Love to travel? How to combine work and travel, earning your way as you go
We all know that the current economy is not as robust as we'd like. If you're looking for a permanent job, it's a challenge indeed. However, if you're young, or just young at heart, with a love for travel, there's more than one way to skin that cat, so to speak. Combining work and travel can provide you with an exciting, interesting and profitable experience. It does require a bit of preparation, but the rewards of the work and travel lifestyle makes the preparation well worth the effort.
Young people actually have an advantage in this arena of the marketplace, because you generally have the freedom to easily relocate, more so than a family person with a mortgage and the responsibilities of a family.
Let's take a look at what you need to do to prepare for such an adventure. Then we'll explore some of the possibilities before you.
If you don't already have a second language under your belt, now is the time! If the Caribbean or South America are destinations you find appealing, your Spanish skills will see you through many countries. For European destinations, French, German, Spanish and Italian are spoken by a great number of people, either as their native tongue, or as their second language. Chinese and Japanese language skills can land you a job throughout most of Asia. The 'immersion' style language classes are one of the fastest ways to become conversant in any language. Of course, for Australia and the U.K., English will be all you need.
You will also need some savings! If you plan to live abroad for more than three months, most countries require proof of an income or savings sufficient to sustain you during your stay.
It's imperative that you obtain a work visa before you leave the country, as it's quite difficult to get one after arriving in your destination country. Many an aspiring work and travel freelancer has been put back on a plane home for lack of a work visa.
Another recommended step is to begin networking online. Find a pen pal. Check out some of the foreign language chat rooms. Start making some friends before you leave home. This also gives you an opportunity to sharpen your language skills.
Now that you've covered these bases, let's look at some job possibilities:
1.If you're fluent in a foreign language, translators are much in demand. You might begin by checking out some of the job boards online – a few translation contracts, completed while you're still in the U.S., gives you a distinct advantage, with more assurance of landing a translator job overseas.
2.Au pair positions are also in demand, particularly in Europe. Again, a work and travel career is enhanced by at least three solid references on your resume. Usually, room and board is provided, along with a stipend. On your days off, you're free as a bird!
3.Become an ESL teacher. This position requires certification, which you can obtain online. Google 'ESL certification' for dozens of accredited schools. This work and travel career pays fairly well. You generally work through an agency, which lines you up with students, either in a classroom or one-on-one venue.
4.If you're the outgoing type, lining up a job as a tour guide can be a plum of a work and travel job opportunity. Check out online travel agencies that offer tours in some of their packages. You can also work as an independent, assuming you know your stuff. For example, let's say you know – or learn – everything there is to know about the Colosseum in Rome. There's no shortage of tourists at any time of year. Independent tour guides can organize their own groups at the entrance and people can join your group at any point during the tour. If you can walk the talk, you are customarily paid a fairly generous amount by your patrons at the end of the tour.
5.If you're handy with a camera and/or writing, your work and travel gig as a freelance photographer or writer can pay quite well. In this scenario, one assignment leads to another.
Young people actually have an advantage in this arena of the marketplace, because you generally have the freedom to easily relocate, more so than a family person with a mortgage and the responsibilities of a family.
Let's take a look at what you need to do to prepare for such an adventure. Then we'll explore some of the possibilities before you.
If you don't already have a second language under your belt, now is the time! If the Caribbean or South America are destinations you find appealing, your Spanish skills will see you through many countries. For European destinations, French, German, Spanish and Italian are spoken by a great number of people, either as their native tongue, or as their second language. Chinese and Japanese language skills can land you a job throughout most of Asia. The 'immersion' style language classes are one of the fastest ways to become conversant in any language. Of course, for Australia and the U.K., English will be all you need.
You will also need some savings! If you plan to live abroad for more than three months, most countries require proof of an income or savings sufficient to sustain you during your stay.
It's imperative that you obtain a work visa before you leave the country, as it's quite difficult to get one after arriving in your destination country. Many an aspiring work and travel freelancer has been put back on a plane home for lack of a work visa.
Another recommended step is to begin networking online. Find a pen pal. Check out some of the foreign language chat rooms. Start making some friends before you leave home. This also gives you an opportunity to sharpen your language skills.
Now that you've covered these bases, let's look at some job possibilities:
1.If you're fluent in a foreign language, translators are much in demand. You might begin by checking out some of the job boards online – a few translation contracts, completed while you're still in the U.S., gives you a distinct advantage, with more assurance of landing a translator job overseas.
2.Au pair positions are also in demand, particularly in Europe. Again, a work and travel career is enhanced by at least three solid references on your resume. Usually, room and board is provided, along with a stipend. On your days off, you're free as a bird!
3.Become an ESL teacher. This position requires certification, which you can obtain online. Google 'ESL certification' for dozens of accredited schools. This work and travel career pays fairly well. You generally work through an agency, which lines you up with students, either in a classroom or one-on-one venue.
4.If you're the outgoing type, lining up a job as a tour guide can be a plum of a work and travel job opportunity. Check out online travel agencies that offer tours in some of their packages. You can also work as an independent, assuming you know your stuff. For example, let's say you know – or learn – everything there is to know about the Colosseum in Rome. There's no shortage of tourists at any time of year. Independent tour guides can organize their own groups at the entrance and people can join your group at any point during the tour. If you can walk the talk, you are customarily paid a fairly generous amount by your patrons at the end of the tour.
5.If you're handy with a camera and/or writing, your work and travel gig as a freelance photographer or writer can pay quite well. In this scenario, one assignment leads to another.