Millennials are more digital-savvy and open-minded than previous generations and they are also more likely to get itchy feet very early in their lives. How can you blame them? Millennials have grown up in a world where they could instantly talk to someone at the other side of the planet. It’s only natural to want to see the reality of the great melting culture pot promoted by the Internet. And thanks to the internet there are many ways to make money by freelancing.
The main problem with getting itchy feet, though, is that you never know how far they’ll take you or for how long you’ll be traveling. And unless you’re Paris Hilton or you’ve just inherited a million dollars from a great aunt you didn’t know you had, you’ll need to find a way to make money while you’re on the road.
However freeing traveling might feel, it doesn’t mean that it comes for free. So which careers are best suited for your life as a traveler? Here’s a list of five different freelancing careers available on the go that are great for those who are creative, tech-savvy, or super outgoing.
Photography
If you love the idea of constant traveling to see new places and meet new people, you’re suited for the nomad life of a travel photographer. In fact, you might consider practicing your skills to turn your shots into a brand new career. The journey of every photographer starts with a camera.
While you can take amazing shots with your smartphone, you’re more likely to be taken seriously as a photographer if you’ve got your own professional camera. As a rule of the thumb, you will find two main types of cameras: DSLRs and mirrorless DSLRs. However, if you’ve got a taste for vintage devices, you can still take your pictures using photographic film.
You will also need to invest in a range of lenses, from fisheye to macro, to create different visuals. The best way is to experiment with a few lenses until you feel confident. Then you can sell your pictures online or work as a freelance photographer for travel publications, for example.
Blogging
What if your creative talent lies in words more than pictures? Blogging is a great way of staying proactive as you travel, especially if you choose to create a travel blog. Starting a travel blog is easier than it sounds. You can start on WordPress.com for your friends and other followers and then expand when you feel more confident. This is what I did. I created a website using WordPress.com and eventually used Jetpack to move my site to self-hosted.
Everything begins with a good blog name and a niche, so take time to think about it. You will also need to choose a professional hosting solution if you want to use your blog as part of your career. You can build your own blog design using some of the premade WordPress.com templates, or you can get a professional to do it for you. Bloggers can earn from advertising or by selling their experience to reputable travel magazines.
Google expert consultant
If you feel more confident solving problems than creating content, you might be interested in becoming a professional marketing consultant. Simply register as a Google partner — it’s completely free — and study to pass the Google certifications. If you’ve never heard of it, Google provides certification for marketing analysts, Adwords experts, YouTube ad managers, and more. All you need to do is study and pass the tests.
While you can sell your skills online, you can also visit some of the several Google Digital Garage centers around the world that are providing free marketing advice to small businesses. Make yourself presentable — for the ladies, you can find stylish dresses online — and get to meet some business owners. It’s a great way to build a network and find local work.
Developer
If you’ve got magical programming hands, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of remote contracts for digital developers. You may not be able to start your first contracts at a high pay, but you’ll soon get noticed. After a few successful jobs, you can easily increase your daily rates.
There are also a lot of fixed-term contracts with large companies. Working with these can give you the guarantee of recurring work and be able to work from anywhere! This is how my husband and I were able to move around the globe for 7 years before we settled in Austin in the meantime where he has an office job.
Hospitality jobs
Not a digital person? Don’t worry. You can use your natural social skills to find temporary jobs in the hospitality sectors. When traveling abroad, you’ll find that hotels, cafes, restaurants, and bars are also on the look for English-speaking staff to help during the peak season. You don’t need to be fully qualified; in most cases, you can learn a lot directly on the job. They may even offer training. You can look for jobs that state: “no experience necessary”.
There is a travel career for everyone, whether you’re a creative soul, a digital geek, or a social butterfly! So don’t let money be an obstacle to your nomadic lifestyle.
Have you tried freelancing yet?
A New Life Wandering 