Workaway for hosts: How to find the perfect workawayer for your project
Ready to invite travellers into your home or project and begin your journey as a Workaway host? You’re in for an adventure and we’re here to guide you through it all…
We know how nerve-wracking it can be to let a total stranger stay with you, join you in your everyday life and fully involve them in your dream project, so we definitely know how important it is that you choose workawayers who are a good fit for yourself and your listing! That’s why here at Workaway we hope to help you quickly connect with just the kind of travellers and volunteers you’re looking for! 🌟
I’m ready to host… so where do I start?
Well, if you’re not a host yet, come sign up first 😉... But if you’ve already got your Workaway host profile up and running? You’re already almost there! Log right in to your host account on our website and click “Find a Workawayer” near the top of the page to start looking for workawayers who are visiting your country:
You can also do this on your account page – simply scroll to the end and you’ll find the button:
How do I find the right workawayer for my project?
Your “Find a Workawayer” page shows workawayers who are planning to visit or are already in your country. On this page, you can use our filters to narrow down your ideal workawayers to host:
- Dates: When do you want to host workawayers – harvest season for your olives, that odd two weeks you’ll be away and looking for a pet sitter, or the months when you have an extra guest room available while your kid is off to college?
- Types of help: This will help match you with workawayers who’ve mentioned they have experience or are interested in offering specific types of help, to make sure you’ll be inviting someone who’s able and happy to get involved in your project.
- Languages: Since you’ll be spending a lot of time together, having some sort of common language really helps with effective communication – even if you’re not fully fluent! Here you can add the language you speak or want to learn more about, and look for workawayers who speak the same language.
- Search word or phrase: this helps you look for keywords contained in workawayer profiles, to connect with someone who shares common interests or has specific skills you’re looking for. For example, you can type “vegan” if you’re looking to host a vegan, or “mural” if you want to host artists who have experience with painting murals.
- Extra information: Depending on your accommodation on offer or type of host you are, you can indicate your preference to host a solo workawayer, a couple, or even a family with children! You can also filter the list to only show workawayers who have recently been active on the site.
(Remember, you’ll need to be logged in to access this page!)
How do I connect with workawayers in my area, right now?
Looking to host someone more spontaneously, and for more immediate help? No worries at all, we’ve got you covered too!
On our “Workawayers Nearby” page, you’ll be able to see your own location on an interactive map, and workawayers who are currently closest to your location Feel free to adjust the distance, and make use of the same filters as above to search for those who are nearby AND a good match of what you’re looking for!
Once you’ve found a great potential workawayer (or a dozen!), simply head on to their profile and shoot them a message to tell them all about your project.
A few contact tips to ensure a great Workaway exchange
Now comes the exciting part where you actually invite a workawayer to join your project! A few suggestions on what to include in your initial message:
- Something about your project, what kind of help you’re looking for, what a day in their life would look like as a workawayer, and why you think they might be a good fit!
- Do you have similar interests or hobbies you share, that you can bond over?
- Is there anything else you’d like them to know about your project that you think they’d love?
Remember, just as you’ll be welcoming a stranger into your life, they are also taking a massive leap of faith to offer their time, helping hands, and friendship to someone they have yet to meet face-to-face, in a foreign country away from home! Your potential workawayer may have a lot of questions about your country and area (especially if they have never visited before), so this is a great opportunity to offer local tips on where to go, how to get around, and what to do. Likewise, don’t be afraid to ask questions about them, their expectations on the exchange, and anything else you’d like to know. Having a video call is also a great way to meet and chat “in person”.
While you get to know your workawayers, also take the time to check out our tips on how to be a great Workaway host, and be excited for the unexpected perks you’ll discover when hosting!
The more you communicate with each other beforehand, the more prepared you will be for your rewarding Workaway exchange!
And there we have it! We hope you enjoy your first Workaway exchange, feel free to reach out if you have any questions, and do let us know how it goes…
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Here at the Workaway team we are lucky enough to witness all the amazing experiences enabled via the site and we'd love to share them with you too! From new and improved website features for our commu
