Practical Wanderlust: Travel And Work Opportunities You Can Begin Right Now!

I can’t tell you how frustrated I used to get, running into an Instagram account for a “travel and lifestyle expert” who is preaching to “pack your bags and go” knowing fully well that they’re not supporting their own lifestyle like the rest of the world. Then I thought, that simply can’t be the only way. The world is getting smaller thanks to rapid innovation in technology, so the opportunities have got to be out there!

While working full-time during university, I started looking into different ways in which I could experience the world and continue to make money at the same time. I searched online and found a job with a startup that was able to get me an internship visa through a government supported work visa program.

I now live in Barcelona, Spain and work full time! In my spare time, I get to enjoy the various sights, mingle with the locals and absorb the culture fully. Aside from this, there are plenty of other ways to make money while you travel.

Digital Nomads at a co-working space in Lisbon, Portugal [Credit IG /@remoteyear ]

Check out these options below before you give up on wanderlust!

Upwork

Upwork is a freelancing website that allow you to offer your services, whether it be content writing, design work,website and app development etc., to companies for either a fixed price or an ongoing hourly rate. It’s a great way to build a portfolio of your work, gain a variety of experience,acquire new skills and make money with no set work time or place, or a boss hovering over your desk asking you “Is it done?”! For something with some stability, there are often “digital assistant” positions available. Upwork is perfect for making money to sustain your travels for a few months; a working vacation that won’t break the bank!

Upwork is a freelancing website that allow you to offer your services, whether it be content writing, design work,website and app development etc., to companies for either a fixed price or an ongoing hourly rate. It’s a great way to build a portfolio of your work, gain a variety of experience,acquire new skills and make money with no set work time or place, or a boss hovering over your desk asking you “Is it done?”!

For something with some stability, there are often “digital assistant” positions available. Upwork is perfect for making money to sustain your travels for a few months; a working vacation that won’t break the bank!

This is best suited for: making money during an extended trip.

Startup jobs and internships

For a more stable position that gives you the opportunity to really assimilate into a whole new place, startup jobs and internships are becoming increasingly popular, especially in many parts of Europe. Countries like Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands are growing tech epicenters with a huge influx of startups. Governments are supportive and excited about foreign workers (you) working on big problems and help turn these startups into something big.

There are so many new visa programs that could easily get you living and working in an exciting new country very quickly. The additional benefit of working for a foreign startup is that you’ll likely have an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a variety of roles, interact with an international market, and have something very unique on your resume that’ll help you stand out, even if you do this only for a short period of time.

Search VisaOk for hundreds of jobs in exciting new cities.

This is best suited for: Gaining international work experience, building your resume and changing your work-life environment long term.

Remote Year or Be Unsettled

RemoteYear — Work, travel, and live in 12 different cities throughout the world.

BeUnsettled — Month long coworking trips in a variety of destinations.

If you want something even more structured and definite, these are some incredible programs that allow you to take either a month or year and work with a traveling group. Everything is pre-organized so you don’t have to worry about logistics or going through any of the processes on your own. The downside is — it ends! So this option is ideal for a travel/work opportunity between jobs or after school before you transition into something else, or even for taking a short sabbatical from your day job. These are a great networking opportunity for future career endeavors. Be careful, you may not want to come home!

This is best suited for: A planned and definitive work/travel trip to meet others and experience a variety of new places.

You don’t have to have a ton of money to travel and experience the world early in life. The world is getting smaller and your opportunities are getting bigger! You can build an incredible resume, save money, and travel with the opportunities thanks to innovations in technology and big changes happening in several countries around the world.

For an easy way to find a job and visa in your dream country, search VisaOk

Originally published at www.visaok.in on September 11, 2017.