For some people, traveling once or twice a year during the days off work is simply not enough. Plus, you can’t really get to know people and their culture from one short trip. So, if you are one of those people who want to see everything this world has to offer, the best way to travel as much as your heart desires is to combine that desire with necessity and work while traveling. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, here are some of the best ways to do that.
Become an au pair
Being an au pair, or more commonly known, a nanny, is a great way for you to immerse yourself in the culture of the foreign country. This is because you’d already have one family as your support system, and they could help you find your way around. As for the job itself, you’d be in charge of taking care of the kids, helping them with school chores, and perhaps doing some errands around the house as well. Moreover, English-speaking nannies are very wanted all around the world, so if you love kids, you should do your research on what it takes to be a good au pair.
Get seasonal work
Another way to travel and work at the same time is to look for seasonal jobs. For example, in summer, you can work in restaurants, bars, hotels, etc. In winter, you can work at ski resorts. No matter the season, there is always an option, especially at popular tourist destinations since they always need more temporary labor. Just make sure to get to your destination in time so you can grab the job before somebody else does. For some of the jobs, you can also apply online, so don’t forget to check that option as well. Finally, you can always just show up and ask around until somebody points you in the right direction.
Teach English
Teaching English is one of the most common jobs that you can do pretty much anywhere. There isn’t a country that doesn’t need English speakers, and in this day and age, it’s often a requirement for many other jobs. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that there are so many language schools and programs all around the world – in which you can work. Just keep in mind that for most language-teaching jobs, you do need to have some kind of certificate as the proof of your knowledge. For example, if you live in Hong Kong, you could apply for the Monkey Tree TEFL course, which could help you improve your teaching skills and allow you to teach almost anywhere in the world. So, if you’d like to give back to the community, and you know English, this might be the perfect job for you.
Freelance
If you’d like to be your own boss and enjoy the benefits of flexible work hours, you should consider freelancing. Of course, it implies that you have a skill that you can sell online, like writing, translating, or designing. There are some downfalls, though. In most cases, freelancing takes time to develop, so you probably won’t be earning that much money right away. However, with a lot of effort and some patience, it could become a very lucrative business that would allow you to work from anywhere – as long as you have a decent Internet connection.
Work on a cruise ship
If you don’t suffer from sea sickness and you have good communication skills, you could work on a cruise ship. Such jobs usually don’t have any too demanding requirements, and they really allow you to see the world. Of course, they can still be very exhausting, as most of the starting positions are based on cleaning the passengers’ rooms and running all kinds of errands around the ship. However, if you’re not afraid of some physical work, it shouldn’t be too hard for you.
Become a flight attendant
Needless to say, flight attendants fly all over the world as an actual part of their job, and they often get to stay at some really nice hotels as well. That being said, becoming one is easier said than done, and you might even be surprised at how tough it can be. From your appearance to your communication skills, everything matters, and the training is quite serious too. Moreover, one of the downfalls is that even though you do get to see so many amazing places, you rarely have the time to actually enjoy them before your next flight. So, it’s a job to consider, but definitely not for everybody.
Be a tour guide
If you really love traveling, you can actually get a job in the field. Tour companies are always looking for more good tour guides, so why not become one? It would allow you to see and get to know different places on a much deeper level, and you’d get to share your love for traveling with many different people from all around the world. The pay might not be that great, but you’d still get to travel as a part of your job, and most of your expenses would be covered as well. Just keep in mind that some companies require a long-term commitment, so it’s definitely not a seasonal job.
Take whatever you can find
Finally, you can always simply take whatever you can find and trade your labor for work and accommodation. There are all kinds of short-term jobs around the world, and many of them you can find while being on the road as well. There are also many websites where you can find such jobs, like Craigslist, for example. So, if you are spontaneous, and you prefer going where the wind takes you, you can find work in that way as well.
Working and traveling is not always an easy feat – it’s a lifestyle that requires many adjustments and sacrifices. However, there are just as many things to gain, from priceless experiences to great friends. So, if you think this lifestyle would suit you, consider the listed jobs, think about your own skills, and start packing your bags for an adventure of a lifetime.