Since graduation, my resume looks a little like this:
Job
Travel and Job
Travel and Job
Job
Travel and Job
Travel
Job
Travel

I’m all over the place. I come and go. I chop and change. This can make job interviews in my home country a little awkward.

Interviewer: “So, you’ve traveled a lot…”
Me (earnestly): “Yes, and picked up some valuable experiences and skills along the way!”
Interviewer: “You’re planning on staying a while, though?”
Me: “Oh yes, I’m ready to settle down now.”

And I always mean it, until a year or two is past and I have itchy feet again. So the cycle continues.

And it’s not a bad way to live, but I’m learning that the most effective way to do things is by creating my own income from freelancing and side projects. I’m working on it.

But basically, if you love long-term travel the choices are:

• Find a job with travel perks
  There are many such jobs but be warned: they may involve trips where you’re forced to work the entire time with little leeway for your own exploring.
• Find a job in your home country with flexible leave
  Perhaps you can find a company that will let you take months off at a time and then return for more work, then leave again… I have yet to work for such a place but know they exist, especially if you’re employed on a contract basis. It could work, providing you still want to return there after your travels.
• Work while you travel
  Teach English, do menial work, freelance write, try nannying, whatever you can find that you enjoy doing or at least funds your traveling. Arrange a job with a work placement organization before you go, eg. summer camp jobs, farm work (see links below).
• Save up, quit your day job and simply head off
  This can work if you’re prepared to watch your funds dwindle. You also need a plan for when they’ve dwindled down to $0.
• Create a passive income
  We all dream of this, and I have yet to master it. It involves creating some kind of business and growing it until you can step back and let others run it, or let it run itself if possible with little input.

Related Sites:

• Transitions Abroad

• LiveWorkPlay.com

• Quit Work To Travel

• Global Experiences

So, fellow travelers: how do you juggle traveling with employment?

2. I can’t leave my .
This may be the case. Maybe you have someone physically dependent on you and can’t leave. Maybe you have an awesome job you can’t bear to part with. Fair enough. But ask yourself this: would it be possible to take a break, even if just for a short time, if you put backup systems in place first so things ran smoothly without you? Think about it.

3. It’s dangerous.
Yes, a visit to Baghdad would be dangerous, and so are other places. Crime happens. But it also happens where you are right now. If you travel smartly, having researched the area and taken pains not to buy drugs from strangers or wander round at 3am, your chances of doing okay are much higher.

4. I don’t have anyone to travel with.
Lots of people don’t want to travel alone, and travel can definitely be more fun when you have someone to share your experiences with. Try one of the following: ask your friends and family if they’d be interested in coming, or join a travel community online to find people in the area you want to visit, or head off alone and make friends with fellow travelers along the way!

5. It’s too expensive.
Travel can indeed be expensive, but consider this: if you go to a cheap country, and have rented out your flat/house to cover expenses while you’re away, you can end up spending less while traveling! Do some calculations. What would your dream trip cost? Start making it happen by opening a travel account, and take on some freelance work for extra cash, every bit helps.

6. No one in my family travels.
I know people whose families were slightly less than encouraging of their travel plans. They were ‘supposed’ to settle down and get a good job, etc. But who are you living your life for? If you travel responsibly and come back with new skills and experiences, you’ll show them how awesome travel can be and maybe even encourage them to give it a try. You can be a role model!

7. I don’t know where to go.
These days there are so many options it can be hard to start. But the best start is research. Buy some travel books and magazines, watch travel shows, search the web. Do you want adventure, or relaxation? Culture or partying? You’ll soon see where your interests lie.

8. I’ll be homesick.
Probably, especially if you’re a newbie traveler. Consider it part of the growth process. And these days it’s so easy to keep in touch with home. I’ve used wireless in some random locations (the middle of Laos!).

9. I’m too old.
I’ve seen plenty of ‘senior’ travelers on the road. It could be the best time to travel! Retired, kids have left home… There are plenty of senior packages and discounts. You don’t need to haul a backpack around the world, there are tailored tours if that’s what you’re looking for. 

10. I’m scared.
This is the main reason people don’t travel, even if it’s not articulated. I’ve lost count of the times people say to me, “One day…” It probably won’t happen. To them, it seems an intangible, enormous dream. To make it real you have to plan, to ask questions, to start by doing something concrete.
And travel can be scary. I was terrified the first big trip I took. But I was mostly terrified before I began. Once I started, it was just exhilarating.

What other excuses have you heard? How can they be overcome?

1. Figure out what your options are
Do you need to learn another language? What is there a demand for in that country? What skills and qualifications do you have, and will they translate well in a new place?

2. Figure out what you would enjoy doing
After researching the above, you need to find something you’ll actually like. There’s little point nannying if you hate it.

3. Have backup savings
Finding a job may be harder than you expect. Make sure you have backup funds just in case!

4. Contact people
Once you’ve chosen an occupation you’d like to pursue, get with the contacting. Use the Yellow Pages or equivalent. Search international job sites. If you already know people in the country, ask them for some advice. This can be done before you arrive, so by the time you get there you’ve already taken steps. Make sure your CV or resume fits the standards of that country.

5. Offer to do an unpaid trial
If you’re not having much luck getting a job, get your foot in the door by offering your service for free for a week. Chances are, if you work hard, they’ll find you a job after that. Or, at worst, you’ve now have some valid experience in your new country. Get a reference.

6. Join expat clubs
Hook up with fellow expats and hear their stories. Don’t take everything to heart, though, if their stories are negative. Not everyone has the same experience.

Case Study: Me
In 2000 I moved to Berlin, Germany, armed with my CELTA. I wrote to all the language schools in Berlin asking for work. I got a few rejections but landed a job with one of the best schools in town. Lucky? Definitely. And teaching in Berlin is now much more competitive than it was then. Still, put yourself out there. People will offer advice and referrals, even if they have nothing for you.

Related Reading:

Finding a job overseas from LiveAbroad.com
10 essential tips for landing a job overseas from QuintCareers.com