gointernational.ca?

I am looking to head to the UK on a working holiday and am worried about the cost of not finding a job as soon as I get over there. I noticed that gointernational.ca has a package where they will find you a job placement. Has anyone ever used their services? They claim that it'll be in the hospitality sector which is okay with me because that is where I am right now. I'm mostly just worried that they won't live up to all of their hype and I will hate the whole experience.

Hi there! I can't help you, I'm afraid but I am looking into doing the same thing within the next few years (hopefully after I graduate college) except I was looking at www.aideabroad.org. The person I emailed was very helpful and from what she said, it seems like a great program. I have been on the look out for reviews but I haven't had any luck (there is a facebook page, though!) and if you find any reviews about your program, could you please post the links? I have the same concerns. Thanks in advance!

This Anthology:

I hope you don't mind if I weigh in. the jobs all seem to be in rural areas, where hospitality jobs are probably relatively easy to get. I mean, they can't be in high demand if they can absolutely guarantee participants a placement without any experience whatsoever, right? So, if that's the kind of experience you want, then it may just be easier to start submitting your CV before you leave Canada and save yourself the cost, especially if you already have experience in the industry.

To put things into perspective, that program costs 800 CAD which you could probably live off of for one month in a flat-share in a small town or rural area if you are frugal until you find work. For example, it looks like there are plenty of rooms in York, a small northern college town, for 80 GBP/wk, which is probably around $500 CAD/month. That leaves you with three hundred or more to sustain yourself until you find work, which you will probably find because you have experience.

Nevermind the fact that you have to have about 2500 CAD to even get the Visa. 2500 + 800 = you should be able to live for at least months on that, and I doubt it'll take you that long to get a hospitality job outside of London.

All the other benefits are related to support, which with a little legwork and research online you will not need. This is probably a really great service for a first time traveller, or a very young person, but I think if you're just worried about getting a job over there, then it's not worth it.

Even further to southpatch's point, I've been here 3 weeks. I live a 40 minute train ride outside London currently. Rent is £350/month. Since I've been here, I have spent probably another £350 on food and other items including train tickets to interviews/meetings in Central London/Oyster card and transportation and a few nights out. This also includes buying things like personal care items, mirrors, cheap-o hair straightener, etc. - piddly things that I left back in Canada.

It is much easier to go out and find things for yourself rather than pay someone a whole lot of money for. Yes, it's a bit difficult figuring things out for yourself, but, you gain a whole new perspective and gain a whole new understanding of how another part of the world works....

Besides that, you wouldn't believe how many employers like the "I wanted to come here, so, I got myself a visa, packed my stuff up, booked a flight and now I'm here" - attack head-on/jump-in to things.