Twenty Thrilling Careers with Travel Involvement (along with Guidance on Landing Them)
In the ever-evolving world of travel, there are numerous opportunities to turn your passion into a fulfilling career. Here are some popular travel-related careers and the steps to get started.
1. Identify Your Career Path
Your first step is to find a travel-related career that aligns with your interests and skills. Some popular options include travel consultancy, agency work, tour guiding, travel content creation, hospitality management, or aviation roles such as pilots or cabin crew.
2. Acquire Relevant Education or Training
Depending on your chosen career, you may need specific education or training. For instance, travel consultants often complete travel certification programs, while aspiring travel agents can enroll in beginner training programs.
3. Gain Practical Experience
Hands-on experience is crucial. This could involve internships at travel agencies, hosting tours, or building an online presence for content creators. This practical experience will help refine your expertise and credibility.
4. Develop a Specialty or Niche
Once you have some experience, consider specializing in a particular area. Travel consultants can specialize in luxury travel, student trips, corporate travel, or certain regions, while content creators may focus on specific destinations or types of travel.
5. Leverage Technology and Build a Network
Mastering booking platforms and establishing relationships within the travel industry will open up opportunities and clients.
6. Consider Multiple Roles
If you're unsure about your career path, consider starting in hospitality management for international exposure or aviation careers for travel freedom and growth.
Some travel careers offer global mobility and flexible schedules, allowing you to work and live internationally while fulfilling your passion for travel and building a sustainable livelihood.
Aviation Roles
- Airline cabin crew ensure the comfort and safety of passengers, delivering high levels of customer service. This role involves safety demonstrations, serving food and drink, and helping passengers during boarding and disembarkation. To work in this field, you can apply directly, complete a cabin crew or travel and tourism course, or undergo an apprenticeship.
Cruise Ship Workers
Cruise ships offer a variety of roles across hospitality, fitness, entertainment, and retail during international voyages. These roles often involve leading workout classes, manning the gym floor, offering advice and corrections to guests, and more. To work on a cruise ship, you'll need a Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certificate from an accredited provider.
Online Business Coaches
Online business coaches support clients through strategy, mindset, and performance coaching, usually via online sessions. This is a rewarding and remote-friendly role for experienced professionals. A bachelor's degree in business management, finance, or marketing, along with relevant business experience, is normally required. An ICF certification can also boost your credibility and help attract clients.
Aid Workers
Aid workers provide humanitarian assistance in areas affected by poverty, conflict, or natural disasters. They deliver relief support, coordinate logistics, and collaborate with local teams on the ground. A degree in international development or social work is often required, and field experience and language skills can improve job prospects.
Freelance Writing, Design, or Consultancy
Freelance work provides services to clients on a project basis, often while traveling full-time. These roles are well-suited to creatives and professionals with self-discipline and a strong portfolio. No formal qualifications are required, but a strong portfolio is essential, and short courses in SEO or UX/design can boost your skills and income.
Remote Customer Service Reps
Remote customer service reps support clients via chat, phone, or email, making this role ideal for those wanting to work while traveling. The role is fully remote, with flexible hours. Strong communication skills and internet access are essential for this role, and training is usually provided.
Travel Agents or Travel Consultants
Travel agents or consultants help individuals and groups plan their trips, offering advice on flights, accommodation, and travel packages. This role can include occasional international travel to assess destinations first-hand. On-the-job training can help increase your career prospects as a travel agent or travel consultant.
Resort Managers
Resort managers oversee guest services and operations in hotels or holiday destinations, ensuring the smooth daily running of departments like housekeeping, catering, and events. A hospitality or hotel management degree will help with your employment prospects as a resort manager, and many resorts also provide in-house training.
International Sales Representatives
International sales representatives manage overseas accounts, pitch products, and attend trade shows. The role involves frequent travel to Europe, Asia, or North America. A business-related degree is required, and courses from CIM can help build relevant skills.
Virtual Assistants
Virtual assistants offer remote support to entrepreneurs and businesses by handling admin tasks, communication, and scheduling. This role also gives you complete control over your schedule and location. Training platforms like Udemy can boost your credibility and client opportunities as a virtual assistant.
By following these steps, you can transform your passion for travel into a rewarding career in the travel industry.
- A travel-related career that aligns with your interests and skills, such as travel consultancy, agency work, tour guiding, travel content creation, hospitality management, or aviation roles, can be identified in the ever-evolving world of travel.
- To work as an airline cabin crew, you can apply directly, complete a cabin crew or travel and tourism course, or undergo an apprenticeship, demonstrating the importance of education and training in many travel careers.
- For cruise ship workers who lead workout classes or manage the gym floor, a Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certificate from an accredited provider is necessary to secure a role on an international voyage.
- An online business coach, who supports clients through strategy, mindset, and performance coaching via online sessions, often requires a bachelor's degree in business management, finance, or marketing, along with relevant business experience and an ICF certification to boost credibility.
- Aid workers provide humanitarian assistance in areas affected by poverty, conflict, or natural disasters after gaining a degree in international development or social work, with field experience and language skills enhancing job prospects.
- Freelance writers, designers, or consultants can provide services to clients on a project basis while traveling full-time, with a strong portfolio being essential for success in this remote role.
- Remote customer service reps support clients via chat, phone, or email from anywhere with strong communication skills and internet access, which is a flexible role suitable for those wanting to work and travel.
- Travel agents or consultants help individuals and groups plan trips while occasionally international travel to assess destinations first-hand, with on-the-job training enhancing career prospects in this role.
- Resort managers oversee guest services and operations at hotels or holiday destinations, requiring a hospitality or hotel management degree for better employment prospects, while many resorts also provide in-house training.
- International sales representatives manage overseas accounts and attend trade shows, necessitating a business-related degree and courses from CIM to build relevant skills, with frequent travel to Europe, Asia, or North America.
- Virtual assistants offer remote support to entrepreneurs and businesses, handling admin tasks, communication, and scheduling from anywhere in the world, with training platforms like Udemy boosting credibility and client opportunities.
Following these steps and pursuing further education, training, and practical experience can help transform your passion for travel into a fulfilling career in the travel industry.