How can you go about work-exchange stays? Two Q&As to answer your questions.

Text and photos by Fox Lu (卢啾啾), excerpted from "Let’s All Dive into Work-Exchange Stays!" published by Popular Wind Publishing

Q: How exactly should I write my resume?
A: Your work-exchange resume can be more casual

I remember every time my sister looked at the resumes I submitted for work-exchange opportunities, she’d say, “Why is this so dramatic?” But so far, my overly dramatic resume hasn’t been rejected once. You can take a more relaxed approach when writing a work-exchange resume — don’t use the same formal one you’d use for a corporate job. That would just come across as stiff and uninviting.

You should rewrite your resume with the same enthusiasm that made you want to travel, telling hosts why you want to go to that place, what unique experiences you hope to gain beyond city life, and how you view this upcoming adventure. Of course, you can also include your hobbies and interests — it helps them get to know you better and see if your personality is a good match for them.

I’ll never forget the first time I applied to Mr. Hot Dog in Green Island back in 2010. The first line of my personal statement was: “My name is Chewy (啾啾), I’m 23 years old, single, and I want to fall in love with Green Island.”

Really? Really? Was that too dramatic?
As for how old I am now, it doesn’t matter — I’m forever 18!!

Q: Can I apply to many places at once? If I accept one offer and turn down others that also want me, will that be rude?
A: Of course you can apply to multiple places at once, and you don’t need to feel bad about turning down other offers.

You can definitely apply to many places at the same time, and there’s no need to feel bad about turning down other offers. It’s often just a matter of how quickly the host acts. If they really think you’re a great fit and believe “you’re perfect for our shop,” they should call you right away to offer the spot. If you’ve already accepted another offer by then, the latecomer may feel a bit disappointed, thinking they should have called sooner — but then they’ll just move on to the next candidate (laughs).

The only tricky situation is when your second-choice place offers you something first, but then the top choice contacts you the next day — and you’ve already said yes to the second. In that case, all I can say is: be a responsible person. Honor the commitment you’ve already made. A blessing in disguise, right? Life’s plans always happen for a reason — even if we don’t understand it right away.

Alternatively, what I do is apply to just one place at a time, and I tailor each resume individually. I wait for their response before applying to the next. Because the places I choose are very specific — I start with my top choice, and if it’s full, I move on to the second.

Sick of the boredom of work and school? Want to travel?
Download the “ETtoday News Cloud APP” and take a virtual trip with us →
iOS:https://goo.gl/rmIDdx
Android:https://goo.gl/XPe8Uj