Long-Term Travel Jobs

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Working Abroad: Your Guide To A Work-and-Travel Lifestyle

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Working Abroad: Your Guide To A Work-and-Travel Lifestyle

Everyone wants to travel, but the age-old responses always come up: "I don't have time."

"I don't have the money."

"I don't know where to go!"

These are valid responses but there are ways around them, especially when it comes to working abroad. Trust me :) I've been living a work + travel lifestyle for the past 2+ years.

I've held three international travel jobs across Europe and Asia, one of which I did on vacation while working full time for someone else.

So you know I've gotten creative over the past couple of years because my never-ending wanderlust wouldn't let me do so otherwise! Working abroad made that possible.

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3 Unique Ways To Travel Long-Term and Not Go Broke

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3 Unique Ways To Travel Long-Term and Not Go Broke

Many of us have probably heard of ways to cut travel costs like using Couchsurfing for a place to stay or walking everywhere instead of taking taxis. Those tips are great for those looking to save some cash while traveling, but when you are trying to travel long-term you'll want to get even more creative to keep your budget under control. Here are three unique ways to travel long-term without going broke:

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Exactly How I Stretched Only $1,400 Over 6 Months of Traveling Europe

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Exactly How I Stretched Only $1,400 Over 6 Months of Traveling Europe

Sharing exactly how I stretched my tiny budget of $1,400 over six months in 11 European countries would really help those trying to figure out how much to save in order to work + travel.

It's no secret that I'm a huge promoter of a work + travel lifestyle, as that is how I've paid for all of my international travels in Europe and Asia over the past 2+ years.

So when I tell you that working as a travel guide in Italy for six months allowed me to see 11 countries and not go broke, that's not much of a surprise.

However, with a minimal stipend as compensation, you might be surprised that my $1,400 starting budget was able to last that long. 

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How Traveling and Moving To New Cities Shaped My Life in the Best Way (So Far)

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How Traveling and Moving To New Cities Shaped My Life in the Best Way (So Far)

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.

It can be scary and intimidating. But sometimes in life, you realize that the things you want to do don’t coincide with your current location.

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The Real World Doesn't Have To Suck: 9 Reasons Why You Should Get a Travel Job After College

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The Real World Doesn't Have To Suck: 9 Reasons Why You Should Get a Travel Job After College

The "real world" doesn't totally suck, but it is something you're stuck in since graduating college for the rest of your life. Long gone are Thirsty Thursdays, being in the energetic student section at sports games, and not yet having a ton of responsibility.

While some corporate "real world" jobs could offer 1-2 weeks vacation per year, there are a number of alternative jobs out there that still provide valuable experience and far more travel opportunities!

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Travel Is Your Teacher: Why Working Abroad is One of the Best Ways To Travel as a Millennial

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Travel Is Your Teacher: Why Working Abroad is One of the Best Ways To Travel as a Millennial

I looked around at the packed boat with study abroad students and then at my teammates - we were running a weekend trip to the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy. This was our job. And it was freaking awesome.

In that moment, it hit me that landing a travel job was one of the best decisions of my life.

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Work Experience That Will Help You Get a Job Abroad

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Florence, Italy - View from Piazzale Michaelangelo

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.

International Tour Guiding and Marketing

Just off the bus to see the Krka waterfalls in Croatia

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)

Our group of students on a weekend trip to Budapest, Hungary

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

Faculty Advisor for International Conferences

gylc europe

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

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

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!