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There have been multiple times I’ve moved somewhere where I didn’t know anyone. College, where I knew just a few people. My first post-college summer job in Washington, DC and New York. My travel job in Florence, Italy. Taking a leap of faith again - without a job, or knowing anyone - by moving to Phoenix after returning from Europe.
Florence, Italy - View from Piazzale Michaelangelo
My most frequently asked question is how I got my job doing tour guiding and marketing for a travel company in Europe after college. Basically I sent my resume to the company, had a Skype interview, and got the job. Just like any job.
However, my experience and skills from college helped set my resume apart so that I was one of the few that was given an interview.
The job was a mix of many things: leading weekend trips to different cities in Europe for college study abroad students, digital marketing, sales, and events.
I'm going to outline helpful work experience for the jobs I've had that have allowed me to travel, some soft skills you should mention in a cover letter and interview, and what my resume looked like when I applied to these jobs.
Croatia tour
Helpful experience to have for this type of job:
Study abroad or international travel experience
Leadership
Public speaking
Social media (helpful to have experience doing this for businesses)
Sales
Event planning, operations and hosting
Customer service
Photography
Video editing
Writing
Basic foreign language skills (if the people \where you're living speak a different language)
Budapest trip
Soft skills to mention (provide examples from your experience to back these up):
Passion for travel
Creativity
Social/outgoing
Strong leader
Willingness to understand/accept other cultures
Independence
Easy-going, flexible
Able to make snap decisions
Sense of humor (especially when things go wrong)
Like to have fun
gylc europe
I've also gotten to do some traveling by working for a different company at leadership conferences. First I was in DC/NYC for a summer, and the following year was in Europe for a couple weeks, and this upcoming summer will be doing another one in China for a couple weeks. The job entailed leading a group of 20-25 international high school students and facilitating curriculum on leadership and international relations.
Helpful experience for this type of job:
Experience leading groups
Work/school experience in the area of the conference's theme
Teaching, counseling, and/or coaching
Public speaking
Have worked with students
Enjoy bonding games and icebreakers
rockefeller center
Soft skills:
Able to make snap decisions
Staying calm in stressful situations
Being able to maintain high energy (LONG days)
Friendly personality
Role model (you follow the same set of rules the students do)
Creativity
Flexibility
Always thinking with a "team" mindset
Promoting inclusivity and a team spirit among your group
staff selfie
When I originally applied to these jobs out of college, my resume included:
Bachelor's degree in Public Relations with minors in Promotions and Journalism
Studied abroad in Florence, Italy
Public Relations Intern (7 months)
Study Abroad Ambassador (2 years)
Copy Editor for college yearbook (2 years)
Social Media & Newsletter Editor for my school's chapter of PRSSA (1 year)
Freshman Orientation Leader (3 years)
Zumba instructor (1.5 years)
College dance team member (4 years)
Junior high dance team coach (1 year)
While I have a degree in PR, you don't necessarily need to be studying that to get one of those jobs. Some potential majors for wanting to go into something similarly related could include: communication, photojournalism, international relations, hospitality, international business, any foreign language, or tourism.
The more important thing is describing your previous experience and relating it to how you're qualified and will excel at the job at hand.
Have you worked abroad? Add your tips in the comments below!
arc de triomphe 1
People always told us as kids that we should be whatever we want to be: astronauts. Rockstars. Ballerinas. Athletes. Detectives. Professional puppy owners or ship captains or world explorers. And then we grow up. And we're told we need to be "practical" with a secure full time job in a sensible field.
Especially in the US, traveling after college is not the norm. Society urges college grads to look for employment right away (not a bad thing), but taking a gap year or even the summer to travel isn't exactly encouraged. But it should be.
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Even though older adults often say "oh I wish I had the opportunity to travel when I was your age," it still is "more important" to cling to the corporate ladder and the security of a 401k right after graduation, and anyone who strays from the norm are met with either "good for you!" or "well, just make sure you find a job when you get back *eyeroll.*" How do I know this? I received both immense praise and utter criticism - with those exact phrases - when I decided to move to Italy for a short term job after graduation.
Do what's right for you. Welcome or not, everyone is going to give you their advice on what you "need" to do. Tune out the haters and those with the ignorant, jealous mindset that traveling after college isn't possible or realistic. If you want to travel after college, now's the perfect time. And if you're just about ready to do it, here is everything you need to know.
Seine River Paris
You could be working, backpacking, volunteering, or taking a two week trip. Do you want to go long term or short term? Do you want to rent an apartment somewhere or live a gypsy life?
Once you've done your research, decide what works best for you. Whether it's Yacht Week in Croatia, teaching English in Cambodia, backpacking across Europe, a cruise around the Caribbean, a working holiday visa in Australia, or Peace Corps for two years, there are a number of ways to travel. The options are endless!
Read blogs of others who have done it to see how they're doing it. Follow their tips. Read books about travel. Search travel hashtags on Pinterest. Talk to friends or family who have gone abroad. Before I graduated college, I even went to my school's study abroad office to ask their tips on traveling after graduation, and they were able to give me plenty of tips and resources.
Spice Market Istanbul
This is important not to just to save yourself from potential embarrassment but to also be respectful and learn about how other people live. It's also helpful to learn at least a few phrases of the language of where you're going.
Yes, you'll need to budget your money, and no, it doesn't have to be as expensive as you may think. Don't have quite enough saved up? Neither did I when I graduated college. I worked a summer job to pay for my flights to Europe.
If you're working abroad, be realistic about the opportunity and how much money you're going to make. Know the exachange rate of your currency and the places you're going to.
Traveling after college will boost your resume. Contrary to any fears or reservations you may have, you don't need to get a full time corporate the day after graduation.
You won't be "behind." In fact, life will be pretty much the same when you get back home. There will be jobs to apply for when you get back. You have the rest of your life to climb the corporate ladder. I'm currently working full time back home after traveling. Traveling didn't hurt my resume, it helped it.
The skills you build upon and things you learn abroad can only be positive when you're applying to jobs in the future. Plus, travel may make your career aspirations more clear.
View of Champs Elysee from Arc de Triomphe
Get your passport if you don't already have one and sort out any visa situations you might be in. Start planning with these steps: 8 Essential Steps To Planning a Trip Abroad.
Give family and close friends back home your travel plans, flight details, and a general outline of where you're going so they know how to get ahold of you if an emergency arises. Use apps like Skype, FaceTime, Whatsapp, or Viber to keep in touch over wifi.
If you're going solo or want to meet people along the way, use networks like Couchsurfing or other groups to find others or get advice on traveling. Hostels are another great way to meet people on the road.
Blarney Castle View Cork Ireland
Sometimes the intial culture shock is amazing, and sometimes it takes time to adjust. By staying open-minded you'll give yourself the opportunity to try new things, have new experiences, and meet new people - the best parts about going abroad.
That's always an option. But try to at least give it a chance, shake up your routine, or try going somewhere new before leaving.
If you're going somewhere short term, your time will fly by. Take pictures. Keep a journal (or blog!). Be in the moment. You've worked hard to earn your degree, and now is the time to enjoy this period in life where you can be free to roam the world.
Interlaken 1
Want more inspiration? Check out these posts about travel quotes:
These 14 Quotes Will Motivate You To Book Your Next Flight
Moving to a foreign country is something I never thought I'd do...until I did it. I thought studying abroad for a few weeks in Italy was a long time; how was I going to last for months?
I was working a job in Florence, Italy for about six months last year, and it was one of the best things I've ever done. While I wasn't fully immersed (my roommates/co-workers were American and our customers - students - were American), living in an Italian apartment in the heart of Florence was a whirlwind of an adventure. If you are considering taking the plunge and moving across the world, I urge you to do it.
These are a few of many reasons to move to another country, be it for a few months, a year, or indefinitely!
You buy groceries, do your laundry, and go out to eat like a local. You learn to communicate with new phrases and understand different body language. You are living your everyday life like it's from someone else's perspective.
Living like the locals starts to rub off on you, and you may not even realize it.
Being on the go is exciting but exhausting.
There were weeks at a time where I'd be traveling to a new country every weekend (the best part about the job) and returning to Italy during the week. While getting the opportunity to see a new city even for just a few days was awesome, I didn't get to know the culture as well as I did in Italy.
Slow travel allows you to notice the little things, to stop and smell the roses, and to appreciate everyday life. If you move abroad short-term, traveling slow will allow you to soak up as much as you can before you leave.
If you move somewhere where the main language is foreign to you, then that's all the more reason to learn it. And what better way to learn a new language than to be fully immersed in a country that's constantly speaking it?
Moving abroad might actually save you money, depending where you live. Central and Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America are great regions that tend to have a lower cost of living than your average western country.
Plus, living abroad tends to be cheaper than vacationing. Especially if you're traveling slower, you're more likely saving on extra costs by not staying in a hotel, cooking most of your meals, and doing everyday life activities.
No one knows you there. You have an opportunity to be whoever you want to be; to fully be yourself if you've been holding back. There are new friends to be meeting and new things to be doing. Be the person you want to be, surround yourself with positive people, and try the things you've always wanted to do (perhaps, for example, getting TEFL-certified in Peru or learning yoga in India).
Move abroad to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. you'd be surprised at what you can handle, and it makes everyday #firstworldproblems seem minuscule.
London
International work experience is resume gold. Going abroad in general is a great boost for your resume, but working on top of that provides even more value.
Also Read: 11 Ways To Make Money While You Travel
Do it because you know you want to. And that burning desire deep within you will continue to grow until you just do it.
Yachts
Traveling is not a simple task. It requires planning, budgeting, and taking action on getting things in motion. It requires taking a leap and going for it. And it requires time – in the planning process, but also for the trip itself. Maybe you’re studying abroad for a semester or taking two weeks off of work. You could be missing out on things happening on campus or at the office. There will always be a trade off. (And chances are everything will be exactly the same when you get back!)
Before hiking Capri
But if travel is something you’re truly interested in, it will be worth it. And if you want to travel after college, you are less likely to make all these trade offs.
Why I Chose To Work In Europe After College...
This is a guest post over at Treks and Tales - continue reading the full story here!
Spice Market and Grand Bazaar
I don't believe that money has to be a barrier to traveling the world. Money is definitely important and is a big factor toward travel, but it's more about changing the way you think about paying for things and prioritizing the things you spend money on.
Don't automatically dismiss that dream destination because of the cost. Do your research. And research some more. And get creative and come up with alternative ways to travel to that dream destination. Then comes the fun part - start planning and GO!
I haven't addressed exactly how I've paid for my travels so far on this website because money is a sensitive subject and is different for everyone.
I've also read blogs where the blogger explains how they fund their travels, and then a horde of criticism and whiny people troll their comments and inboxes saying life isn't fair, you suck, your lifestyle is unrealistic, wah wah wah.
Everyone is different. Everyone is in a different financial situation. If money is a barrier, think outside the box.
That said, here goes nothing...
Some facts about my financial situation:
Yes, I have bills to pay every month.
Yes, I still drink Starbucks every day.
Yes, I currently work both a full-time and part-time job.
No, I don't have a rich uncle who secretly funds my travels.
No, I don't have student loans (yay, scholarships).
---But I also don't think student loans should stop people from traveling (and have proof of friends with nasty loans that still find ways to travel).
Croatian Islands
After emptying out my savings account to pay for the summer tuition, I had finally convinced my parents that I was serious enough to study abroad in Italy. They reluctantly let me go, afraid for my safety "in scary Italy" (seriously, how ridiculous does that sound?). My parents paid for my flights and two weekend trips (London and Amalfi Coast), which I of course was extremely grateful for. Other than that, my spending money came from my personal remaining funds. Even though I came home with just $25 in my bank account, I was happy, smiling, and had no regrets. Luckily I had a summer babysitting job to come back to...
After graduating college, I knew I wanted to go back to Europe, but since I couldn't afford a trip, I knew I had to get creative and find another way to do it. I found a job to work for a company that has trips around Europe for study abroad students, and part of my job was leading the trips (where travel and accommodation were covered).
I worked for the fall semester (August - January) and have no idea how I made my personal budget of $1,400 last that long, other than the fact that I ate vegetables, eggs, and bread every day and (sadly) didn't buy a dirndl at Oktoberfest. If you're going to work a similar job, I HIGHLY SUGGEST a more comfortable budget - at least $1,000/month. My parents paid for 2/3 of my flights as a birthday present, but other than that, I used the $1,400 I had left over from my summer job, plus the monthly stipend I got from the company I worked for.
I had only $30 in my bank account when I returned to the States...but planned ahead before I left - I got a job in February to work a leadership conference in DC for a month to build my money back up.
Note:While I don't regret spending all my money on these first two trips, I definitely recommend coming home with more than $25-30 in your bank account. I also recommend having some type of job or form of income set up for when you get back (unless you're using vacation days from a current job) so you don't go into debt.
The same company I worked for in DC also has international conferences. I was shocked - and extremely excited - to find out I got one of the spots to work at the Europe conference for two weeks. The company covered all my expenses: flights, transportation, hotel, and food in exchange for work. I had very few minor expenses during the conference, and I stuck to a budget during my weekend in Paris beforehand. This time, I came home with a far more decent amount in my bank account than the previous two trips.
There you have it! I hope this information was helpful to you, and inspires you to get creative and see how you can make travel work for you, despite the price tag. Whether you can book a trip in the new year or formulate a plan to go somewhere five years from now, stay focused and be determined to make it happen!
Also read: 11 Ways To Make Money While You Travel
