If you’re on the road, or hitting it soon, you might be looking for work. Some of the jobs listed will have certain requirements, like a visa or a certification, but if you haven’t left home yet, try and get what you need!
- Cruise Ships
If you don’t mind the fact that cruise ships are usually registered to a country with little-to-no environmental regulations, and account for massive amounts of untreated or minimally-treated sewage, look no further for work than cruise ships! Cruise lines hire restaurant workers, performers, bakers, fitness instructions, spa technicians, and hundreds more. It’ll be easy to save money since the only place to spend it is on board. You will also be working in an environment based on cheap alcohol and sex (not kidding.) Plus you often visit beautiful locations. On the flip side, you’re probably going to be inside during a beautiful day. There’s very little privacy, as you are bunking with a number of other people. You’ll also be contributing to worsening a bad ecological state.
- Volunteer
Although it doesn’t pay, volunteering is a great to meet people and spend your time. Steer away from ‘voluntourism,’ though. Usually there’s a large upfront cost, and it doesn’t always do what they advertise.
- Bartender
If you can pull beer and mix basic drinks, you can probably find work. Usually you’ll need some type of ‘working holiday’ visa, but if you find a little mom-and-pop shop that will hire you without one, as long as you keep your mouth shut, go for it. Hostels also have bars, usually, and you might be able to trade work for a place to stay.
- Waiter
This job would require you to speak the language and answer questions, more than a bartender would need (after all, most countries I’ve been to outside America has one option at a bar, and it’s ‘beer.’ Which means ‘whatever beer sponsors you and supplies your coasters, glasses, and the sign out front.’), Again, having a ‘working holiday’ visa is pretty important here, as there will probably be fewer people who will hire you without one.
- Hostels
There’s a bit of a tradition of working for a place to stay in a hostel. If you’re okay scrubbing toilets, doing the laundry, and making beds, then ask around to see if there are any availabilities where you are. It might give you a daily stipend, and a place to sleep, if nothing else.
- Import/Export
Okay, this one is a bit silly, but some people have luck with it. If you find something you think would sell well in another country, try purchasing it from one place and reselling it in another place. This could be anything from food, to little tchotchkes, to clothes. This might work better if you’re sending it all to yourself, back home, and selling from there. After all, this is how import/export businesses get started. All groundwork.
- Translator
Can you read and write in another language? Try out your skills locally!
- Interpreter
Same goes for being able to speak in another language.
- Tour Guide
Some places have guidelines as to who can have a tour guide license, but if you’re willing to go through the hoops, being a tour guide can be a great way to make money. Especially if you’re speaking English in a foreign country. Many tourists look for a tour guide they can easily understand, and one who will make jokes they understand. Not only can you charge American prices, but it can also be a great way to make friends for when you go back to America.
- SCUBA Instructor
Of course, this only works when you actually have the certifications. But if you have them, try looking for work on a beach somewhere. SEA and South/Central America are both popular locations that are looking for English-Speaking instructors to give lessons.
- Skiing/Snowboarding Instructor
Same idea, but with snow. If you know how to ski, or snowboard, and are willing to give lessons, ask around and see if a ski lodge is hiring, or go solo as a freelance instructor.
- Au Pair
Probably one of the most famous foreign-worked jobs. If you like kids, know how to cook, and know a few words of a foreign language, look into being an Au pair. The field is heavily dominated by women, since most families look for women, however the few times I looked for a job, I had tons of offers because they had ‘two young boys who needed someone with lots of energy to throw them around.’ Needless to say, I passed on those jobs. Usually, being an au pair will come with a weekly stipend and a place to sleep. I would only recommend it only if you like children. More often than not, the stipend is far below what you’re worth and the lodging is either a room, or less than a room. (I once couch surfed with a friend who was an au pair in Paris. She had her own ‘apartment’ that was smaller than a car.)
- Resort Worker
Resorts in both beach locations and snow locations are always on the hunt for English-speaking workers for the season. If you have a ‘working holiday’ visa (or found someone to give you work under the table), a resort can be a great way to pass a season.
- Timeshare Salesperson
Kind of a joke. But, if you happen to be living near a timeshare resort, and a have knack for selling, there is money to be had in selling timeshares.
- Teach English
More often than not, people who teach English will have a college degree and be placed through a program. If you have a degree, and don’t mind working with a program, try teaching English. Most programs will also help you sort out lodging and visa issues.
- Camp Counselor
This can be anything from a summer camp in Upstate New York, to a high-end resort camp for wealthy children. One of my old teachers found summer work teaching wealthy children photography. It paid $2,000 a month, for 3 months, and came with free weekend trips to different cities. A job like this can be had if you have a skill to sell. You don’t need to be amazing, just better than 10 year olds.
- Yoga/Tai Chi/Qi Gong Teacher
If you’re in good shape and you have a knack for flexibility, try getting a yoga teaching certification, if you don’t already have one. Cruise ships, resorts, and hostels will sometimes offer classes, and you could be the instructor. Or, if you prefer, you could offer a class in a local public park with a drop-in price. This seems to work very well from what I see when I travel.
- Surfing/Windsurfing/Parasailing Teacher
Again, if you have the certification, you can try your luck finding work at a resort, or on a beach. If you have the start-up cost, you can work for yourself, or work for another company if you don’t have the funds.
- Circus
Europe still has traveling circuses! If you don’t mind some physical labor, try applying to one of these. Won’t lie to you, though. Most of these don’t treat the animals well, to the point they’re actually banned in some towns/cities.
- Mule
Want to transport things that aren’t drugs? In America, there are companies like Roadie that offer a way for buyers to get their purchases without paying for air or ground freight. For instance, if you buy a sink on EBay that’s local pickup only, you can hire someone through Roadie to pick up the sink and drive it to you. If you have a car and are planning on a road trip anyway, this can be a great way to cover gas costs.
- Barber
Can you cut hair? Beards? Have your own set of tools? Try setting yourself up as a barber! Some people do this in hostels, offering the hostel a cut of every sale they get. And if you find enough people who need a cheap and easy haircut, you can make easy money with minimal work. (For this to work best, I recommend only offering certain styles, and something that is quick and easy. This would be geared towards the budget traveler trying to stay presentable. For anyone with a little spending money, it’s in their best interest to get a shave locally.)
- Massage
Some certified massage therapists go freelance while traveling, either offering their services to a hostel, or to people through advertisements placed at community boards. Some massage studios will hire you if you can demonstrate skill.
- Cook
Probably one of the best jobs a cook can have is cooking on a private yacht. Surprisingly, the jobs are easy to come by, pay well, and you visit tons of locations. Usually, you’re hired by a private yacht company who charters yachts for a specific timeframe. So you’ll be a cook for lunch, breakfast, or dinner, only for a specific group of people. Then, until you get another group of people, your only job is feeding the crew.
Kitchens in other countries will also hire kitchen help, especially if you have a ‘working holiday’ visa.
- Cargo Ship
Less glamorous than cruise ships, cargo ships will hire deckhands to do basic work, and they will also hire cooks to cover the cooking and grocery shopping.
- Transport Companies
Like Roadie, you can also find work in America moving rental cars for different companies. When a company has too many renal cars in a small town, they will pay you to drive an extra car to a larger city, and pay you for the time. Really only works for America, unless you’re lucky enough to find the work in Europe, and it’s a great way to only see highways. But if you want work that lets you listen to audiobooks and eat road trip food, this is it.
- Yacht Crew
There are a number of ways to get work on a yacht but the easiest are: hang around yachts OR get certified then apply to yachts. Most yachts are looking for people who know how to sail, but some will take people who don’t know the first thing about sailing but are willing to learn. It can be a great job, with good pay, and great locations. But it can also be stressful, no-privacy, and long-stretches of working with the same people.
You can also find short-term work on a yacht. A captain will sometimes hire people just for an evening cruise, so you can easily rack up experience, and not have to leave where you’re living.
- Guy in China
For years, and still today, small Chinese businesses will hire white men to dress like an American businessman. It makes it seem like they have international connections, and increase the likelihood of funding or investments. So if you have the look of ‘American Business Owner’ this could be great job that pays exceptionally well. (Usually $1000 per event.)
- Act in Bollywood
Bollywood extras come from many places, and sometimes off the street. There are a number of stories of travelers walking around India, usually Mumbai, and being offered work acting. It’s one day, in a costume, dancing in the background (or just swaying.) It pays little, but it’ll look great on your IMDB profile!
- Street Performer
Do you know how to blow fire, juggle, perform acrobatics, or anything else that would allow you to set up on a street corner and make money? Although not legal in every country and city, this could be a great way to make money on the move. Also, if you do have skills in this category, and you don’t mind working on a cruise ship, look around for different job listings. Performers, even in a lower level on skill, are still highly sought after for cruise ships.
I will update this list as often as possible, and add links to different websites and job listings as I find them. Good luck on your travels!
Nathaniel Mellor 