The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Extraordinary Experiences, Seasonal Jobs, Volunteering, Working Abroad [Paperback]

Michael Landes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures | Publication Date: March 1, 2004

The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures 3rd Edition by Michael Landes Tempted to chuck your 9-to-5 job to be a white-water rafting guide in Alaska? Always wanted to spend your summer restoring a medieval castle in the south of France? This one-of-a-kind guide contains more than 1,000 opportunities to work, play, learn, help, create, experience, and grow. This comprehensive resource for off-the-beaten-path work-and-learn adventures will introduce you to options you didn’t even know existed. In this third edition, Michael Landes has extensively updated the listings to provide the most current information, and added new listings for internships, seasonal work, volunteer opportunities, and overseas jobs. Seize your life and your career path in both hands and step through the Back Door—the world awaits you.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Previous editions have sold over 20,000 copies.

About the Author

After venturing from coast to coast (and places in between), MICHAEL LANDES currently lives in Goldens Bridge, New York. Along with directing the Backdoorjobs.com website and already exploring new programs for his next edition, he works as an elementary school teacher.

Product Details

• Paperback: 436 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; 3rd edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580084494
• ISBN-13: 978-1580084499
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,524,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life's too short for a book this comprehensive!, December 7, 2002

By 

"mattythecobra" (Pembroke, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Extraordinary Experiences, Seasonal Jobs, Volunteering, Working Abroad (Paperback)

I've seen dozens of volunteer books, adventure-job books, online databases, etc., but this is still my favorite. While some other places may contain more addresses, and yet others more information on each contact, this achieves the perfect balance. Hundreds of exciting jobs await, many well-paying and many volunteer. I've spent countless hours browsing this book dreaming and have used it for one job so far (at an out-of-the-way resort in Olympic National Park).

The chapters are divided usefully into sections on artistic pursuits, overseas jobs, environmental jobs, adventure jobs, farming jobs, etc., and are peppered with helpful anecdotes from people who've been there. The only drawback, as others have noted, is that the vast majority of listings are US-based. So if you wish to find more non-American jobs, try somewhere else, otherwise this is the best place to start dreaming AND doing!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Well-Organized Book, April 12, 2003

By 

Dale Susan Brown "Dale Susan Brown" (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Extraordinary Experiences, Seasonal Jobs, Volunteering, Working Abroad (Paperback)

Almost 1,000 descriptions of internships. Entries describe the type of position, how many people apply, and information about the job. A section titled "Ideal Candidate" specifies whether jobs are open to college students, career changers, retired people, and/or foreigners. Types of short-term jobs include adventures, camps and resorts, outdoors, environmental, artistic, socially responsible, and international. A section tells you how to motivate yourself to try one of these adventures and how to apply. Inspiring, interesting, and practical.

This review was originally in Learning A Living, A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BUY THIS BOOK, September 26, 2003

By 

free bird (Wash DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures: Internships, Extraordinary Experiences, Seasonal Jobs, Volunteering, Working Abroad (Paperback)

IF you are looking for something different to do, the name says it all: Adventure will follow! I got a bunch of great ideas for personal volunteer experiences through this book, there are things for everyone of ANY interest. ALSO there is a particularlly helpful chapter about finding your place. An awesome book!