After completing their college degree, a lot of people dive straight into the workforce. While this does give you a head start in developing your career, you just might be missing out on something much more valuable.
Let’s face it, you have just spent the majority of your life in school so why not take some time off to go and explore the world around you! Backpacking is far more valuable than a simple vacation too, it gives you an opportunity to see new places, meet new people, experience different ways of life and learn new languages. While this concept is far from new, it has been gaining popularity in recent years and is commonly referred to as a gap year.
Now for the million dollar question….. How can I afford to take a whole year off and travel the world? Well, you could work a part-time job and live on ramen noodles for a year or two while you are still studying.. or go the smart route and find a job overseas to provide an income and help you travel further and longer.
Working abroad can become the highlight of your work experience and can be extremely helpful at a later stage when you are starting down a new career path. The experience you gain from working in a foreign country is a valuable commodity to any prospective employer. It shows that you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and take on new challenges.
There’s a huge variety of jobs which give you the flexibility, freedom and means to travel across the world. You can choose from a short term seasonal role such as a bartender, ski instructor or life guard, or a something with a longer contract like teaching English as a second language and everything in between.
You can even do volunteer work in exchange for food and board and make a difference by giving back to those less fortunate in the international community. This will not only give you a chance to earn money, but more importantly it will teach you a lot of life lessons and help you create your own identity.
So, you have decided to take a gap year, what now?
5 Steps to Picking the Right Job
- The first step when planning a gap year would be to make a list of the types of work that you would like to do.
- Narrow your list by removing any jobs that require lengthy training or qualifications if you don’t have them.
- List the countries or destinations that you would like to visit and match the remaining jobs to each destination. Make a shortlist of these jobs.
- Revise your resume and start applying for jobs in the shortlist. Remember to write a personalized cover letter for each application.
- Start budgeting your trip expenses including flights, travel insurance and any initial accommodation.
Look for jobs that include, or at least subsidize your accommodation as this will help cut down your ongoing costs while you are on the road. If you don’t happen to find a job before you go don’t stress, there are many part-time jobs available around the world that are tailored specifically to travelers. Some of them require you to be on the ground and apply in person. Search through the travel forums and you will find a lot more information from people on the ground.
There are tons of resources on the web to help you plan and budget for long term travel like this.
