If you really want to see the world, going on one or two short vacations every year might not be enough to satisfy this desire. Plus, to really immerse yourself in any culture, you usually need more than a week of tourist-like traveling. Of course, you can go on a longer vacation, but in that case, you’d need some way to pay the bills and fund your travels. Until you win a lottery or learn about a secret trust fund, you might want to consider working abroad. Luckily, that has never been easier than today. With that in mind, here are some of the most popular jobs you can find abroad.
Freelancing
If you have a creative skill that you can cash in online, like copywriting, proofreading, graphic design, translating, or anything that only requires a laptop and an internet connection, you can turn it into a freelance job. You’d enjoy the perks of being your own boss, having flexible work hours, and working from wherever you want.
The only downfall is that in many cases, this isn’t something that you can do overnight. It takes time to build a network big enough to pay rent and support your trips. It also depends on the type of work you do and the overall demand for your services. It’s usually done together with another job, but again, it depends on many factors. For example, if you’re not paying rent or if you’re sharing rent with a roommate, of course, it would be more manageable.
The culture of digital nomads is rising and evolving, so if you do pursue this path, you can rest assured that you wouldn’t be alone. You’d have all the tools necessary to meet like-minded people from all over the world. Plus, freelancing usually leaves you a bit more free time for meeting new people and exploring new places – if you are well organized, of course.
Teaching English
This is probably one of the most common and most popular jobs that can be found abroad. After all, English is a global language, so it would be really hard to find a country that doesn’t need it. It’s dominant in almost every field of society, from business to education. Because of the need to be able to communicate with the rest of the world and inform yourself in the language that is the most used, there are many different kinds of programs for teaching English all around the world. The only thing you need to keep in mind though is that most schools do require you to have a certificate as the proof of your knowledge. For example, if you want to work as an English teacher in Hong Kong, you should sign up for Monkey Tree ESL training. Nevertheless, no matter which country you’re interested in, you’d surely be able to find a way to teach English in it.
As for the job itself, it’s really one of those jobs that pay off in more ways than one. It allows you to connect with the culture as well as the people. It’s also a good way to give back to the community by sharing your knowledge with those who need it. You can rest assured that you’d be making a difference in the lives of your students. Therefore, if you know English, this is a job you should consider.
Being the nanny
One more fairly common job is being an au pair – a nanny. Many families all over the world are looking for English-speaking nannies for many reasons. They might want their kids to learn the language in a faster and more natural way. Or, they might already know English in a country that doesn’t speak it, so they want their kids to be a bit more comfortable with their nanny. Either way, English-speaking nannies are very wanted.
Speaking of the job itself, of course, it depends on the individual family and their needs. Usually, you would simply be taking care of kids while their parents are working. You’d take them to school, pick them up, help them with homework, watch after them in the evening, etc. You might also be responsible for keeping the house clean and running some simple errands, like getting groceries or similar.
This job is great for people who like kids and other people, in general. You’d have a chance to develop strong bonds with the family members. There are some extra perks of the job too – perhaps you’ll be asked to take the kids to a theme park, a zoo, a concert, or some other fun attraction. Also, being close to the family might help you adapt to the culture more easily.
Of course, there are many other jobs you can find, but these are the safest and most popular choices. So, if you are passionate about traveling, there’s no reason you can’t do it more than once a year. With a bit of lifestyle adjustment, you can turn traveling into your new way of life.
