Work Abroad Job Ideas

If you’d like to explore the world on a long term basis but need to earn an income to be able to afford it, there are plenty of jobs that will allow you to work abroad. While the majority of Americans living in a foreign country are retired, more than 16 percent are self-employed according to Statista.com. Those who work online may be able to work from anywhere in the world. 

Whether you’re self-employed or not, instead of settling down and buying a new house among the Vancouver homes for sale, or wherever you happen to live, sell, donate, or toss everything you don’t need and hit the road by taking advantage of one of these ideas.

Teach English Online or at a Foreign School

Teaching English has long been one of the most popular ways to work abroad as English-speaking skills are in high demand in many areas of the world. You can teach at a foreign school, or teach online as there’s been an increasing demand for online English teachers to instruct via video chat. There tend to be more jobs in the Middle East and Asia, particularly in places like South Korea and Japan. For this job, you’ll need to speak fluent English and have a bachelor’s degree in any subject. Getting TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, will give you a leg up on the competition. While you won’t get rich, you can probably make enough to fund your travels.

A Working Holiday Visa

While this won’t be an option if you’re over 35, depending on the country you’d like to stay in travelers who are 18 to 35 are generally eligible for a working holiday visa good for up to two years. Jobs commonly obtained on this visa include restaurant work like bartending and waiting tables, being a nanny or au pair, hospitality work like hotel reception, retail, and customer service jobs. While choosing to be a nanny or an au pair, however, it may be important to take paediatric first aid courses offered by Skills Training Group (or a similar organization), so that you are prepared to handle a case of emergency. Regardless of the job you take up, nevertheless, remember to research the laws and regulations of the country you would be living in, so as to ensure that you are aware of your rights.  

WWOOF

Sign up with WWOOF, which stands for World Wide Organization of Organic Farms, and you may be able to work (typically four hours a day, five days a week) in exchange for food and accommodation. There are opportunities around the world, and it isn’t just farm work, although you’ll find plenty of options for that from harvesting grapes and gardening to sheep herding. You might tend olive groves and vineyards in Italy, build straw bale houses in Portugal, greet guests at a hostel in Argentina, or create edible forests in New Zealand. 

Online Freelance Work

There are many jobs that can be done online as a freelancer, so if you have skills like web development, graphic design, bookkeeping, writing or editing, or translation, you can probably take those skills to work anywhere in the world. It’s best to get started at home first to build a solid client list and a strong reputation. 

Social Media Influencer 

If you love social media and have an interest like yoga, fashion, travel, or fitness, you may be able to use that to develop a strong online presence. Become influential enough and you’ll have businesses across the globe wanting to work with you, and you might even get some trips for free. It requires developing a content strategy, including writing blog posts focused on your niche, regularly and consistently, engaging with your audience, and then marketing yourself so that companies know you’re interested in brand collaborations. You can’t become an influencer overnight, it will require a lot of time and hard work, but if you’re successful, the reward will make it well worth the effort.