Travelling is an education in itself – there’s perhaps no better way to learn life’s most valuable lessons than by meeting people from different cultures, traversing varied terrains, encountering exotic fauna and flora and and learning about natural and urban environments.
But whether you want to remain a permanent digital nomad or have an eye on eventually settling down, you might be looking for ways to upskill in order to improve your employment prospects or start your own entrepreneurial enterprise.
With that in mind, here are three ways to boost your CV while travelling.
But whether you want to remain a permanent digital nomad or have an eye on eventually settling down, you might be looking for ways to upskill in order to improve your employment prospects or start your own entrepreneurial enterprise.
With that in mind, here are three ways to boost your CV while travelling.
1. Volunteering
If you’re going to be in a particular location for a few months, that’s more than enough time to volunteer with a local charitable project.
Maybe you’ve got existing skills you can share? For example if you’re a skilled footballer you could coach local kids.
Or alternatively, you could end up developing entirely new skills – for instance if you’re helping to construct a new school you could work as anything from a skilled labourer to a carpenter.
Of course, the main benefit that you’ll feel is the instant gratification that comes from simply doing the right thing and helping those less fortunate than yourself, but if you can simultaneously enhance your resume, all the better.
Maybe you’ve got existing skills you can share? For example if you’re a skilled footballer you could coach local kids.
Or alternatively, you could end up developing entirely new skills – for instance if you’re helping to construct a new school you could work as anything from a skilled labourer to a carpenter.
Of course, the main benefit that you’ll feel is the instant gratification that comes from simply doing the right thing and helping those less fortunate than yourself, but if you can simultaneously enhance your resume, all the better.
Tip: you can volunteer with VSO on a range of global projects.
2. Earning an online degree
Did you know that you can now earn a formal accredited degree completely remotely?
Many renowned higher education establishments are offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in subjects as diverse as psychology, digital marketing, business leadership and management and project management.
If you’ve got a sturdy laptop or tablet and a reliable internet connection, you’re good to go, and in a couple of years or less you can earn a career-boosting qualification by studying flexibly when it suits you best.
Many renowned higher education establishments are offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in subjects as diverse as psychology, digital marketing, business leadership and management and project management.
If you’ve got a sturdy laptop or tablet and a reliable internet connection, you’re good to go, and in a couple of years or less you can earn a career-boosting qualification by studying flexibly when it suits you best.
Tip: study with ARU Distance Learning and you can choose from a wide range of courses.
3. Working
Working abroad while you’re on your gap year or taking a mid-life sabbatical is another awesome way to improve your CV and grab some great real-life experience.
You can choose to work in your field of expertise or try something completely different, and you might opt to work part-time rather than full-time so that you’ve still got sufficient time for leisure and sightseeing, but either way you’ll still benefit.
You’ll have to be careful in order to keep everything above board though – in some nations you need to secure a working visa before taking up employment.
You can choose to work in your field of expertise or try something completely different, and you might opt to work part-time rather than full-time so that you’ve still got sufficient time for leisure and sightseeing, but either way you’ll still benefit.
You’ll have to be careful in order to keep everything above board though – in some nations you need to secure a working visa before taking up employment.
Tip: read this Prospects guide to working abroad for more advice.
These three ways to boost your CV while travelling will ensure you’re living your best life without curbing your wanderlust – try them for size and see how they fit with your plans!
That’s our list! Share your own CV-boosting travel activities in the comments section
That’s our list! Share your own CV-boosting travel activities in the comments section
