Policies, rules and regulations are always changing for people who work in the travel industry. Staying up to date on all the changes can be a daunting task.

Couple keeping up with those changes with trying to stay up to date on average salaries and job duties of positions comparable to yours and you may find that you have little time for other things. Use the following suggestions to make keeping up to date with travel industry jobs as easy as possible:

1. Ensure that your compensation and job duties remain well within the average for your position.

2. Know the most current travel jobs news and trends concerning rules and regulations to make your travel as easy as possible.

3. Learn ways to stretch your money while you are traveling.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out about pay and opportunities regarding travel industry employment

When you are considering a job in the travel industry, pay and opportunities available should be a major part of the decision. Keeping up to date on these aspects of jobs in travel is equally as important for people who are already in the industry, especially if you are up for a promotion or if it is time to renew a contract.

I recommend: Airline Job Finder offers a free newsletter and job information for those interested in or involved with airline travel jobs. This website also offers a travel job postings portal for various types of airline jobs. Nurse-Recruiter.com is an online job finding portal for travelling nurses. This website features an RSS feed that will keep you up to date on career opportunities and salary information for jobs in your desired locations.

Keep current on the requirements for travel jobs

Anyone who is starting a career in travel industry sectors and those who are already secure in their traveling careers have to keep up to date on travel requirements, including allowed and forbidden items on planes, trains and ships.

I recommend: W3 Education offers numerous articles about the requirements and outlooks of some of the most common travel jobs, including travel agents. You should check the information on the Transportation Security Administration website for updates lists of allowable and prohibited items as well as updates concerning the documentation required for certain travel situations.

Find out how to make your money last during travel employment

While it is very possible to make, and save, money when you work in the travel industry, it can prove to be very difficult. Finding blogs and other websites that offer suggestions can help you to save money. In some cases, you may be able to find a temporary job, such as a house sitting job, to help you save money on housing costs when you have an extended layover.

I recommend: The Practical Nomad offers advice for people who want to get involved in the travel industry. It also offers information about travel requirements, such as explanations about the ever changing document requirements for travel abroad, for people who travel often. Randy's Career Tips offers information to help you stretch your dollar and make the most of your free time on layovers during business travel. This website also offers tips of things to avoid during employment travel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider having employment travel news and updates sent to your cell phone if you are frequently without Internet service.

When it comes to employment, travel is a hot industry to enter. While most people think travel agent when they think about travel industry employment, but many other types of travel jobs exist. Some examples are tour guides, flight attendants and specialty service providers.

The downside to travel industry jobs is that it's such a popular industry that there's a lot of competition. With the proper training for a career in travel industry, you will go far. Additionally, many people who work travel jobs find that they are able to work from home, starting their own travel business.

If you are interested in travel employment, you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. What type of travel and tourism jobs am I interested in?
2. Do I want to work from home or in an office environment?
3. Do I have what it takes to work in a competitive industry?
4. How will I go about securing travel employment?
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Train for travel jobs without traveling

It is very important to receive the proper training for jobs in travel. Many people falsely assume that if you enjoy traveling, you are perfect for a career in the travel industry.

I recommend: Penn Foster offers training to become a travel and tourism specialist. Through them, you are able to study at your own pace. TravelCampus also offers an online training program.

Find a niche for success in travel employment

By specializing in a certain group of people, such as families with small children or senior citizens, you are more likely to get dedicated clients. This is almost a requirement if you are interested in travel agent jobs.

I recommend: Cruise Lines International Association is a well-known professional organization in the travel industry. They offer many courses pertaining to cruising. TravelCampus offers courses in a wide variety of niches including international travel and small group travel.

Employ a travel employment agency

When you are ready to look for employment, travel employment agencies can help you find that perfect job. These recruiting firms specialize in travel industry employment and match employers with potential candidates.

I recommend: Travel Employment Agency offers many services to potential employees. Yours In Travel allows you to fill out an online form to start the hiring process.

Be your own boss of a home based travel agency

Many people choose to open a travel agency from the comfort of their own home.

I recommend: Flagship companies such as Dugan's Travels offer a convenient way for people to work in the travel industry from home. They can receive the help and training that they need to get started. Those who own home based travel businesses may be interested in listing to home based travel agent podcasts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to operate a home based travel business, check the travel agency laws within your state.
• •  You can also find travel jobs on major employment websites, such as Monster and CareerBuilder.

For those who want to see the world and earn a living, there's a wonderful type of career: travel, money and adventure await with travel industry employment. There are many travel jobs to choose from, but many people who wish to break into the travel industry find that they are confused about travel jobs education and training. While formal classes and degrees are available, the necessary education varies widely by the specific traveling careers you wish to pursue.

Another challenge when seeking travel jobs education and training is that some of the skills you need for a career in travel industry positions are not taught in a college setting. Many of the qualities that employers seek are actually "soft skills" that are not necessarily taught in many tourism and travel courses. Developing these skills can give you a definite advantage if you want to break into the travel industry. Therefore, you will want to consider:

1. Find a good formal school if the job you are interested in requires a college degree.
2. Attend vocational training courses that match your travel employment aspirations.
3. Seek out certification courses to advance your skills competency.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seek out professional management and business degrees that will help you land travel jobs

Many management positions in the travel and tourism industry require a degree, and a degree in tourism or hospitality is highly recommended if you are interested in starting your own travel business. These degrees teach you the business skills and management skills you need to be successful with specific careers in the industry. Look for a school that not only offers the degree you want, but also provides hands-on training and has a respected reputation.

I recommend: The International Student Guide to the United States of America outlines what students should look for when obtaining a degree in hospitality and tourism. The International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators offers a list of US community colleges, colleges and universities offering travel industry courses and degrees.

Consider vocational training to expand your travel employment opportunities

It is often useful to start your education and training backwards, by honing in on the job you want and then perusing travel job postings to find out what qualifications you really need. Many jobs in the industry do not require education or training in travel specifically, but may have different qualifications. For example, a travel writer may need to take writing courses rather than a hospitality course.

I recommend: LearnHub has a useful list of travel professions and the education and training required for each position. Top Travel Schools provides a comprehensive overview of the vocational training that is useful for a career as a travel agent.

Consider certification for travel agent jobs

Although many jobs in the travel industry do not require certification or specific training, some employers and businesses do require testing or certification for select positions. Many jobs in travel require the TAP Test, a national exam that tests basic competency in entry-level knowledge required for some travel jobs. Travel agents may also require certifications like the Certified Travel Associate (CTA) or Certified Travel Coordinator (CTC) to prove competency.

I recommend: Education Portal offers detailed descriptions of every level of travel agent certification. The Travel Institute administers the TAP test. Their website offers lots of information about the test, including locations and dates of the test for the current year.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Employment in travel varies widely depending on the economy. When training for your travel career, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the economy. If the economy will likely be doing poorly when you graduate or finish your training, consider having an additional career option while you continue to seek out existing tourism jobs.

Everyone takes a vacation at some point in their lives and many take vacations on a regular basis. There are companies that can make the experience worthwhile, taking care of everything including travel arrangements and entertainment. Maybe that career path is for you.

Then again, maybe you're looking for a job that requires you to travel so you can see the nation or the world. Whatever the case may be, the following travel jobs should help you discover which path fits your career goals.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Travel agent

A travel agent helps clients who are vacation bound to plan all of the trip details. Travel agents can do everything from booking the flights and hotel stays to restaurant reservations, daily itineraries and arranging activities.

I recommend: Read more about travel agents by visiting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Cruise line employees

Taking a cruise is one of the most popular types of vacations. There are cruise lines that travel all over the world. And it takes a very large staff to make a cruise ship run efficiently, especially while out to sea. Some of the possibilities for a cruise line employee include working with the engines, deck staff, housekeeping, medical personal, food preparation and entertainment for the guests.

I recommend: Learn more about cruise line jobs from the Cruise Placement Hiring Agency.

Resort employee

There are several types of resorts available as vacation destinations, such as all-inclusive beach resorts or places like Disney World Resort. Among the many positions necessary for a resort to be successful are food service, guest service, lifeguard, housekeeping, maintenance, accounting and security.

I recommend: Find descriptions for each of the categories for resort jobs on Job Monkey.

Flight attendant

A flight attendant, also called a steward or stewardess, is an individual that sees to the needs and desires of passengers during a flight. Attendants pass out food and drinks, inform passengers of safety procedures and regulations, and make sure that passengers are as comfortable as possible. The added bonus is that individuals employed as flight attendants get the opportunity to travel a lot more than the average person.

I recommend: The California Employment Development Department and Career Planner have more information on the duties of a flight attendant.

Truck driver

While truck drivers don't provide services to those traveling for business or pleasure, their job requires loads of traveling. Truck drivers travel cross country to several different locations in a short amount of time to make deliveries for manufacturers and distributors of goods. Without truck drivers, the delivery of products we need would be much slower.

I recommend: Visit Newbiedriver for more details on a truck driver's duties and training requirements.

Working Adventure

Working adventures, also known as adventure jobs, are jobs in which travel to new, adventurous and exotic locations to work for a company for a temporary amount of time. This is usually during a comopany's peak tourist season. Examples of adventure jobs include zipline guides, tour coordinators, tour guides and boat captains. You can find working adventures within the U.S. or abroad.

I recommend: Backdoorjobs and Looking for Adventure provide information on short-term job adventures here and overseas.