3 Graduate-Level Jobs That Can Satisfy Your Travel Bug

Many graduates today are torn between starting their careers and earning a decent wage, and the opportunity to see the world before they’re tied down with work.

If this sounds like you, we’re here to tell you that there is a way to find the best of both. 

Here are three graduate-level jobs that can satisfy your need to travel

Teaching English as a foreign language

If you’re interested in seeing the world, you should consider teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL).

One of the best parts of this job opportunity is that you don’t need a teaching qualification, such as a Bachelor of Education, to enter the field. TEFL as an organisation offers certificates, which take around six to 10 weeks to obtain and will leave you fully qualified. 

If you’re still studying in your final year and are worried about your availability to take on the TEFL course, never fear. There are a number of options available to work around your schedule. Plus, you’ll typically get around six months to complete your course, giving you plenty of flexibility.

Also, many sites that offer TEFL qualifications often advertise 20% off the course price for students, so your student budget won’t suffer too much!

While TEFL is an extremely competitive field as the only requirements are a TEFL qualification and the ability to speak fluent English, your recent graduate (or almost-graduate) status is sure to give you a competitive edge.

Once you’re qualified, it’s a case of choosing where you want to go to teach English. Popular choices are Spain, Vietnam and Japan. You also need to decide how long you’d like to be away teaching as there is a broad range of contract periods available. What’s more, you’ll need to have a think about what type of job you’re looking for, whether it’s full-time, an internship or voluntary, for example.

Programming and developing

If you studied computer science at university, but are torn between entering the industry and globetrotting for a while, let me tell you that you can do both at the same time.

Also, if you didn’t take the computer-science route at university, it’s extremely easy to teach yourself how to code with so many free courses available, such as Codecademy, freeCodeCamp and edX.

Programming is such a great job to satisfy your travel bug because it doesn’t necessarily require you to be in an office all day, and many people work in the field remotely. 

The digital nomad lifestyle has many benefits, such as being able to work flexible hours. A bonus many professionals desire as research suggests that 58.6% of UK workers want to ditch the traditional 9 to 5. As a result, you can dedicate working hours that fit in with your travelling aspirations.

If you choose to work remotely as a programmer or developer, you might do this as an employee or as a freelancer. If you choose to pursue your role as a freelancer, your time abroad may increase your employment opportunities, especially if you’re multilingual. 

Writer and editor

If you’re a fan of all things lingual and want to spend some time exploring the globe, a freelance post as a writer or editor could be the perfect job opportunity.

Even if you didn’t study journalism or writing at university, you’re perfectly qualified to start writing on a freelance basis. 

Firstly, you already have your writing portfolio. Think about everything you’ve ever written throughout university. All those essays, assignments and presentations are a clear demonstration of your writing competency. Therefore, it should be easy to show prospective clients what you’re capable of producing. 

Secondly, you have the necessary soft skills to be a freelance writer. Take a look at these:

• Time management: submitting essays and assignments on time
• Organisation: juggling multiple deadlines
• Communication: participating in seminars
• Teamwork: group presentations

If you’re interested in becoming a writer or editor while you travel, start by checking out freelance rates. Then consider signing yourself up to freelance sites, such as Upwork or People Per Hour so those looking for freelance writers and editors can find you easily. 

It’s also worth Googling the terms ‘write for us’ or ‘guest writers’ to find out which sites might be interested in your services. Since you’re travelling, perhaps consider reaching out to travel bloggers or travel companies who might require in-depth content featuring the places you’re visiting. Even if they say no, you’re guaranteed to build your professional network and create leverage for your next employment opportunity.

About the author: Laura Slingo is Digital Copywriter for the UK’s leading independent job board, CV-Library. For more expert advice on job searches, careers and the workplace, visit their Career Advice pages.