I was reading at snopes about a scam where people are required to wire money ‘to help cover airfare’ so that ‘employers can know the applicant is serious’. This got me to thinking: What sort of job could I get that requires travelling?
My ‘professional career’ has been in data processing and analysis, with a bit of light programming. Can’t see much call for that in a ‘traveling job’. I have no experience in outside sales, so that would be out. To heavy to be a flight attendant, and too old to start a career as a pilot. As a pilot, I know how to calculate weight & balance. Maybe some sort of job for a cargo hauler? Courier work sounds like fun. But I’ve heard the work is spotty, pay is low (I gather that many of the offerings basically just cover a portion of your airfare to a place you want to visit), and a lot of those jobs are probably scams anyway. Something that would let me travel, and also do something in filmmaking would be good. Location scout? Why not? Except I don’t have the connections.
I’m a reasonably intelligent person. I generally get along well with people. I’m not married, nor have any reason to be in one place or another. I’m ‘footloose and fancy free’, as dad used to say. Of course I have the film project right now. And there’s the video business after that. And maybe another film or two. But with the future unknowable it would be nice to look for another interesting line of work.
So what sort of things can I look into that will keep me traveling, and that will pay a living wage, and that I can ‘learn while I earn’?
Certain types of IT consulting require all kinds of travel. A lot of it is the hands on stuff like you describe too. That usually just requires a somewhat rare skill and finding soemwhat that needs it badly in the short-term.
I wouldn’t really call it a “travel” job though. Most of the time, it is just getting an assignement somewhere else (could be Boise), living in a hotel, and then finding one somewhere else when you are done.
Other than that, the carnivals and circuses are the only things that come to mind.
Science can require a lot of travel. If your field of investigation is some well-distributed phenomenon (e.g. coral reefs) you can have a wide variety of field sites that require travel, have a position at a university or other facility that is not located immediately close to your field sites (e.g. you’re in Washington, how about Friday Harbor?), then conferences and symposia also generally will mean a lot of travel. A big drawback is that you have to raise money for all this travel.
… oh, wait, you said “learn while you earn” Sorry about that!
I agree with Tapioca. Something in the oil industry where they fly you from where you live to the job site on a rotational basis. eg. 5 weeks on, 5 weeks off. Usually you can change your ticket to go where you like when you have time off.
Get an accounting degree and become an financial auditor. You want travel, I guarantee they’ll give it to you. There a lot of demand for auditors. A lot of folks quit because the 12+ hour days and constant travel drive them bananas.
Well, I am a computer geek. And there are the tree killers (accountants), HR drones, Production Engineers, Construction people, administration people, Safety people, and Drilling people. The latter who are a distinct minority.
Well that sounds better. If you have any data processing and analysis stuff, I might be interested. I’ve always wanted to go to the Middle East. (Although, maybe not right now!
Poysyn: What’s ‘freight forwarding’. Moving stuff and setting it up? I have some experience as a grip on (no-budget) film sets.
When drug companies do clinical research they need ‘clinical research associates’ to go to hospitals, clinics, wherever a study is being conducted, to set up the study, monitor progress, collect forms, check on the study drug, regulatory stuff, etc. Those people are on the road constantly. You’d need a lot of training to get into it, though.
I do a lot of travelling on the weekends as a wedding minister. Each day is a different venue (sometimes more than one in a day) and while I typically stick within about 200km of Tokyo, I occasionally get sent to the far ends of the country.
Sales can require a lot of travel. I’m on the road 25% of the time probably. Consulting absolutely will be a lot of travel. Same with corporate trainer.
Most jobs that require travel suck. It ain’t romantic, and in the internet age, you’ve got to do your day job while on the road.
I came on to say auditor. Although it can be an odd combination of dead boring and very demanding. With a computer background, it makes you more desireable. And it pays pretty well. Since Sarbanes Oxley, demand has skyrocketed.
A friend of mine interviewed for a job with a construction company that specializes in building laser eye surgery clinics. He turned it down because he would be all over the country most of the year.
Sorry about that!