Monday, 20 May 2019

When one door closes, another one opens…

By Sonia Marques

The end of the winter season is here. At this time, you will be saying many goodbyes to friends that you have made while living here in the USA.

Although the season was temporary, some of the friendships you have made are not, these people have become lifelong friends!


However, with goodbyes - come hellos; to family and friends back home or if you are planning on going up north for the summer season, hellos to new work colleagues and friends. That is the beauty of being on the Workaway International program. Although bittersweet, every day brings new adventures and something new to look forward to.


It is important to think of this new adventure as a new beginning. If you are going home perhaps you would like to venture on to a new opportunity, now that you have some international experience. If you are going up north for the summer season, maybe you would like to improve on something or add onto the experience earned during the winter season. Always remember that there is room for improvement in every aspect of your life, with this mindset - you will go far!


Hard work during the season does not go unnoticed, and if your country club is like Addison Reserve, they may even throw you a Staff Appreciation Party. We were lucky enough to have been invited to this event, which was held at The Falls Country Club, where all the employees are recognized for their dedication and work ethic. We were treated to dinner, prizes and raffles, followed by dancing to end the night off along with the season with our colleagues and friends.



Thank you, Addison Reserve, for yet another memorable season!


“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy on, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates

With Love,

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

Workaway International Presentations: What to expect and how you can prepare!

Why is attendance at presentations compulsory?

The presentations are the first step in the recruitment process. We want all candidates to be well informed before committing to working abroad, and for this reason every candidate is required to attend a presentation if they wish to apply.


There is so much important information about the programme given at the presentations, which you have no other way of receiving. Making presentations compulsory ensures that all applicants have a clear understanding of what they can expect.
The presentation will answer all your questions about the programme, from the requirements, to details about the recruitment process, from the duration of your contract to the costs involved, positions, wages and so much more.
Beside gathering important information about the programme, the presentations also gives us an opportunity to meet potential candidates and get to know them a bit better. 

Do I need an invitation to attend a presentation?
No, presentations are open to all candidates who are interested in applying for the Workaway International programme. We work on a first-come, first-served basis, with each presentation having a limited number of spots. We strongly recommend that serious candidates arrive early to secure their seat.

What do I need to bring along to a presentation?
All we require you to bring to the presentation is a positive, ‘can do’ attitude. Other than that, there is no need to bring any formal documentation as we will supply the form you need to complete.

What happens after the presentation?
After the presentation, you will be given a form to complete which requires you to fill in your name, contact details, work experience and the Workaway International position you would like to apply for. Our recruitment consultant will collect and check all the forms before calling candidates in for an individual pre-screening.

In the pre-screening we will then discuss the details on your form. This is the first time we get to hear what you have to say, see your personality and decide whether you would be a good fit for the programme.

How should I prepare for the presentation?
While there is no set of rules for how potential candidates should prepare for a presentation, we do require that you make an effort to look professional, do your research beforehand, come with relevant questions, have a good attitude and show us why you deserve to be on the programme.

How do I prepare for my pre-screening?
Be confident, think about how your current or previous work experience can be used to your advantage, know your strengths, show us your personality and remember to have fun! A
pre-screening is ultimately your chance to wow us and show us what you have to offer. Remember, there are thousands of candidates who apply each year and we have strict criteria that we need to consider when choosing candidates.

What does Workaway International look for in a candidate?
Besides having relevant industry experience, we need candidates with amazing personalities who are fluent in English, are customer-service oriented and hard working. We are looking for candidates who are willing to go above and beyond to get the job done, someone who is not afraid to put in the work and the long hours to make sure members of the country clubs and employers are satisfied.

It is worth repeating that we are inundated with applications for a limited number of positions each season – only those who fit and exceed the criteria set by the country clubs will be selected for the available positions. It is vital that you put your very best foot forward, and attending a presentation looking eager and professional as required, is the first step.

Thursday, 9 May 2019

Onto the Next Chapter

By Tara Clampett

The end of season is upon us. Many members are leaving their Florida country clubs for their homes up North for the summer and many of us will follow suit soon enough! This is probably the most difficult time for many of us as goodbyes are never easy.

Looking back on the season and reflecting on all the new relationships, I am filled with gratitude. Leaving home for 8 months is not easy, we all have ups and downs, good days and bad and I am so grateful to all my friends who have been there through it all. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about leaving them.


On a lighter note, as the season comes to an end, we are making the most of the time we have left. Recently we took a girl’s trip to Miami for the weekend where we explored Wynwood Walls, Little Havana and South Beach. As we were lying on South Beach, I told my family back home that I still have to pinch myself to realize that this is real life! Another great experience recently was the Broadway show, Anastasia, at the Broward Center. The performers, music and set design were all incredible!


The end of a season also means a time to reflect on yourself, your growth and your goals over the past 8 months as well as time to set new goals for the summer. Personally, my top two goals for the summer season is to save as much money as possible and to plan a trip for my mom to come visit me in New York. I feel that I am so blessed to have traveled so far at a young age and would love to share the feeling and experience of New York City with my mother.


So, here is to being thankful and grateful for the memories and experiences from the past and being ready for the challenges and adventures that lie ahead!

Thursday, 18 April 2019

The Unforgettable Experience

By Tanita Dos Anjos
My journey at Boca West Country Club has come to an end because I am a Swiss Hotel School student and I needed to be back in Johannesburg to attend lectures again this week. 
Never did I think that leaving Florida would be as hard as leaving Johannesburg, but sadly it was. I made friends with people I now consider family. We spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and even birthdays together and in the short few months that I’ve known them they managed to creep into my heart and become my Florida family! I will forever cherish the memories I made in Florida with these incredible people. 
This experience was the most terrifying yet amazing experience of my life! Looking back at the person I was when I left Johannesburg to the person I am today, the change honestly amazes me! I feel like I’ve gained immense skills in the hospitality industry and grown so much as a person. 
I would 100% recommend this to someone who is looking to step out of their comfort zone, someone looking for a change of scenery or even someone seeking a bit of adventure! 
I am so grateful I got the opportunity to go on this unforgettable experience, I will take the lessons I’ve learnt with me throughout life. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. 

Peace out Florida!

Sunday, 14 April 2019

Celebrating 20 years of helping South Africans gain international work experience

Workaway International has been successfully placing South African participants in US country clubs on seasonal contracts for 20 years, giving them the working experience of a lifetime, improving their career opportunities and broadening horizons through international travel. General Manager, Charlotte Quenet-Meintjes tells us more…


In 1999, we successfully recruited 60 participants to work at the Boca West Country Club for four months. Members of the country club fell in love with our participants due to their work ethic, discipline, manners, friendliness and overall drive and dedication.


We subsequently introduced a summer programme, allowing participants who had done the winter season with country clubs in the south to extend their contracts and work up north (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina and more). This allows participants to gain work experience at more than one country club during their time abroad, gives them the opportunity to meet more people and further expand their skillset.  

When Workaway International started, we only sent participants to the Boca West Country Club and today, we send them to more than 25 country clubs for the winter programme and 18 country clubs for the summer programme.

We also began recruiting candidates from other countries such as Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Romania. Workaway International sends approximately 1 300 participants to the USA each year, with participants coming from all over the world. In 2018, we sent 670 participants to work at 25 different country clubs in Florida, USA.

It is amazing to witness the candidates’ growth during the recruitment process. Candidates are nervous and hesitant when they attend the presentations, and through the recruitment process we see them gain confidence, experience and so much knowledge. They return from the USA, strong and independent, with such valuable work experience and skills, and all the worldly experiences that come from working in the USA. In addition, they have met people from all over the world and built up a valuable network of industry contacts and lifelong friends.


It is incredibly rewarding to be part of this process, which ultimately changes participants lives for the better. The Workaway International programme is such a great opportunity and stepping stone for those who want to expand and further their careers. Many who have completed the programme have gone on to become restaurant managers, general managers of hotels, executive chefs, restaurant owners, etc.


Reaching 20 years in any business is a milestone but also a testament to the fact that we love what we do. We love making dreams come true and giving South Africans the opportunity to expand their careers abroad. When we started the Workaway International programme we did not know if we would make it past the first or second season and, yet, here we are two decades later!

It would not be possible without all the amazing candidates who apply each year. Being around for 20 years has allowed us to touch and change many lives and for this I am extremely grateful. Looking ahead, I am very excited to meet new, deserving candidates and making even more dreams a reality!


Sunday, 7 April 2019

Experiences and the upcoming endeavours

By Nzuzo Mkhungo

Hello, everybody! It is Nzuzo once again, it has been a while! The last two months have been so busy and in my previous blog, I did not get a chance to give you a glimpse of the Admiral’s Cove country club. What a magnificent place! Here are a few pictures…



Being in Florida and not visiting the beach is unheard of, so I paid my dues and visited Singer Island Beach. It was a lovely day and it resulted in many more visits thereafter. I also took the time to visit Walmart and the Gardens Mall which is a beauty on its own!


Being on the Workaway International programme taught me so much about myself. I have become more mature and it really encouraged me to think about my career and future in a more serious light. Time also flew by so quickly on the programme – it was Christmas and before I knew it, it was the end January and we were finalising our application for up north.

My next stop is North Dakota - another stamp on my passport and a foot in the right direction career wise. It has been a wonderful season. It is going to be a bitter sweet time for all of us as we all go our separate ways, but we are so happy for each other as we are moving in a positive direction.


Monday, 18 March 2019

The Final Countdown

By Tara Clampett

As we near the end of the season, time always seems to speed up…I feel this happening every season! And while I am very excited to go up north, I also always want more time…more time with my friends and colleagues who may have started out as just acquaintances at the beginning of the season. However, I know that this is partly because I have found my comfort zone here and the anticipation of new housemates, roommates, colleagues, surroundings is always a little daunting at first. But we all know that change is good and it’s the only way we grow so bring on summer 2019 in New York!


I will be spending this upcoming summer at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, which is about a 40 minute train ride from New York City and being a city girl at heart, I cannot wait to visit NYC again! I will never forget my first time visiting the city in 2017…As cliché as it sounds, New York stole my heart. The energy in the city is truly amazing.


One of the many advantages of choosing to go up north after your Florida season is the opportunity for travel. In comparison to the winter season where almost all clubs are located in Florida state, up north there are Clubs located across the United States…I have friends going to clubs from New Mexico on the West coast to Block Island all the way over on the furthest part of the East coast. As many clubs up North are often smaller than Florida clubs you may find that it is easier to request time off to travel as well. My advice, and this is speaking from experience, is to spend your hard earned dollars on travelling as much as you can and not on online shopping as much as you can! Memories will last forever, while the clothes and other random unnecessary items you bought online will most likely end up in the trash at the end of the season when you have no space in your suitcases…


So to those going up North, work hard and travel hard…these are the years and memories we will cherish forever!