By Danika Thiele
The sentiment of “getting out while you’re young” haunts the millennial generation, the overwhelming FOMO (fear of missing out) every young adult grapples with at one time or another.
Are you on the path to happiness? Although many students pursue domestic careers they believe will ultimately lead to fulfilled lives, many underestimate the available jobs within the travel industry.
As a school that deeply encourages study abroad, the FSC administration seems to promote travel and discovery. According to TravelEffect.com, nearly half working Americans agree travel is a necessity.
However, Americans in the workplace are often reluctant to take travel time even when it’s due them, and very few consider a career in a travel-related industry.
Why is there such a discrepancy? The social stigma of having a career in travel opposed to that in medicine or another related field is daunting, but the benefits of having a job that keeps you constantly traveling can often outweigh any doubts.
Many collegiate students believe they have only three choices following graduation: attend graduate school, immediately enter the workforce or see the world by traveling.
Few consider a combination of these life choices.
The best travel jobs allow you to earn income while exploring the world. As an intern at a major airline, I’ve been offered a glimpse into the travel industry, and it is vast.
There are so many opportunities from finance and corporate event planning to piloting and inflight, and there are numerous available jobs both nationally and abroad that allow you to not only pursue your field of interest but also explore the globe.
According to Australia’s Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, the country’s tourism industry is one of the country’s biggest strengths, “(it) is our largest services industry export, earning $26 billion a year.”
The Australian government has also launched various programs to help the industry overcome regional labour and skills shortages.
Other benefits of working within the travel industry include a high learning potential and a variety of transferable skills.
Though I work primarily within the Communications and Outreach Department at Southwest, I have had the opportunity to test the flight simulator, learn the ins and outs of crew scheduling and identify planes at airports throughout the country.
In addition to the travel industry, “wanderlust” jobs are gaining massive popularity and are worth considering post-grad. These range from freelance blogging to farming with WWOOF to being a travel tour guide or translator.
FSC graduate Daniel Comer ‘16 currently works in Corvallis, Ore. as a Youth Volunteer with AmeriCorps, a job spurred by his passion for adventure and travel.
“I just drove across the country and moved in,” Comer said. “(I’ve grown my) communication skills, event planning, organizing…I’ve grown in leaps and bounds. I can take this experience and use it in the future…down the line I will think this was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Comer didn’t settle for an office job, and he has found himself growing professionally through his travel-driven career.
He wanted to make a difference and he wanted to see the world, so that is how he is spending his unconventional life after Florida Southern.
