected ways, and in the best way, of course. Super excited to be here and to present this.

Why a gap year or working holiday is worth considering

Rob: Okay. So you're going to be talking about camp counsellor positions and also working travel, particularly in North America. But before we get to that, should we talk a little bit about gap year stuff in general -- why should people even consider doing an experience like this?

Guest: Sure. I think doing an experience like this can help an individual get out of their comfort zone. It helps them be adaptable, coming into different environments. A really valuable thing about being abroad is being able to come back to your home country and say that you lived and worked abroad. It is something that is really valuable to an employer -- it makes you stand out. When you're going in for an interview or chatting to an employer, it really does add a bit of an extra boost to your resume to be able to say, "I went abroad and did this," because it shows you're willing to put yourself out there, willing to adapt to different things, and willing to take on new challenges. There are all these rewarding experiences beyond living abroad where you come back home and you have those things to speak to.

Rob: The research is unequivocal that students who've had these kinds of experiences are more employable. Part of that is because of the resilience and the skills they've gained, but also just the fact that they've experienced more life -- they're more worldly and they bring more than just a degree, for example. And the other thing is it's a heck of a lot of fun. You get to travel, see new things, experience new places.

Guest: Totally, so much fun. And you come back with all these new memories. It's totally worth it.

Rob: I spent about 20 years working in student exchange at university level, helping young people have that international travel experience in a similar way to you. It was the most rewarding work -- just seeing the way that people were changed in the best possible way. We do have a session specifically about doing a semester exchange programme or an academic short course as part of your degree, so keep an eye out for that if it interests you. But this is such a nice option because some people are doing degrees that are structured and they don't have the luxury of getting away as part of their degree. So considering a gap year experience before, during, or after your degree is really valuable.

Guest: It is, and it's definitely something to really look into if it's something you're considering. Some of our programmes here at Genzer do have timelines. If you're thinking about working abroad in the United States, the visa is exclusive to Australians and New Zealanders, and there is a timeline to it. So it is important to follow it closely. It's definitely a great way to go if it's an experience you're willing to have.

Rob: Awesome. Well, you're going to be talking about both the camp counsellor style experience and working travel. So folks, if you're watching along and you're interested in the working holiday stuff, make sure you hang around for that because it's very interesting. Sydney, I'll let you loose on your presentation and I'll see you on the other side.

Guest: Amazing. Let's do it.

Summer Camp USA: what it is and what to expect

Guest: So let's start by chatting about our Summer Camp USA experience. What is summer camp? It's an all-American tradition. Between June and August each year, over 20 million children and teenagers attend summer camps across the US for 1–9 weeks. We partner with over 800 camps in 46 different American states. It's a 9–12 week American summer job, with 30 days before and 30 days after camp to travel around the US. From late September, camp directors start hiring like-minded 18–30 year olds from over 40 countries all over the world.

Guest: It's a great option after leaving school -- you can do this programme as a gap year, after university, or as a work break. There are multiple jobs at camp. You can be a camp cabin counsellor, where you live in a cabin with a co-counsellor and 8–10 campers. During the day you can be an activity counsellor or general counsellor based on your skills. General counsellor positions tend to fill up more quickly, so it's important to apply early. There are multiple ways to get hired: through the hiring pool, in-person camp job fairs, or virtual hiring days.

Eligibility, skills, and types of camps available

Guest: Let's chat about the childcare experience you need in order to attend camp. Many types of experience count, and that could look like babysitting, peer support, being a leader at Scouts, Cubs, or Brownies, helping or coaching at a school or sports club, tutoring experience, or any volunteering experience where you've worked with young people. Those will all count towards your application. In terms of skills, camps look for people with backgrounds in music, craft, sports, lake and water activities, adrenaline, outdoors, media, and performance, and there are multiple specific skill sets that fall under each of those categories.

Guest: As for the types of camps on offer, we have traditional camps -- think Camp Rock or The Parent Trap -- but we also have single-gender camps, special needs camps, specialist camps, underprivileged camps, and faith camps. There is a camp for everybody, and it's important to be open-minded when looking at your options.

Guest: In terms of who can go to camp, you must be aged 18–30. You must be 18 by the 10th of June in the summer you're travelling, though you can be 17 at the time of application. You must be able to fly to the US before the 20th of June of the year you're attending, and you must be able to commit to the whole camp season of 9–12 weeks. You must have a valid passport, or need one by February. You'll also need proof of an onward flight from the US. You can apply through the Genzer website, and we can walk you through the application process.

Costs and what's included in the Summer Camp USA programme

Guest: So what's included with the camp programme here at Genzer? You get a pre-arranged camp placement, a minimum camp salary of USD $2,300, meals and accommodation at camp, four months of medical insurance, 30 days before and 30 days after camp to travel the US, visa assistance and sponsorship, pre-departure support from our camp team, and 24/7 support once you reach the United States. The cost of the programme is AUD $599, paid in increments: the first deposit is $75, the second deposit is $262, and the third deposit is also $262.

Guest: What is not included? The US consulate fee, which is currently USD $185, plus an additional $215 for Australians for the reciprocal city fee. You'll need to show support funds of USD $800, and you'll need to book your own flights. You will also need money for travel before and after camp if you choose to do so, and a police check, which is required here in Australia. You may also need a medical form depending on your camp and what they request.

Working holiday visa programmes: Japan, Canada, and the UK

Guest: There are multiple ways to earn as you explore with a working holiday visa. These are some of the programmes we offer here at Genzer. We have a Work Japan programme, a Work Canada programme, and a Work UK programme.

Guest: First, Work Japan. You have to be 18–30 at the time of applying for your visa, and you must be 20 or older to work at a ski resort. It's a 12-month visa for Japan, and what Genzer offers is a pre-arranged 3–4 month ski resort job, 12 months of job support, arrival notes, bank account and tax set-up, and more.

Guest: We then have our Work Canada programme. You have to be 18–35 at the time of application. This is a two-year visa with a pre-arranged 4–6 month summer or ski season job. You also have support from our sibling brand in Canada.

Guest: We also offer a Work UK programme. You must be 18–35 at the time of application, and it is a 2 or 5-year visa (nationality and ancestry dependent). There is arrival support, job support, bank account set-up, and more.

Work USA and internship programmes for students and graduates

Guest: We also have options specifically for students and graduates. Our Work USA 12-month programme is a once-in-a-lifetime USA work visa exclusive to Australian and New Zealand university students and graduates. You have to be 18 or over and either a full-time university student, or a graduate within 12 months of graduating. You can do almost any job -- seasonal working holiday jobs or career-relevant roles in the field you studied. It's a 12-month visa, and you have 30 days before or 30 days after to travel the US.

Guest: We also have an Intern USA programme. This is a great option during your university summer or a semester abroad, to grow your skills and boost your CV. You have to be 18 or over and either a university student or graduate. It's a 1–12 month visa, and you have either 60 days before and 60 days after, or 30 days before and 30 days after, to travel. You can complete a professional internship related to your university studies, helping to increase your future employability.

Guest: We also have an Intern UK programme, where you can put your skills on the international map with a UK internship during or after university. You have to be 18 or over, and either a university student or a graduate within two years of graduating. It is a 1–12 month visa.

Guest: Thank you so much for watching. If you have any further questions, you're more than welcome to reach out to us at info@genzer.com, or by calling or texting our Australian office. Have a great day.