The phrase “job search” can strike fear in the hearts of even the most qualified candidates. With the prospect of endless research, grueling interviews, and the disappointment of rejection looming over the process, many find it to be a joyless experience.
One way to combat the drudgery of the job search is to set your sights on an industry that will land you in fantastic locations. A job where you’ll have opportunities to try new experiences every day.
Working within the tourist industry provides exactly this opportunity. Think about it- instead of spending your precious vacation time and hard-earned money traveling to amazing places, you could actually live and work in one of these locations.
But how does one get a job in this industry? Here are a few tips on how to land a dream job in vacationland.
1) Think outside the city
Sure, the tourist industry is huge in cities all across the world, but competition for jobs can be fierce in urban environments. To increase your chances, look for jobs in more remote locations. Instead of looking at hotel positions in New York City, why not look at unique summer jobs in Alaska? But if you do end up leaving New York, you’ll want apartment cleaning NYC to keep things nice and tidy for your return.
You have your whole life to live in cities, but working amongst breathtaking natural settings can provide incredible experiences you won’t forget anytime soon. Working for remote vacation lodges also often means free on-site lodging. Just imagine how much nicer life would be if you didn’t have to pay rent…
2) Small outfits, big opportunities
While larger hotels and travel services have hiring fairs and widespread recruiting efforts, try being proactive and contacting smaller businesses yourself. There are an enormous amount of hunting and fishing lodges all over the world which only cater to 20 or so guests at a time, and they’re always looking for good help. The problem is, they don’t have the resources to actively recruit employees.
Pick a location that you’re interested in, and search around the internet for small-scale lodges to send your resume to. Often times, you’ll immediately be put in touch with the business owner who has the power to hire you on the spot, thus skipping the lengthy interview process you might experience elsewhere.
3) Non-hotel jobs
While the biggest employers in the tourist industry are hotels and lodges, explore other related options. Why work a desk job in the hotel when you could be out guiding Alaska tours, leading scuba diving excursions in Hawaii, teaching people to ski in Colorado? If you have expertise in common vacation activities (fishing, surfing, skiing, etc.), this could be very attractive to businesses hiring guides for tourists looking to partake in these activities. The tips can be very substantial in these roles too, usually around $100 for a full day of guiding.
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