A reader asks “What are the best jobs that allow you to travel?”
Obvious travel-filled jobs are flight attendant and pilot. Many pilots get their start in the Air Force.
Other people who travel are those who work on cruise lines. It’s hard work and a way to see a lot of different places, depending on the cruise lines you pick. Different lines have different on/off work schedules; Royal Caribbean, for example, has people work 7 1/2 months with 2 months off.
The Navy definitely involves travel, and you can move from the Navy to captaining a cruise ship, freight ship, or oil tanker.
Diplomatic corps people are often posted lots of places. A degree in international relations helps, as does going to college in Washington DC.
Some scientists, e.g. geologists, paleontologists and archeologists, travel quite a bit. For example, geologists are posted to off-the-beaten track places to find oil, coal, shale, natural gas and other energy sources. And those digging into the past must go where the past is most likely to be uncovered – usually off the beaten track, as well.
Travel nurses travel by definition. These are skilled professionals who travel with people for a specific period of time, under contract. Usually they use an agency to find them placements.
Peace Corps volunteers travel to and then work/live in a developing country for 2 years.
People who teach English can get jobs in other countries.
Au pairs travel to other countries. They don’t just come to the US; people from the US can also be au pairs, especially in Europe.
Travel planners, tour operators, and travel agents have the opportunity to travel to see places.
Many management consultants travel to short and long-term assignments, usually in the US and sometimes internationally. An MBA is pretty much a must for these jobs.
An Affiliate Manager for a national non-profit will travel to affiliates either within a region (e.g. the Southeast or Northwest) or nationally. And there are national conferences held in a wide range of places. I saw a great deal of the US when I was Executive Director of City Harvest and on the Board of Feeding America – even though I was based in NYC. And staff of mine went to these conferences, as well.
International relief, aid and development organizations need to have people in the places they provide services, usually in developing nations in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe. There are organizations like Orbis International that literally flies staff all over the world in its own plane to do eye surgeries and to teach local doctors how to do the procedures.
Basically, almost every industry has travel opportunities.
You can look up “travel” on Indeed.com and it will list jobs that include travel. And you can also search for “jobs that involve travel.”
The key is to find the industry and jobs that can use the skills, abilities and talents you love to use and where you have the greatest impact.
