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I rewrote my first application message to a hostel in Queenstown three times, and I still didn't hear back for three days. Things only moved once I stopped typing out a résumé and instead explained in three sentences why I was a good fit for that exact hostel. These work and travel tips show you how to win over farms and hostels from the very start, without sending ten messages into the void.

Job hunting abroad works differently from a traditional job application back home. Hosts on farms or in hostels don't want a glossy application portfolio. They want to know whether you can pitch in and fit into the team. That's exactly what the following work and travel tips are aimed at.

Why the First Message Decides Everything

Hostel owners and farmers often get several inquiries a day, especially in peak season between November and February in the Southern Hemisphere. A message that looks like a copy-paste template usually ends up unread in the trash. If you show that you've looked into the business, on the other hand, you stand out immediately.

Back then, before writing, I always looked at the hostel's website and social media channels. If it said they were looking for a front desk person for the night shift, I spoke to exactly that. It takes five minutes, but noticeably improves your response rate.

What Belongs in the First Message

A good first message to hosts is short, specific, and honest. It shouldn't be longer than ten to twelve lines, or nobody will read it to the end.

  • Who you are: name, age, where you're from, in two sentences
  • What you can do: relevant experience such as hospitality, farming, or front desk work
  • Why this exact place: a specific connection to the farm or hostel
  • Time frame and availability: exact dates, and when you can start
  • A note on flexibility, for example with working hours or areas of responsibility

This structure works for Workaway profiles just as well as for direct emails to farm owners in New Zealand or Australia. If you're interested in volunteering, it's also worth checking out my post on Workaway as a way to travel for free, where I go into more detail on how the platform works.

Work and Travel Tips for Finding a Job Before You Leave

Woman searching for work and travel jobs on her laptop outdoors on a farm

Many people only start looking once they're there. That can work, but it often costs time and money in the first few weeks. It's better to start job hunting abroad while you're still at home, at least six to eight weeks before your planned departure.

For Ireland, for example, I made my first contacts through Facebook groups and Hostelworld profiles a month beforehand. In my account of my months as a work and traveler in Ireland, I describe how this groundwork spared me those uncertain first few days.

A side effect of planning early: you can estimate your budget more realistically, because you already know whether you can count on room and board or will need extra money. I explain in detail how to calculate your budget in my article on work and travel costs and budget planning.

The Right Platforms for Farms and Hostels

Not every platform suits every type of job. For farm work in Australia or New Zealand, sites like Workaway or WWOOF are the norm. For hostels, Hostelworld, direct Facebook groups, or the accommodations' own websites often work better.

According to the German Federal Statistical Office, around 68 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds in Germany used the internet specifically to look for jobs in 2023, a trend that also shows up in the international search for seasonal work (destatis.de). That means you shouldn't rely on a single platform, but work several channels in parallel.

Winning Over Hosts: What Farms and Hostels Really Want

Winning over hosts doesn't mean listing as many qualifications as possible. It means making your reliability and teamwork credible, because that's exactly what many applicants lack from the businesses' point of view.

On a kiwifruit farm near Katikati, where I worked for three weeks, the owner later told me that he mostly sorts applications by one criterion: does this person sound like someone who'll leave after two days, or like someone who really wants to stay? That's exactly what you should make clear in your message.

Small Details That Make a Big Difference

If you have it, mention previous experience with physical work, even if it wasn't in agriculture. A summer job in a warehouse or with a moving company counts just as much as hospitality experience.

Also give a realistic end date or a minimum length of stay, for example four weeks. Hosts often plan their teams weeks in advance and appreciate clear time frames more than vague phrases like "a few weeks maybe".

If you're also thinking about funding your trip on the side before you've even earned any money on location, my firsthand account of sugar dating as a way to fund a year abroad covers an option that was an additional source of income for some travelers, for example through platforms like MySugardaddy.

Year Abroad Planning: The Work Continues After You Get the Job

Backpacker greeting the host warmly outside a sunny hostel

Year abroad planning doesn't end when you get the job. Now come your visa, insurance, and the concrete travel arrangements, topics that are just as important as the application itself.

Before you leave, make sure your visa is actually valid for the work you plan to do. Especially for farm work, some countries have special requirements. You'll find more on this in my article on applying for your work and travel visa the right way.

These work and travel tips for job hunting are just one building block, and your visa, insurance, and budget are just as much a part of your preparation. If you keep all of that in mind from the start, you'll arrive at your first farm or hostel much more relaxed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Work and Travel Tips for Applications

What's the best way to apply to hostels?

Write a short, personal message with a specific reference to the hostel and state your start date clearly. Generic mass emails are usually ignored.

How do I contact farms abroad the right way?

Use platforms like Workaway or direct email addresses from the farm's website, and mention any relevant physical work experience. A clear time frame significantly increases your chances of getting a reply.

When should I start looking for a job abroad?

Ideally six to eight weeks before your planned departure. That gives you enough lead time for follow-up questions and lets you compare several offers.

What do I write in the first message to hosts?

Briefly say who you are, what you can do, why you chose this particular place, and when you're available. Ten to twelve lines is plenty.

Do I need experience to be accepted at a farm?

Not necessarily, but any kind of physical work, even from side jobs, helps your application. Being honest about a lack of experience goes over better than exaggerating.

These work and travel tips are meant to take away the uncertainty before your first application. In the end, what matters is less the perfect wording than an honest, specific message that shows you've really looked into the business. If you also keep your documents and your budget in view, nothing stands between you and your first yes.