Daniel Hicks, 23, field staff member, Global Vision International, Ecuador

I lead teams of volunteers into the rainforest to carry out surveys of reptiles, amphibians, birds and butterflies. We are building up a species list, which is important because much of the rainforest is being destroyed by logging, oil extraction and farming. We stay in dormitory cabins with basic facilities. I help to teach English to local children and we also teach them about the importance of conservation and sustainable use of the rainforest. Many hope to make a living through new ecotourism projects. Ecuador is a beautiful country with welcoming people. I earn about £50 a week; accommodation and food are provided. This may not seem much, but the experience more than makes up for the wages.

Oliver Wilson, 35, product owner, Chordiant Software, Bedford, US

I was previously working in Brentford, West London, for a company that merged with Chordiant. I helped to set up a marketing team based in India and was then offered the job of permanently managing the team from the US. It seemed like a great opportunity. My wife and I enjoy being able to drive to the mountains to go skiing in the winter, go to the coast in the summer and get to Boston or New York for an injection of city life. Living abroad, though, even in an English-speaking country, can be tough. We miss friends and family, and keeping in touch is dependent on weekend phone calls and Facebook.

Rob Pracey-Smith, 26, equity trader, JP Morgan, Hong Kong

I was working in London until last May when my bosses said that they needed someone in Hong Kong for a few months and was I interested? Two days later I was on a plane and the intention now is that I’m here for two or three years. The function I perform is almost identical to my job in London, but the stock market can be volatile here so things tend to jump around and managing people can be challenging because of the cultural differences. Hong Kong is a very international place. I live a much more active life here than I did in the UK – the weather is hot and the cost of living is lower. The downside is that Hong Kong can be a pressure cooker and can get quite claustrophobic.

Neal Evans, 45, English teacher, Australian Centre for Education, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

There is a huge demand in this country to learn English. The clientele tends to come from the richer sectors of society and there are lots of university students hoping to study overseas. With a few cover classes, most full-time teachers earn more than £750 a month. Since I left the UK I’ve also worked in the Maldives and Mexico, gaining a new perspective on life, but working abroad can be isolating and I miss the professionalism of the UK school system – the teachers I worked with at home were inspirational. Wages are not as good here, but quality of life is great when you consider the cost of living and the weather.

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