Hello fellow Steemians, as stated in my earlier post I was going to have my first ever workaway experience with the website workaway.info. As a human who likes to plan things a little in advance, I started sending applications about 2/1,5 months ahead of my planned free time and tried to arrange things as soon as possible, so I won't have to spend loads of money on the late plane, train or bus tickets; will have firmly arranged plans as getting workaway experience was a priority for me this summer and I hoped to get it sorted out as soon as possible to plan other things that are of less priority.
Why workaway was on a very top of my list? Easy, it's a combination of getting working experience, experiencing a new country as a local plus free bed and food, which spares you a lot of money. Through the search I've changed my preferences of a place to go a couple of times and from in the beginning desired Portugal I switched to Norway. I even got contacted by all the people I sent requests to and chose the one I thought was the best for me. We had a nice conversation via email and added each other on Facebook, later I offered to have a video call just to see each other and get to talk. It all went very well which led me to the conclusion that I'm definitely on the right way.
After reading forums on the internet about the website, I've noticed that many people were unsatisfied with it and had complains like: "I haven't got a single answer!", "I got all my applications refused", "Many of the hosts are not using the website anymore" and so on.
Let's talk shortly about why this can happen to you and why the website has nothing to do with it. As I understand workaway.info in more of a database connecting potential hosts and potential workawayers. You pay 30 euro to get an access to this simple and easy to use database which does not guarantee that you'll be taken by each and every host. The website is made very simple and provides you lots of important info about the host as well as yourself.
First tip to have a better chance to be accepted is work on your profile! Creating a profile on the website gives you that easy access to hosts' profiles and contacts, simplifies a search, because looking for the same kind of working experience in google will take you so much more time. So, first of all:
- Take care of your profile and pictures.
- Try to put info about yourself in a such way that will reveal you as a person.
- Be authentic and don't lie about your skills.
- Do not give useless information and provide information which would be useful for the type of work you're looking for.
- Do not try to put everything and create a long text with dates and numbers, make it short and sweet. So, if someone is visiting your profile, they get a general impression of you as a person and a potential worker.
- Before applying read carefully from the beginning to the end the description of the host and what they are looking for. Reading it with due attention will help you as well with creating your first letter.
- Point out the connection of what they need and what experience you have, will make you a better candidate and increase your chances.
Where to put more personal information? The answer is when sending an application. Take some info from your profile (not copy paste, but rewrite it nicely) and add some extra points related to the work you're applying, give more info about your passions and interests, include your previous experiences (maybe related to similar work or country). All you need is to attract host's attention, make them interested in your persona and willing to answer you.
Congratulations! You got your first reply from the host. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that you're taken. You made the host interested, now your task is to fix this interest and discuss the details (dates, expenses, precise help they want, what you get). Do not be too pushy, but don't be afraid to ask questions, if they are related to your stay and work (like about the place where you'll be living and if you get food for free as well, if they going to meet you in the airport or the train station and so on). Asking important question will reveal you as a serious, reliable and organised person. Be honest and open about things, because your workaway experience will depend on how good you understand each other with the host. Both, you and them don’t want unexpected surprises.
What about PROS and CONS in the world of workaway. From my first experience PROS are definitely:
- an opportunity to work and experience a different country, get working experience or any experience you want to have (like farming, fishing, sailing, building and many more, you can find so many different things),
- being hosted for free,
- free food (optional, not offered by everyone that’s why read the description carefully),
- travelling,
- meeting new people,
- learning something new.
There are also a few CONS such as talking and discussing the details on the internet. In reality it can still be different from your expectations. You actually never know if you get on with the host, because it takes some time to get to know the person. I saw posts of people telling in forums that they were given much more work than expected; some people told that they were not very welcomed; some people left the place in a few days, because it was nothing they expected (for example cold or dirty).
Workaway is kind of adventurous experience that not everyone is ready for and that’s why I strongly advise you to read all the information carefully and try to get to know each other with the host as good as possible.
Thanks for reading !
Best,
V xx