10 Best Jobs for College Grads Who Want to Travel

10 Best Jobs for College Grads Who Want to Travel Photo Via: Pixabay.com 1. Photography Of course, you should know there are plenty of subsets of photography that don’t require significant travel (think wedding photographers, portrait photographers, etc.). That being said, many individuals that go into photography do so to travel to new and exciting places and to take photographs that are unique, creative and overall exceptional. If you have a passion for photography, the outdoors or travel/tourism, this might be a great path for you. Also consider, however, that it’s a difficult industry to get into, and once you are in, it can be quite competitive. This is to say that not every individual that opts to become a travel photographer is going to be successful. In fact, many live out of their own pockets and freelance for extra cash as they pursue their dreams. So if you have the flexibility, the funds and the drive, this is the perfect job for you!  2. Writing On this same note, travel writers are always in demand and have the opportunity to travel around the world for the simple need to inform others of places they should visit. There are several types of travel writers, including those working in the tourism industry to drive tourism in certain locations as well as news reporters who travel the world to tell stories that may not otherwise get around. Again, it’s important to note that becoming a travel writer is no easy task. While it’s simple enough to pick up a few freelance gigs here and there, they typically require travel on your own dime until you make a name for yourself. And even so, there’s no guarantee that your writing will drive any sales, which could mean you walk away with nothing. Travel writing is without a doubt fun and exciting work, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly, and you should both prepare yourself for failure and for travel to locations that you may not have an interest in. 3. Tourism and Recreation Perhaps one of the more obvious choices, tourism and recreation is a career path option that’s without a doubt a guarantee to travel to new and exciting locations. That being said, a career in this field typically requires a degree that speaks to the position you want to hold. While you can take a degree (such as a bachelor’s in English) and turn that into an HR career within a hotel chain, working directly in a company that focuses on driving tourism sales and improving the location requires a more specific education. In addition, the tourism industry isn’t exactly for everyone. The industry requires a dedication to the field, including guest services, which isn’t always a favorite. The industry certainly has a “customer is always right” mentality, which requires a high level of patience, and the industry isn’t always fun and games, but rather requires a strong knowledge of what does and doesn’t work in regards to drawing new customers to your location. The all being said, if this sounds like a career path that would work for you, you’ll certainly enjoy the travel aspect! 4. International Business One of the most common career paths of those who study abroad, International Business is a career path that can mean many things, but that will ultimately require a high level of international business trips. While that does sound exciting, there are a few items to consider here as well. For one thing, international travel requires long hours and can leave you away from home for weeks on end. In addition, traveling for work feels much different than traveling for recreational purposes, and it can be rather exhausting. Finally, it’s important to note that a business major isn’t easily obtained: the degree requires a lot of education, and moving up within a company in this field can require a significant amount of continued education well into your position. So while traveling may sound like a good idea, make sure you’re considering all facets of this career path, as it’s certainly going to be a challenging one. 5. Teaching Infographic Via: Canva No, not all teachers travel. In fact, there are very many that don’t. That being said, there are many perks to being a traveling teacher. To begin, teaching English as a second language opens the door for teachers to travel to other countries to teach. While the perks are certainly that you can travel and that you’re pursuing your passion, there are other elements to consider as well. For example, teaching English in foreign countries is challenging work, and the demand isn’t always in a location that you may want to visit. In fact, more often than not you may be required to travel to a location that you don’t want to go to at all. Another perk is that teaching abroad can sometimes result in paid tuition, as the demand is so high that teachers pursuing that career path are reimbursed for their education. That being said, this isn’t always the case, and such deals can leave you in violent and/or majorly depressed areas. In addition, you are typically required to stay throughout the school year, which means you are away from home for months on end. 6. Flight Attendant A relatively easy way to ensure you’ll always get to travel to new locations, becoming a flight attendant is a surefire way to get your traveling in. Flight attendants are constantly in the air, and while this may seem like a good thing, there are also some negatives to consider here as well. For one, you’re away from home all the time, sometimes required to stay overnight in new cities. You may also be required to work holidays and abnormal hours that impact your work-life balance. Finally, remember that flight attendants are in the service of assisting people, which means they are largely dealing in customer service. Again, customer service can be a thankless job and certainly isn’t for everyone. That all being said, working as a flight attendant means that you’ll be close with your co-workers, you’ll get free travel and you’ll get to visit new places that you may not have had the opportunity to visit otherwise. So enjoy! 7. Pilot With similar perks to becoming a flight attendant, becoming a pilot will ensure your salary is higher and that you still get to travel to new and exciting places, without the hassle. Of course, becoming a pilot is no cake walk. In fact, it requires a large amount of education, typically a significant amount of math and science courses that require an intelligent mind. Plus, there are the hours of flight school and other additional learning requirements that make it challenging to join this profession. With that said, pilots have the ability to fly a plane to new destinations, often resulting in vacations and getaways that you may not have had the opportunity for otherwise. Again, consider the difficulty in getting to this point, but once you’re there, this is certainly one of the best jobs for grads who want to travel. 8. Environmental Sciences Think marine biology, similar animal studies or the study of the environment as a whole. There are countless professions within this field, but the most important aspect is that a profession in this field can take you all around the world and back again, requiring a significant amount of travel, research and awe. Again, this isn’t an easy profession to get into. For many, specializations can take years and the travel may not be a constant. However, working in fields such as this allow you to pursue your passion and study animals and environments that are of interest to you, sometimes to the point of helping the environment in expanding our knowledge of it. While some individuals in this field may find themselves in one location, others travel the world to study natural environments, collect samples and simply observe nature and everything it has to offer in order to share that information/knowledge upon their return. Again, this is a career path that has so many subsets it’s impossible to keep up with, but once you find what you’re passionate about and move forward with it, there’s no doubt that you’ll be in one of the best jobs for grads who want to travel. 9. Cruise Ship Staff Often one of the last thought about professions in regards to travel, working on a cruise ship is a surefire way to work like every day is like a vacation. Working on a cruise ship can mean many things: medical staff, human resources, customer service, entertainment industry professional, lifeguard, chef, etc. (the list truly goes on forever). This is great news for those unsure of what they want to do in the future, or for those that know for sure but want to ensure travel is also incorporated into their career. Some downsides in relation to cruise ship working are that it requires you to live on the ship for quite some time, in small cabins, usually shared, which means that you aren’t really able to leave work and unwind for the day. In addition to constantly working, cruise ship employees aren’t always paid well, though it does depend largely on the field you choose to go into here. Also, consider that not all cruise line employees are on the ship; some individuals (such as those in marketing) actually work from an office on shore that doesn’t allow you to travel for work. Basically, working on a cruise ship can be tiring, but the benefits can also outweigh the cons so long as you truly love what you do and enjoy the travel aspect. 10. Nurse/Doctor Last, but definitely not least, working as a nurse/doctor typically means you work in a hospital in the location of your choice. That being said, there are options out there for travel, such as Doctors Without Borders. Granted, some of these are volunteer experiences, which isn’t always financially in the cards, but it does provide you with the opportunity to travel for the profession that you’ve worked hard to get into. Some cons to consider here are first the difficulty in becoming a doctor. Not only is the education challenging and competitive, it’s also important to note not all doctors/nurses are going to be eligible to travel, and that many won’t get that opportunity. In addition, not all travel work is positive, as there are some locations in which you’ll find the amount of help you can provide doesn’t at all suffice in sustaining a healthy environment. Of course, doctors are paid well (even if volunteering for a few months), and traveling to help other locations can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have the pleasure of partaking in. So as long as you have the ambition to pursue this career, you’ll be in one of the best jobs for grads who want to travel. Photo Via: Pixabay.com Again, traveling for work isn’t for everyone. That being said, for those that love to travel, having a career that requires a significant amount of travel might just be in your best interest. There are countless opportunities for travel-related jobs, regardless of your major: all it takes is a little research, time and energy on your part. So get started in planning your future and look into these best jobs for grads who want to travel; you won’t be disappointed!