Work Your Way Around the World

Traveling the world is not exclusively for students in their gap year—more and more of us travel much later in life.

If you haven't taken the plunge yet, don't let the fear of losing your career put you off.

Wanting to travel the world doesn't mean you wish to (or can afford) to stop working, and you don't have to just because you choose a life on the road.

Funding Your Trip

Being able to fund your trip is essential, and in addition to your savings, a little extra along the way will always help.

This doesn't mean picking up bar work or office work in each country you visit to keep your bank account topped up, and you don't have to start a new career in freelance writing or blogging either.

If you love your job and have worked hard to get where you are, why quit it to end up scrubbing toilets, like Chanel Cartell and Stevo Dirnberger?

They left top executive jobs to do menial work as they went from country to country – but you can continue the job you are doing wherever your travels take you.

So before you book a one-way ticket, hand in your resignation letter and hope you can make it around the world without your funds running out – ask yourself, “Can you take your job with you?”

This would give you the best of both worlds: to live the dream and experience different countries without taking your foot off the rungs of your career ladder.

It will mean you are not only comfortable financially while you travel, but there are also no gaps in your CV, and you don't have to go through the process of finding jobs, interviewing, and facing rejection when you return.

There are so many different types of jobs that you could do on the road:

Work in a hostel – Although not usually paid, you will get your bed and sometimes food included for a few hours of work each day. Ask at the hostel you're staying in or look for flyers on hostel notice boards. If you're interested, here you may check job opportunities for hostel managers.

Teach English – With so many people wanting to learn English, it can be easy to pick up a private teaching job. Network as much as possible, ask in your hostel, or find a Facebook group for the city you are staying in and advertise your English teaching services. You will need a visa for full-time teaching jobs, so ensure you have any certifications.

Use your skills – Are you a hairdresser or qualified to give massages? Put a notice in the hostel you're staying in and spread the word with other travelers.

Work on an organic farm – Although you don't usually get paid for placements with WWOOF.net or HelpX.net, your board and food will be paid for.

Work Part-time in the Hospitality Industry — If you're good with people and enjoy a bustling environment, consider picking up shifts at local bars or restaurants. In places like Australia, you'll need a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certification to pour drinks or serve food. No worries, though—you can snag this credential through RSA Online. It's a quick and easy way to make yourself job-ready down under.

Get Connected

And it is much simpler than you would think. Thanks to the internet, it is easier than ever to take your job on the road and work remotely if your job lends itself to being able to be performed from anywhere.

Being a waiter/waitress or a shop assistant in a clothing store won't allow you the flexibility of working from anywhere you like, so you'll probably want to look for a new job if you need help funding your travels.

With the world being so connected today, anything you can do on a computer is ideal.

Look for jobs you can do online, such as consulting, or delve into digital marketing and learn how to create your own products online. Set up a Facebook page to begin advertising your services.

You can even teach English online once you have completed your TEFL certificate, which is perfect for those of us dreaming of a life on the road.

Just because you move from an office job in your home country doesn't mean that you can't have co-workers when you're traveling, either.

Sometimes, remote work can become isolating, and you may want others to bounce ideas off or share a coffee with at lunchtime.

Look out for workspace you can use while you travel, such as Surf Office, which provides “community-driven workspace and accommodation” in countries across the globe.

Manage and securely upload and store your work, 24/7, from anywhere in the world using Kelly's Document Storage, so you always have access to your work.

Then, you can complete your work on golden sandy beaches as the sea washes over your toes, as opposed to at a desk in a stuffy office as you look out the window at the rain. The world is your office.