Living and working abroad for the first time can be hugely intimidating.However, the benefits far outweigh the anxiety.Opportunities to broaden your perspective, become a global citizen and gain unique work experiences are just a few of the benefits that can come from working abroad.
If you decide to become an expat, you must first figure out where you want to live and work.There are several important factors to consider when making this decision, including your language skills, previous work experience and goals.In addition, it's important to research your visa options, which vary by citizenship.For example, countries with working holiday visa programs like australia and new zealand are popular options for americans, while saudi arabia and the united kingdom are popular expat destinations for indian citizens.
Once you know where you want to work and live, here are six popular jobs abroad that will inspire your career search.
1.Work for a hostel abroad
Hostels are like friends with unclaimed sofas travel lifesavers.Typically a casual version of hotels designed for young people, most hostels have lounges, a bar and a kitchen or restaurant in addition to their rooms.As a result, fun, like-minded travelers from around the world flock in and out of hostels like a vibrant human tide, serving as hubs for friendships, business contacts, and travel companions.
As an expat looking for a job abroad for the first time, you may be happy to know that many hostels hire english speakers during peak travel months, which vary by destination.For example, warmer destinations typically peak in summer, while winter wonderlands welcome hikers in winter.During these months they will be looking for additional staff to work at the front desk, wash dishes in the restaurant and help with household chores.
Benefits: hostels typically pay their seasonal employees by providing them with free lodging at the hostel in addition to a meal allowance.Since housing (and its cost) is often the deciding factor in how long young adults can stay abroad, a job at a hostel may be the key to extending your stay abroad.You'll also enjoy a constant, steady stream of enthusiastic young people to talk to and get to know.
Cons: hostels don't usually pay their seasonal workers a traditional "salary," only offering job placement and a small stipend.This can be constricting depending on your location and lifestyle.Seasonal hostel jobs are also popular and competitive, especially if you haven't checked with the owner well in advance or aren't lucky enough to find out exactly when the hostel has an opening.
The bottom line: the hostel is a pretty darn cool work experience for globetrotting young people, but the work-for-bed arrangement and unpredictable availability may deter some.
2.Become a digital nomad or do some freelance writing
One of the big buzzwords in today's work world is "digital nomad," which means a freelancer working from home whose "from home" is worldwide and ever-changing.Enabled by the internet, digital nomads typically work in web and graphic design, freelance writing, photography, and programming.Digital nomads can work anywhere they have an internet connection, which increasingly means anywhere on the planet.
Pros: digital nomadism offers the ultimate combination of being able to work in your pajamas – while living all over the world!When all that matters is an internet connection, digital nomads use the location independence of their income to change their base of operations every few months.Why the?Because if you could hop all over the world and earn a comparable salary, you wouldn't be?This freelance lifestyle is for those who value new and novel landscapes over traditional security.
Disadvantages: only certain types of skills lead to being a successful digital nomad.This lifestyle is only available to those who can work remotely and have no dependents in one place.It is also important to know that this is not a lavish lifestyle.Budgets need to be constantly adjusted as life circumstances fluctuate, and money goes further in some countries compared to others.You may also find yourself giving government visa agencies a headache.If your address changes every few months, providing accurate and relevant tax, visa and contact information may make your trips to the agency take a little longer.
Bottom line: if you specialize in this type of work, digital nomadism allows you to truly live your dream – moving around the world, staying in different countries for meaningful time, and not wondering what could have been.However, maintaining successful professional relationships with businesses or clients while traveling around the world can be a challenge in itself, as time differences and reliance on finding reliable internet make efficient workflows difficult.If this is the lifestyle for you, be prepared for those late night conference calls or early morning deadlines.
3.Become an ESL teacher
Teaching abroad is probably the most common job for english speakers abroad.As english becomes more popular around the world, emerging nations that want to compete on the global stage – nations like china, south korea and japan – want their children to learn english, and they want them to learn it from a native speaker speaker.Around the world, teachers are sought after from kindergarten to university and for every academic subject under the sun.Before applying for ESL apprenticeships, find out the requirements for the country and school system you want to work in.Whether it's required or not, TEFL certification will help you prepare for the job.
Pros: teaching english is a great first job abroad.There are many companies that facilitate the process of finding teaching positions and placement in schools, work for a fee, and also help with living arrangements.
Teaching english also gives you the best choice of locations.If you imagine a region where you would like to live, there is probably a demand for english teachers there.Even the inability to speak a second language is not considered an obstacle.In fact, some countries like china prefer teachers who can only speak english; it ensures that students are forced to speak it as well.
Disadvantages: teaching kids can be extremely stressful.Immaturity, teaching difficulties, and hard-to-articulate issues can be exacerbated when students speak their second language.Teaching also requires many hours of lesson planning at home outside of the classroom.In certain countries, teachers are subject to random audits and reviews by the local education ministry.
Bottom line: if you're fresh out of college and looking to gain teaching experience abroad, there are many english teaching options available to get you started today!Some don't even require specialized experience or training – just determination and leadership to teach children!
4.Become a tour guide or director
If you've ever studied abroad with an independent provider like EF educational tours, you've probably had a tour director and multiple tour leaders.Tour guides are the ones who arrange your entire study tour – from logistics like reservations and train tickets to cultural classes and group activities.
Tour guides are experts on specific regions and sights – whether a guide to the louvre, tiananmen square or the sahara, tour guides must convey the wonders of a place to their assembled students.
Benefits: as a tour guide or tour leader, you often have the opportunity to travel with a tour or study group from breathtaking places to breathtaking places.While satisfying your own insatiable wanderlust, you also have the opportunity to be with young travelers as they see the wonders of the world for the first time.As carrie flitchett, tour director for educational travel adventures, puts it, "if someone has been waiting their whole life to go to paris, I get to take them. It's the look on their face when they experience it for the first time – and I'm a part of that memory."
Disadvantages: these jobs require specific training, and companies often require extensive experience.Fortunately, there are companies like the international tour management institute to train and employ new directors.Since most directors and tour guides work on a freelance basis for their employer companies, traditional work benefits such as health care are not provided.Also consider the fact that the majority of the population – even those who love to travel – find it "stressful".Your job as a director or tour guide is to coordinate travel arrangements for dozens or hundreds of students of all ages from around the world.It can be very challenging, so remember to prepare before diving in!
The bottom line: if you really love to travel, this job is for you.Imagine being able to relive your study abroad experience while perfectly customizing it for others while getting paid for it.Bravisimo!
5.Partner with and support local ngos
Ngos or non-governmental organizations are also commonly referred to as "non-profit organizations".Nonprofits need english speakers from all career fields – marketing, management, finance, IT – to coordinate with their home governments, their host governments, and the clients they work with.
Benefits: ngos are great for people who feel the need to work for a cause they believe in.Larger organizations have branches around the world, and remittances are common and available.Working for an NGO also gives you the best chance of working directly in your field of study after graduation.Whether you studied government, business, sociology, or something else, ngos are often looking for employees with college degrees to help them fulfill their missions.Whether you need an engineer to help them design wells in sub-saharan africa or a political science major to help them establish democratic operations in village elections, ngos can be a great chance to put your expensive college degree to work.
Disadvantages: because ngos are often nonprofits, salaries are modest.Also, because ngos have mission-specific goals and required expertise, they often require work experience in the field, so it can be difficult to get a job right out of college.
The bottom line: ngos give you the opportunity to work abroad for a cause and use your education, but don't expect to live a lavish life or make it big right out of school.
6.Work on a cruise ship
Cruise ships are huge, glittering cities at sea.Full of restaurants, spas, casinos, retail stores and more, there is virtually no work on land that doesn't exist on a cruise ship.Personal trainers, massage therapists, hotel staff, tour guides, lifeguards, waiters, cooks and plenty of cashiers are needed on board.Depending on the type of cruise, there are also special specialty jobs available – disney cruises have certified youth counselors, while some retiree-run cruise ships have investment portfolio managers on board.
Pros: have an idea of how great a cruise ship is?These floating vacation villages are the epitome of luxury, relaxation and fun and could be your home away from home.Imagine traveling around the world, across the seven seas, while living on a giant floating party paradise!You can continue to pursue a career in the field of your choice and gain a once in a lifetime experience.As with many jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry, english speakers are in high demand.
Disadvantages: these jobs are also competitive, so you need to strike while the iron is hot to get a position.The three major cruise lines are carnival, royal caribbean and princess.Check with them and see who is building new ships.Apply there first, because a new cruise ship means thousands of positions to fill.Living conditions aboard the ship are often cramped compared to land-based housing, so keep that in mind when envisioning your future accommodations.Plus, the hours are long and you'll be gone for extended periods of time.Finally, it's important to remember that you are serving vacationers, not vacationing yourself, so be prepared for hard work.
Bottom line, if you want to party all the time and see the world while still working in your field, pull up anchor, raise the gangway and get on board – this love boat has cruise control!
A world of possibilities
Best of all?We're just scratching the surface!We haven't even looked into becoming an au pair, teaching at an international school, or becoming a translator yet.
It can be challenging to balance your love of travel with your need to earn money.Traveling and forgoing a career can mean you fall behind financially at many of life's milestones.Working and not traveling, however, can mean a life without the fulfillment you swore in high school you would always prioritize.We hope this list of the best jobs abroad for english speakers will give you the springboard you need to live a galloping life of travel wonder – and pay the bills while you're at it!