Looking for a Paid for Escape

Q: I feel like I've done what has always been expected of me, going to college, getting a corporate job, and living in the hometown where I grew up. While I've done this, I also feel like there are many life experiences I've missed out on, like international travel. I'll be turning 40 next year, and am feeling the need for a temporary escape. Do you know of an organization where I could travel around the world, working temporarily in different countries, to help fund my travel experiences?

First of all, congratulations are in order for making the decision to travel overseas. As I am sure you know, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and now that you have committed to working abroad I am certain that everything you need to make "it happen" will fall into place.

There are many ways to get started including programs that will compensate you for working abroad but it depends on the type of work you wish to do while you are away. In the volunteering category, Alliance Abroad, for example, offers "Get Paid Escapes" in Australia, Chili, China and England. Idealist.org and Transitions Abroad are both fantastic resources which list paid for volunteer opportunities and include message boards which will allow you to communicate with other travelers. In addition to checking out these sites, you may want to look at VolunteerMatch.com, as you may come across some other salary based options. Keep in mind that some of the other volunteer programs, such as Bunac, require you to pay to care, but they do have recruiting offices and services to help you find work once you arrive at your destination.

The other way to go about this is simply to look for positions through your current employer or job boards such as jobsabroad.com and Monster.com which list international positions. Of course if you are an outdoor fitness enthusiast you can apply to be a guide at Backroad Adventures or some of the other adventure travel companies, resorts or spas or cruise ships. Now if teaching is of interest to you, TEFL Corp. is one of the most reputable programs out there.

As you can see, there are plenty of helpful options for you to choose from! Now that you have made the decision, researching the right program and finding a position that suits your requirements is the fun part. Just be sure that before you sign up for any one of them that you speak to other candidates and check the references and credentials of your sponsor.

Happy Travels!

Sherri

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