Ways to Travel and Work Abroad (without travel blogging)
Travel blogging and affiliate marketing is how I got my start
…and remains a large part of my business and income. I love it, but it’s not for everyone.
There are soooooo many options out there though (thank you internet) for anyone with a similar itch to ditch the 9-5 and to travel and work abroad. Hannah and I have built up a great community of like-minded spirits, and here are a few ways some of our friends do it.
Writing and Editing
- Karolyn Timarkos (Kaz) is a Technical Writer, based out of New Zealand. She can travel and work anywhere in the world, and is currently abroad located in the USA. This could be something for those with a knack for technical writing, instructional design, business writing, editing, proofreading, etc. She’s written a great blog post on How to Become a Technical Writer. She’s a good friend and source of info, so also recommend keeping an eye on her blog for an upcoming post on how to house sit around the world!
Teaching
Teaching a Language
There are 2 main ways this is usually done. 1) Moving to a foreign country and teaching your native language. 2) Online classes, often webcam face-to-face chats so you can travel and work abroad from wherever you are.
- Celine Gimenez does this teaching French through her French with a Native page, and by remembering that “Love is the answer to everything”
- Katie Medley teaches English online through VIPKID. The route she took requires (beyond a computer) a Bachelor’s degree and to be from the US or Canada. Katie has personally travelled and worked abroad in many countries in Asia and Europe with this as her sole source of income! How does she make it all work? “The internet is your best friend… Research, research, and connect with like-minded people!”
Coaching/Mentorship
- Cassandra Rose is a Wellness & Lifestyle Mentor from New Zealand. She’s currently travelling abroad in South America and working online. Her main motto for making it work? “Don’t let others and their expectations hold you back from the life that you want. Know your awesomeness, know that it’s your job to choose happy; and go out there, show up and be the person that you want to be”
- Carly Wynn focused on her strengths and passions as a professional athlete and digital nomad and became a Fitness and Lifestyle Design Coach for athletes and free spirits. Through her journey, one of the main things she’s learned is “For anyone who is making their own path, you may never feel truly “ready.” Jump in right now… Everything I have learned, I’ve learned because I just started.”
Advertising/Marketing Consultant
These types of opportunities and freelancing are becoming increasingly available as at least partly remote and working abroad options.
- Precy B. Tripoli is also a Social Media Marketer & Copywriter. Born, raised & based in the Philippines, she got into the mix by carefully studying blogs (Social Media Examiner, Hootsuite, Buffer, Hubspot, Content Marketing Institute and Copyblogger) and subscribing to newsletters. For booking work, she started out with OnlineJobs.ph where US, UK, CAN, AUS employers want to hire Filipino freelancers. She also sometimes gets clients from Upwork, as well as getting lucky with referrals and clients wanting to pay for her certifications from leading SMM influencers.
Consistent Travel vs Digital Nomad
Some fields and jobs allow you to keep a home base for work while travelling consistently.
- Maria Rosenberg lives in New York but works in hospitality. The money and flexible schedule allow her to get out of the country and explore the world just about every month. Her current motto to live by, “Set goals, work hard, and take the leap. No one else will make your dreams come true for you.”
- Kim Reed landed an Au Pair job, and just returned from a few months in Italy. She’s also collaborating on a blog with her sister with a focus on how to fund your passion and travels through work abroad means such as au pairing, teaching English online, and volunteering in exchange for room and board.
- Clare Desborough and her partner both have full-time jobs (occupational therapist and exercise physiologist). Their blogs and online businesses on the side help supplement their income and allow them to travel on a more frequent basis. For staying on the right path for them, they remember “You become what you think about. If you think in negative terms, you will get negative results. If you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results” – Earl Nightingale
- Carlotta Arona has previously used her skills as a Scuba Instructor to travel and work in some amazing tropical places like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Mexico. Now she’s still self-employed, just incorporated her company Hopskipmedia, and moved on to writing/social media marketing/editing/translations/teaching Italian. Her eye on the prize motto is “Live life at its fullest, believe in yourself and never give up. Once we are fully confident with our own selves we can do and achieve everything we want.”
- Heidi Kumm is an EMT that also works in an emergency room at a ski resort during the winter months. She uses her summers for exploring. One of the main things that have kept her going when things become more of a headache, is being honest with herself and knowing that she can always quit without any shame in that choice. “Worst case scenario… I make it home in time for my nephew’s birthday, I recharge + I take on life again.”
Let’s be honest, you may need multiple income streams…
Sarah Argent, for example, 1) Runs a Shopify shop on Facebook selling eco-friendly niche items. 2) With her business, UMLR Editorial Services, she does proofreading, copyediting, copy and blog writing, and concept development, with both businesses and authors. 3) Has a family travel blog, with a niche in long-term, extended and slow travel. 4) On October 1st is launching a start-up with her husband, offering blog collaboration facilitation and sponsorship services. 5) AND her husband is a freelance nature photographer.
… and all while being a mum and homeschool educator to their two kids, AND travelling. Her motto? “Never be so scared to take the first step, that you never step at all.” and to also “Know when to let go of an idea… If it isn’t showing promise or potential, then you need to be brave enough to move on to the next idea.”
There’s never a “one size fits all”
Whether your motivation is to travel and work around the world, be your own boss, not be stuck in an office, or simply to manage a work-life balance that suits you best (or all of the above) – hopefully, these gave you some ideas and inspiration!
More Reading & Resources:
- How To Start A Blog For The Price Of A Coffee
- 21 Ways to Work & Travel (pdf)
- How I Earn A Living While Traveling Full-Time
- Additional Travels and Suggestions
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