We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you ... you're just helping re-supply our family's travel fund.
Getting a job that allows you to travel has many benefits. You can explore new places around the world while maintaining an income to support your travels and pay for any bills back home. However, working while traveling does come with its challenges. Below are just some of the challenges to consider when working while traveling.
Finding a flexible job
There aren’t many jobs that allow the flexibility to work and explore the places that you want to explore. Some jobs may have you stationed at specific locations for a certain period of time. In other cases, you may be able to take up temporary work in different locations of your choosing (such as jobs working as travel nurses and travel doctors).
Digital nomad work will provide the most flexibility. This is any work that can be done remotely from any location using nothing but a laptop and an internet connection. For example, working as a copywriter could allow you to work from various hotels – allowing you to pick your own destinations and routes.
Getting used to different time zones
If you’re communicating with clients in different time zones, you’ll need to consider how this affects your working hours. It may not be practical to explore South Asia while communicating with clients in the east coast US as there is likely to be a 12 hour time difference – unless you’re willing to work through the night, you may not be able to keep contact.
Of course, not all jobs may require constant communication throughout the day and time zone differences may not matter in these cases.
Maintaining a good internet connection
Not everywhere is going to have an internet connection that is strong and secure. This can make digital nomad work difficult and risky in some cases.
It’s a good idea to research the internet connection of hotels before you book them. You can also use a VPN to keep your connection private and potentially even use your own portable router to maintain your own private connection.
Overcoming language barriers
You may be able to make money and explore new places around the world by getting temporary jobs in hospitality, healthcare or retail. However, in some locations around the world, speaking the local language may be essential to getting a job.
You may find that learning the local language isn’t as essential when getting work in tourist resorts. Similarly, there are jobs such as getting a job on a cruise ship that can allow you to travel to different countries without necessarily needing to know another language.
Understanding visa and employment laws
Working for a foreign employer in another country will usually require you to apply for a visa. In some cases, you may even have to apply for a visa when working as a traveling salesman or digital nomad. Make sure to look into visa laws before you travel anywhere.
Employment laws are also worth looking into when getting a job for a foreign employer. You may not always have the same working rights as you would back home, and there may even be qualifications that are not transferable abroad.
Avoiding burnout
Working and traveling at the same time can be exhausting. You need to make sure that you’re getting rest days where you’re not working and not busy exploring local attractions. It is also important to keep contact with loved ones back home if you are traveling and working alone so that you don’t feel too isolated.
You may want to consider giving yourself a taster of working while traveling by getting a temporary job abroad first or by working as a digital nomad for a week or two. You can then decide whether you are able to manage more long term work and travel.
Leave a Reply