How To Work And Travel: Opportunities, Programs And Destinations

Some of us like to travel. Some of us like to earn money. What if we told you you could do both at the same time?!

Yes, friends, working and travelling – in fact, working while travelling – is possible. Isn’t that great news?

How to work and travel abroad

You’re probably wondering, what’s the secret? Where’s the catch? How can I work and travel at the same time?

Well, let’s get to it.

Working and travelling abroad entails finding, applying for, and securing a suitable job in a foreign country. 

But let’s take a step back. Why should you work and travel?

The benefits of working abroad

Working abroad is a way to see the sights of the world and earn money. But at the same time you’re upskilling yourself and making your CV stand out with your international experience. You are exposed to a new culture (and possibly a new working culture). You learn soft skills to help you in a variety of new situations. You might learn a new language. Add to that expanding your skillset, making new connections and forming new networks and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Read more: How To Deal With Culture Shock

Okay, back to the main course.

There are numerous companies which can organise a job for you, but they charge a fee. The advantage of working and travelling abroad with a company is that they organise everything for you – your job, flights, visas, insurance, everything. 

Plus they’ll help you sort out a bank account if necessary and assist you with any paperwork that needs doing in your new home.

The other option is to organise a work-travel gig independently. This gives you the freedom to go wherever you want whenever you want, but the stress of bureaucracy is all yours to bear.  You’ll have to do the heavy lifting when it comes to finding a job, organising your flight, and sorting out your visa.

While there are both advantages and disadvantages of both options for travelling and working abroad, which approach you choose is dependent on your needs and preferences. 

Read more: 10 Ways You Can Work Abroad

Whichever route you choose, one of the first things you’ll need to do is decide where it is you want to go. 

Best countries for travelling and working abroad

The best countries for travelling and working abroad depends on you, your needs, your skills and your desires. If you want to plant coffee beans in Puerto Rico then you can go right ahead. But if you’d prefer to work in the financial sector in Hong Kong, by all means go for it.

We’re certainly not all the same, but there are certain countries which are more friendly to foreigners who want to work around the world. 

Spain, South Korea and New Zealand are currently three hotspots for expats wanting to spread their wings and work and travel abroad. Brazil and Japan are up there too, with France and Germany also getting a special mention. 

Each of these countries is a popular destination for international workers to live in for their own reasons. This might be for the food and the weather, but more than likely it’s for the job opportunities each destination offers. 

Read more: 5 Ways To Work Abroad Without Experience

Why TEFL is one of the best careers for working abroad

Working abroad sounds like a dream, but it’s still work, right? Spending a few years to live and teach in Italy is great and all but even better is if your job can relate to your future career. 

Unless, of course, you’re planning on staying forever in Milan!

 What are the best careers to work abroad?

English teacher abroad

We might be biased, but we’re pretty certain that TEFL is the best career for working abroad. 

To teach English as a Foreign Language all you need is a TEFL qualification. This is a certificate which can be completed in as little as 120 hours – though we recommend our 168-hour TEFL course.

You don’t need a degree in teaching or education (or at all, for that matter), or previous teaching experience. A TEFL qualification teaches you everything you need to know to be a TEFL teacher. 

To be a TEFL teacher, you don’t need to be a native English speaker, and you don’t need to speak a foreign language.

Read more: How Can I Teach English Abroad Without Teaching The Local Language?

With this qualification, you can find a job teaching in your home country, abroad or online. You can teach students of all ages, of all nationalities, and all levels of English. You can teach in schools, language centres, in-company or privately.

What do we think is the best part of teaching English abroad? The flexibility.

TEFL teachers are in demand all over the world. With a TEFL qualification you can choose where you want to look for a job. Essentially, where you want to live and work. 

Some TEFL teachers prefer to live in their version of paradise (perhaps Thailand or Costa Rica), working only a few hours a week but living the life they’ve always dreamed of. Other teachers want to work hard for their money so they’d rather jet off to the UAE or South Korea, where teaching salaries are high and packages are generous.

What’s more, teaching English abroad can very easily be a career. You might start as a TEFL teacher but you can soon become a Head Teacher, Department Head or Director of Studies. You could choose to venture into materials development, publishing or even owning a school. 

What might start out as a summer in Italy could be a lifelong, worldwide adventure!

Countries to work in: China, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Spain 

Au pair

Similar to teaching, being an au pair is a popular way for young people to work around the world. 

No formal qualifications are needed to au pair, but a sparkling personality is a must! Being a people-person is the name of the game for au pairs, so being personable, likeable and communicative is necessary to get a job as an au pair.

What does an au pair do?

An au pair acts as a nanny, cook, taxi, tutor and babysitter – that’s all! Au pairs usually do the school runs, chaperone extra-murals, prepare meals, and help with homework. The au pair may be utilised as a language teacher if their first language is different to the children’s. Many English-speakers find au pair jobs in foreign countries in this way.

Au pairs might not earn the biggest salaries but food and accommodation are usually provided (with the family or close by). Many families these days travel with their au pairs too, which means free holidays!

Countries to work in: Canada, Germany, United States, Switzerland, Australia

Hospitality/Tourism worker

Hospitality and tourism jobs are often considered the realm of gap year students. In reality, hospitality and tourism jobs can flourish into a successful career. If you’re interested in working in these industries, why not do it while abroad?

What do we mean when we say hospitality and tourism work? 

The tourism industry includes tourist attractions, transport and accommodation. The hospitality industry focuses on the customer service aspect of those. 

Typical hospitality and tourism jobs include:

• waitronning
• front of house
• babysitter/nanny/childminder
• cleaner
• customer service agent

Hospitality and tourism work is flexible in that you can choose to spend a season in a ski resort or upskill yourself into more leadership and management roles.

Countries to work in: New Zealand, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, Mexico

Digital nomad

For some careers, travelling and working remotely go hand-in-hand. There are a number of careers which are suited to remote work. These jobs involve working on laptops and the internet, which can be done anywhere there is reliable connectivity. 

A digital nomad is a person who travels the world and works from their laptop. They are not based in an office in any city, so they have to worry about time zones rather than traffic. 

The qualifications you need to be a digital nomad vary depending on the remote work. Popular jobs for digital nomads are graphic design, programming, software development, editing and writing, and social media management. Virtual assistants (VAs) and customer service agents are realising more and more they can also work remotely.

When it comes to a work and travel visa, a Digital Nomad Visa is your ticket to working around the world. Pick a country and you’re sure to find details of the specific requirements for a Digital Nomad Visa to live and work there. Easy peasy.

Countries to work in: Portugal, Vietnam, Croatia, Germany, the UAE

How to get a job overseas

Finding a job overseas is not dissimilar to finding a job in your home country. The usual steps are involved, but distance and language can make the process more complicated. What’s more, cultural differences, lack of a local network, and unfamiliar qualifications can hinder the success of your job search.

But let’s look at the process step-by-step and look at how we can handle these challenges when applying for a job overseas.

Step 1: Find positions (networking, job boards, recruiters etc.) 

The first step is to find the positions you want to apply for. The internet is your friend in this instance. Look on online jobs boards in the field you are interested in working in. 

For example, if you’re thinking of teaching, The TEFL Academy has a jobs board with teaching vacancies all over the world. 

LinkedIn is another good source to maximise the potential of your networks. Make it known that you are looking to work abroad – you never know who may come back with an offer!

Step 2: Research the company and read reviews

Once you’ve found the job that’ll allow you to work abroad, do a deep dive into the company. This is especially important if you’re not familiar with the company. Read online reviews from former or current employees.

If possible, find another expat who works there or has worked there, and contact them for further information. Find out what support they offer to expat employees.

Step 3: Provide a strong and personalised application

If you’re sure you’ve found what you’re looking for, it’s time to dust off that CV. Do some research and find out if the country you are applying to has any specific requirements for their application process.

For example, many European countries require a photograph to be attached to the CV. Spain requires you to list your personal interests and hobbies on your CV, but Germany doesn’t.

In the United States, the term ‘resume’ is more commonly used than CV, and it’s a much simpler, more concise document with very little personal information. In China, you’re expected to provide more personal information than other countries, including your marital status and how many children you have.

Once you’ve tweaked it sufficiently, go through your CV with a fine-tooth comb to  make sure it includes all the necessary information. 

[But remember the three bears: not too much, not too little, but just enough information!]

Then it’s time to send off your CV and hold thumbs – but don’t forget a personalised cover letter.

Step 4: Source a working visa and start preparing! 

Hopefully, the application and interview process will go by quickly and easily. 

Once you’ve secured a position abroad, it’s time to get your paperwork in order and sort out a working visa. Your company should guide you through this process. 

After all the technicalities have been finalised, it’s time to get packing!