To preface, this isnt to insult fruit picking jobs or entry-level office work. Everyone needs to start somewhere. However, Im a bit older and looking ahead and wondering if theres something more.

A bit about me: Typical 29 year old single American male form the midwest. Never did study abroad or took a gap year. Basically, before I went to college I never left my hometown, and I did a bit of domestic travel after college and really enjoy it. I currently work as a case analyst (basically a paralegal but who manages a few people and does more extensive research). I have no advanced degrees and I earn about $50k/year USD, which puts me in a good standard of living where Im from. I have a BS in economics from a good university, and Id like to think I have a good work history (been promoted about three times in the last five years of the same employer).

I feel like Ive squandered my youth and that I have a lot more to lose now, but I still want to do some extensive traveling and/or living abroad. But being 29, I know that the clock is ticking away if I want to work abroad easily.

My main concern is this: Im looking into working holiday programs mainly in New Zealand and Australia and I was wondering how easy it was to get a "real" job there for a short period of time (<1 year). Anything that uses my brain and is a desk job would be ideal, but really anything I take would at least have to look good on my resume, pay me decently, and also advance my career.

Is it possible to pursue a job like this? Or should I just give up the dream of working abroad?