Travel Isn't Now or Never

Study Abroad May be Cancelled for 2020, but Recent Graduates can look to Working Abroad in the Future.

As I write this the alerts on my phone keep reminding me of my flight returning me home from Belize. Some forgotten calendar input alerting me to a trip COVID-19 prevented me from taking, and now seems to be taunting me with reminders that I could have just had 2 weeks of relaxation rather than 2 weeks of being overworked and worried.

As a professional, my trip will get rescheduled, eventually, but for a student whose study abroad experience was cancelled this summer, they may not see the future opportunity to reschedule as they have only a finite amount of summers until they graduate and join “the real world”. When working with recent graduates I was often confronted with the student laying out the idea and articulating “I need to decide whether to travel now or start work, because if I don’t travel now, I will never get the chance.”

What I can confirm for those students lamenting that they won’t get another chance as this was their final summer before graduation, or that they must choose between travel and work, is that Travel is not Now or Never, and any professional can travel for significant durations, long after they have graduated and entered the working world. 

Option 1: Still Study abroad on Your Own schedule

For those wanting to study abroad after graduating there is still time prior to beginning the first full-time work experience. Working with CRCC Asia we have welcomed many recent graduates who are seeking a global experience prior to beginning full-time work. Some may question why someone would put off a salary and instead go travel, but the experience can allow them to gain skills to not only succeed but stand out in their first role. International internships or language programs can be a perfect post-graduate summer experience as the student will no longer be seeking credit, but rather focused on skills they can apply to their future employment.

Option 2: Get a Working Holiday Visa

Personally, for me a year after graduation, with a full-time job and everything holding me back, I threw caution to the wind and took advantage of one of the many working holiday visas available to those under 30 and headed to New Zealand. While working holiday visas often have an image of hospitality and tourism work, I used my recent degree to work for the New Zealand government on a 6-month contract, allowing me to live abroad, experience an amazing new culture, and further enhance my resume.

A working holiday visa can let any post-graduate work abroad for 3 months to a year. The only real danger is getting addicted as I did, and upon completing one visa switching to another, which lead me to Australia. Throughout my two years on working holiday visas I visited over 12 different countries, worked server jobs as well as professional contracts, and made a global network of friends and professionals that I am still in touch with today.

Option 3: Teach English Abroad

After I had completed my working holiday visas in New Zealand and Australia, the natural next step for me was to join the “real world” head to Vietnam to teach English. Teaching English abroad is one of the most well-known avenues for globetrotters wanting to find a way to fund their travels. It is well-known because it is great, and my time teaching abroad let me hone facilitation skills that I now use daily in presentations, conference sessions, and management. Throughout my time teaching, I was able to readily save money as well as travel throughout Vietnam, giving me a nest egg for my future endeavors.

Option 4: Volunteer Abroad

Seeing as I had traveled, worked, and taught abroad, and was now getting daily calls from family to come home, the only next reasonable option was to join the “real world” volunteer abroad. There are many platforms to find volunteer opportunities and can occur through structured non-profits, WWOOFING, volunteering at a local hostel to support your travel, and more. For me, my volunteer experience allowed me to work in Bosnia & Herzegovinia supporting youth employability and education. The experience while unpaid, translated to successful future career management, and for me to take the volunteer experience and apply it onto my resume, cover letter, in job interviews, and more.

Option 5: Get Your Graduate Degree Abroad

Through my experience working, teaching, and volunteering abroad, I was able to solidify my future career goals and identify my next step as obtaining a Master's degree. I kept my search of opportunities wide and looked at programs and universities not just in the states but elsewhere to find the greatest fit to my budget, goals, and studies. That fit was in London at UCL where I was able to get a very specific and targeted Master's degree in Educational Planning, Economics, and International Development, as well as work 20 hours a week in a role that allowed me to further my career management.

Unfortunately, when I completed my studies the UK did not grant post-graduate work visas but since then many different countries have changed their regulations, and allow for international students who received a degree in the country to stay on and work 1-2 years post-graduation. When looking to an international graduate degree check into the visa regulations that may allow you to work during your studies or afterward in the country.

Option 6: Work for a Company with International Transfer Options

While my personal living abroad story has been temporarily paused since I earned my master's, others around me have continued to make the big moves abroad. After 5 years of working with the same company, my friend was offered a transfer to the London office. While most companies don’t allow for international transfers within the first 2 years of working, they are open to supporting their staff in the long run.

Should you consider moving abroad in a more structured way, an intercompany international transfer is great and can allow for little to no breaks in employment as well as a structured move and visa approval process. When starting a new role consider the company's international presence and if there is an opportunity in the future for a global role. If there is an opportunity, make sure you bring this up in your first-year review so that they can help set you up to be in the best place for a transfer.

Option 7: Take a Sabbatical

Certain companies reward long-term employment with the opportunity to take a mini-sabbatical. My present company CRCC Asia has supported staff in completing 4-8 weeks travels marking their tenure, while larger corporations will give 1-6 months paid leave after working 5-10 years, allowing you to save and plan for an adventure of a lifetime. These adventures can also take form in any of the above suggestions teaching, volunteering, and working abroad so that you can continue developing your skills as you travel the world. If your company does have this option, start considering today what you would do with your time off, and ensure you are able to build the budget, resources, and plan to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Option 8: Get a Remote Position

Companies like Remote Year have supported remote workers to access a year of travel in multiple destinations while maintaining their current role remotely. As the company takes the hassle of planning, lodging, and finding workspace off the table, anyone looking for structured travel with a group of like-minded professionals can take advantage of these opportunities. If a full-year seems too long or the support too structured, any remote worker could see about taking a month or three to work remotely in a country of their choice. Ensure that you research any visa restrictions prior to taking the plunge, and pick a destination where you can ensure strong internet connectivity and manage the time difference.

In Conclusion

The final message of this article is the same as the beginning, that travel isn’t now or never. If you had your study abroad plans canceled because of COVID-19 don’t give up but look to the future. If you keep the dream of travel at the forefront of your mind you will never be thinking “what if I had studied abroad” and instead think “I cannot wait to go abroad.” In the interim as travel is halted seek to:

• Plan ahead – think about how you can set a budget, develop the skills and determine your goal for when and how you will travel
• Create a network – While travel may be stopped for the moment networking isn’t. Consider completing a virtual international internship in the country you hope to travel to in the future to build contacts now that can get you employed later. You can also seek to join professional discussions and more on Linkedin, that can bolster your international network from afar.
• Dream Big – Remember that professional success and greatness can live in the world of travel and adventure. Your goals for travel do not have to run perpendicular to work, and just because COVID-19 ruined your summer 2020 plans, does not mean you won’t have the opportunity to take on an adventure in the future.

Travel is not Now or Never. I hope all current university students, recent graduates, and young professionals can build a career plan that includes exploration of the great world we all live in, and that COVID-19 is simply a pause on the excellent opportunities for international professional development that readily exists for those willing to plan outside "the real world".