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14 Ways to Work and Travel | TravelBreak.net

Congrats to all of the new grads! If you’re looking to put your career on hold and TRAVEL before you dive into a committed occupation, here’s list of ways to do it!

After all.. “You’re not a tree, if you don’t like where you are: move.”

I get it: you want to travel, but you don’t have years worth of savings.

Fear not!

[clickToTweet tweet=”You can work AND #travel at the same time. Do it! Here are some options:” quote=”You can work AND travel at the same time. Do it! Here are some options:”]

1. TEFL (Click) – or Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Maybe you’ll pick up a language abroad too.

2. Be an Au Pair abroad.

It’s more common than you’d think. You can interview with host families online at Au Pair World.

3. Contract Work.

Some countries provide contract work for “work and holiday.” These jobs are very competitive, but worth a shot if you have the resume to back you up. Try One Shift Jobs in Australia.

4. Simultaneously work and travel at a hostel or hotel.

You don’t have to pay for accommodation. Perks: you’ll meet lots of other travelers!

Research hostels worldwide at Hostelworld!

5. Bar-tender/ Restaurant Server

Can be very competitive in bigger cities, but is still do-able.

6. Peace Corps

Joining requires an application process and a two year commitment.  Once you get on the ground, however, you learn to really assimilate into a foreign culture while satisfying your desire to do good.

7. U.S. Department of State *Careers Representing America*

Also has a competitive admissions process and requires serious commitment, but enables a nomadic lifestyle of luxury.

8. Get a career with an international company that has offices overseas.

They’re always looking for young folks that don’t have serious obligations at home and can go abroad.

9. Create a career that allows you to work remotely. 

When your career is dependent on technology, not location, you can work and travel wherever you like. Try copywriting, marketing, and social media. Photography and videography are trending, in-demand skill sets as well.

10. Apply for graduate education overseas.

Use scholarship funds, savings, and loans to pay for an international education just as you would domestically.

11. Pursue international careers in entertainment.

Be a dancer on tour, play basketball or volleyball overseas, or try BMX in Nitro Circus.

12. Work as a travel guide.

Congratulations, you get paid to give the gift of travel!

13. Work on a cruise ship.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Would you like to be a chef, host, skipper, or dancer on a cruise ship? Work + travel options.” quote=”Would you like to be a chef, host, skipper, or dancer on a cruise ship? Work + travel options.”]

14. Seek sponsorship for your talent.

If you are truly a phenomenal photographer, adrenaline junkie, videographer, or writer, you could work for a magazine, or just have costs covered by travel companies as a blogger.

The websites Helpx.net and WorkAway list organizations where you can volunteer in exchange for meals and accommodation.


This week marks two years since my graduation from UCLA and trading a career in corporate entertainment for a one-way ticket to Sydney. Why not take a #TravelBreak to see the globe for a year? I did, and well… I haven’t stopped traveling since.


TravelBreak.net - Work and travel for free. Photo by Ty Schmitt


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