How to Get a Traveling Job

If you don't want to work a normal 9-5 job where you're stuck behind a desk all day, consider getting a job that allows you to travel. There are a variety of ways you can travel for work, including working in the travel industry, joining an international organization, and teaching abroad. Consider your skill set and choose an option that suits your interests to get a job that lets you make money while you travel!

EditSteps

EditWorking in the Travel Industry

1. Become a flight attendant to fly all over the world as part of your job. Flight attendants travel daily and often get to spend the night in exotic locations, all while earning a good income and receiving nice benefits like discounted flights. Experience in the service industry or customer service will help you get a flight attendant job.^[1]
   
   • Requirements for flight attendants are different among different airlines. In general, you will need to be in good physical health, be able to stand on your feet for long periods of time, and be able to reach the overhead bins.
   • Lots of airlines post available flight attendant jobs on their websites. Search online for available jobs with airlines that operate out of airports in your area.
   • It’s important to know that flight attendants often work odd hours, especially when starting out, and you won’t be able to choose which destinations you fly to when you begin.
2. Work on a cruise ship to travel the world with free room and board. Working on a cruise ship will allow you to travel full-time while earning a salary and living for free aboard a cruise ship. Search online for available cruise ship jobs to find one matches your experience and interests.^[2]
   
   • Cruise ships are like miniature floating cities, so it’s possible to find almost any type of job you can imagine aboard a cruise ship. From restaurant servers to entertainers, people with all kinds of job experience and backgrounds are in demand on cruise ships.
   • Understand that working on a cruise ship is not all fun and games. You will often have to work long hours and hard shifts. However, you will be rewarded with stopovers in far-away ports all over the world that you can explore.
   • Naturally, cruise ships depart from major ports, so if you don’t live in a port city you will have to travel to one to start working on a cruise ship.
3. Be a travel agent to get good deals on travel and accommodation. If you've spent a lot of time exploring other places, you may be able to have a successful career as a travel agent. Travel agents provide the best advice on accommodations, entertainment, dining, and other attractions to their clients.^[3]
   
   • Though technically travel agents don’t get paid to travel, they often receive deals on hotels and tours so that they can recommend them to clients. If you work as a travel agent, you will also learn how to find the best deals on flights to different locations around the world.
   • With the proliferation of online booking sites and travel comparison sites, the travel agent profession has seen a decline in recent years. However, there are still many people who trust travel agents to find them the best travel options because of their experience and expertise.
4. Become a tour guide if you have people skills and knowledge of a place. Apply for a job with a large tour company that will allow you to take tour groups to different travel destinations. Another option is to start traveling and try to find local tour guide jobs wherever you end up.^[4]
   
   • You will need to have local knowledge, including the history of the area, to be a successful tour guide. If you don’t already know something about a place, then do your homework first to stock up on knowledge that can help you get a tour guide job.
   • Keep in mind that tour guide jobs can be very seasonally based. You will have better luck finding local tour guide jobs during the high seasons for tourism.
   • You need to be able to manage large groups of people and keep them interested in the tours you are giving to be successful as a tour guide.

EditWorking for International Organizations

1. Join the Peace Corp to help the less fortunate in a developing country. The Peace Corps is a government aid organization that U.S. citizens can join. Look on the Peace Corps website at https://www.peacecorps.gov/ to find out what it takes to join and what types of jobs you can get assigned to.^[5]
   
   • Keep in mind that working for the Peace Corps is the opposite of luxury travel. You will often be assigned to a very remote area with limited infrastructure. Also, don’t expect to make a lot of money, you will receive a modest income and accommodation, but it is more about giving back to the world than making money.
   • Individuals who complete Peace Corps assignments also receive priority recruitment opportunities with the State Department upon their return to the USA. It is a good option if you aspire to work as a diplomat or other foreign service worker abroad.
2. Become a foreign service worker to represent your country abroad. Foreign service workers travel and live abroad, representing their country on issues such as immigration, diplomacy, and international aid. Check online for the requirements to apply for a foreign service job in your country.^[6]
   
   • Every country has different foreign service job requirements. In general, you will likely have to pass a qualification test to show that you are fit to represent your country before you can select a career track within the foreign service department for your country.
   • For example, if you are a U.S. citizen, then you can find jobs and requirements on the U.S. Department of State’s website at https://careers.state.gov/learn/who-we-are/culture-of-leadership/.
3. Work at a NGO to travel the world and provide humanitarian aid. There are many non-governmental organizations and international non-profits that you can work at to travel and help out with issues like human rights and disaster relief. Different organizations hire people with different career backgrounds, so do your research to find an organization that is a good fit for you.^[7]
   
   • Examples of NGOs include Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and USAID.
   • It’s helpful if you have a background in health or social services to get a job with a NGO. For example, Doctors Without Borders hires medical professionals or med students to provide medical treatment to remote communities or people in disaster-stricken areas.

EditGetting Other Types of Jobs

1. Work as an au pair if you like caring for children. An au pair is an international nanny that lives with a family abroad and takes care of their children. There are many sites online that help pair child care workers with families abroad.^[8]
   
   • Your payment as an au pair can vary a lot depending on the country and program you are a part of. You will at least receive room and board at the home of the family you work for, as well as a small payment to cover personal expenses.
   • A perk of being an au pair is that the family will often take you along on their travels to keep an eye on their children. You can also use free time on weekends to travel around and see more of the country where you are working, or even visit nearby neighboring countries.
2. Teach English abroad if English is your first language. Get certified as an ESL teacher with an organization such as TEFL or TESOL to increase your job opportunities. English teachers are in high demand in many countries around the world, so there are many opportunities available depending on where you want to go.^[9]
   
   • Asian countries like Korea and Japan are known for paying especially well and even providing housing for English teachers. Consider looking into opportunities in these countries if you want a rewarding experience living abroad.
   • If you have a Bachelor’s Degree and teaching experience you will have a better chance of earning higher salaries teaching English.
3. Become a translator if you are fluent in more than 1 language. Apply for a job with a language service provider to travel the world helping people communicate. Computer skills and business skills will also help you get a job as a translator, in addition to knowing at least 2 languages.^[10]
   
   • Countries that have the most language service providers are the United Kingdom, United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic.
4. Be a travel writer if you have a passion for writing and travel. The easiest way to work as a travel writer is to freelance. Many publications will pay your for pieces about hot new vacation destinations and off the beaten path travel stories.^[11]
   
   • To work as a freelance travel writer, you can look for information on the websites and/or contact the editors of well-known publications such as The New York Times, Conde Nast, and National Geographic.
   • Travel writing jobs are highly coveted but they can be inconsistent. They are often project-based and you may need to have some savings to fund your travels at the beginning.

EditReferences

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