Looking for the best jobs for travel lovers? Here’s my personalized guide to the bests jobs to take you around the world (and how to start today) — from an expat and travel lover!
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For those of us that love travel, it can be hard to find a way to combine a passion for seeing the world and well, bills.
Whichever way you slice it, traveling provides experiences and opportunities hard to find anywhere else. As the saying goes…
“Great things don’t come from comfort zones.”
Which is why combining your job with travel has this strange, yet magical capability to open up doors for you in ways you’ve never known.
Whether you’re in need of a career switch or officially looking to start your life in a new country here are the 5 best jobs for travel lovers (and how to start today).
1. Teaching Abroad
One of the best jobs for travel lovers is teaching abroad.
Many people use their time teaching abroad to travel, enjoy a cheaper cost of living, or in my case, a mix of both! Teaching is also a GREAT way to pay off some student loans, all while getting to tour your newfound city.
But if you find teaching to be your passion it can easily turn into a lucrative career — allowing you to travel the world and do what you love.
Take OneikaTheTraveler for example. With an education degree, she was able to land several jobs at international schools throughout Asia and Europe as well as tutoring on the side to boost her income.
This allowed her to travel extensively and make a six-figure salary with only a couple of years of experience.
If you don’t have a background in education but have a bachelor’s degree, you can still pursue this route through a program called TEFL (Teaching English in a Foreign Language).
After taking the teaching course (anywhere from 120+ hours) you’ll be equipped with the basic teaching skills and your first job placement in only a couple of months!
Still not about it? Well, in my podcast episode with Kevin Cook (aka Monkey Abroad), we talked about how some of his friends used teaching in China simply to create MAJOR savings for investments, starting a business, or to gain work experience before returning to the states.
Don’t forget, if you’re teaching English abroad you’re also learning the language of your placement country (or at least I hope you are!). So it’s a win-win 🙂
P.S – You can get your TEFL through Premier TEFL here.
2. Working a Remote Job
This is probably the most recent job path of the 21st century, but as 2020 has shown working from your laptop is now a very real reality — and one of the best jobs for travel lovers. Now, this can be done one of two ways…
1) Ask for an Intra-company transfer
This is when you move to the International branch of the company you’re already working for.
In my episode with Tech entrepreneur Nathalie Goldstein, she gives some really good tips on how she used her negotiation skills to move from San-Fran to Austria this way.
Think about it. Although working in another country sounds like a dream to you, it could also be another employee’s worst nightmare. So don’t be afraid to see if it’s an option.
2) Apply directly for a remote work job
Commonly known as the “Digital Nomad life”, if you’re someone who’s self-sufficient with good time management skills, this path might be for you.
I wrote an article on how to find the best remote jobs for travelers, so I would definitely check that out for a solid starting point. Remote Work expert Andrea of ‘It’s a Travel OD’ also has some great tips for landing your first remote role.
Overall when it comes to remote jobs, it’s less about the jobs being out there and more about putting in the time for the research, but it’s definitely one of the best jobs for travel lovers.
3. Becoming a Flight Attendant
When people think of the best jobs for travel lovers, there’s no doubt that flight-attendant comes to mind.
Outside the obvious benefit of getting paid to travel, you can also hack the system, and use being a flight attendant life to jumpstart a new career — after you’ve had your time in the sky of course.
Business Insider posted a really cool article on the in’s and out’s of being a flight attendant and the application process if you want to get more of an insider feel for the job.
4. Starting a Freelance Business
With the rise of social media and technology; the creative sector has reached its Golden age.
If you can combine your talents with some social media skills and marketing knowledge, you have the potential to turn your passion into profit — by starting a freelance business! This allows you to work from anywhere, and be on your own schedule.
Over the course of my time abroad I’ve found dozens of freelancers who used their investments in courses and books to create (and scale) businesses around their passion for writing, film, photography, music etc. — allowing them to be location independent and make a living doing what they love.
However it needs to be said that this is not a quick-fix. Building a profitable business does take time. But with the right knowledge and initiative, you CAN make this your reality.
And remember, if you don’t think you have enough experience to start charging for your expertise, start by working under somebody that does!
P.S – Join FB and Linkedin groups in your industry to stay up to date with job openings and possible clients.
5. Working in International Hospitality
If you want to be the next Mr.Mobsy (and if you don’t know who that is….you don’t deserve the sweet life) then maybe a traveling career in hospitality is for you.
This role can work along the lines of an Intra-company transfer although it’s not always straightforward (and many hotels for example have a “per property” basis when it comes to international hires).
However it’s undeniable that working in tourism and hospitality is one of the best jobs for travel lovers as it can turn into a highly lucrative career path and of course, take you across the world.
Bonus: Working in Wildlife Conservation
If you love travel and animals — a job in Marine and Wildlife Conservation might be for you!
Most of the positions I found are paid internships but with the potential to turn into permanent work assignments after completion.
These opportunities give you the chance to do first-hand research, work on conservations and study animals that look like this.
Hold up, I’m heading to Australia.
You can check out more Environmental job opportunities at Animal Jobs and EcoJobs.
Many of the jobs on this list were gathered research, my own experience, and the lives and stories of Abroad & Co. guests and contributors.
But there are hundreds of ways to combine your love of travel and work in a way that’s meaningful to you, so start today.
Happy traveling!
Don’t forget to read more on travel here!
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