What jobs / careers require or involve travel? (merged 2014+)
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,186
What kind of engineering is it? Big machines? Infrastructure?
Not sure when it opens up again but Diplomatic courier
Last edited by mmff; Jan 30, 2014 at 2:04 pm Reason: Add another comment and thank you note.
#47
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 5,921
1. Learn accounting and finance to a CFA (chartered financial analyst) level
2. Do an MBA or MA-Finance at a high-quality university (not a requirement, but a huge help as far as gaining entry into the industry)
3. Gain useful knowledge or experience of the industry or geography you want to cover
4. Work your a$$ off to understand the business and be able to convince someone that you love picking stocks and might actually be good at it
#48
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 154
I'm an electrical engineer and I oversee the construction at our sites to ensure that the local sub we've hired is working to our quality and safety specs. It's not very glamorous, but it's fun getting out of the cubicle for a couple of weeks.
#49
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 3,999
#51
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 3,999
#52
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,053
Engineering /technology.
Company is big enough to have ops worldwide but too small to open their own office everywhere. I got out there early on and opened up business in a lot of countries where we hadn't been before. Just because I was willing to, and had good experience and people skills.
Ideal situation for travel. Small specialist company looking to expand internationally.
Helps to have a passport from Western Europe / Australia /NZ /USA /Canada /Singapore /Japan.
Company is big enough to have ops worldwide but too small to open their own office everywhere. I got out there early on and opened up business in a lot of countries where we hadn't been before. Just because I was willing to, and had good experience and people skills.
Ideal situation for travel. Small specialist company looking to expand internationally.
Helps to have a passport from Western Europe / Australia /NZ /USA /Canada /Singapore /Japan.
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,186
EU passport should be good, with the VWP for the US and similar programs for the other countries you mentioned.
#54
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 353
What kind of job/career do you have that allows you to fly?
So I kind of used the search button to find a thread related to this so forgive me if it's repetitive. I'm a recent college graduate looking into various industries and career options and I wanted to gain some insight from some Flyertalk members. Here are a few questions that I'd be intrigued to know about.
1.) What career field are you in that requires extensive air travel and hotel stays?
2.) Do you enjoy the work travel?
3.) Would you recommend working a career that requires travel or would you avoid it at all costs?
4.) Any other insight, info, advice, or thoughts?
Thanks!
1.) What career field are you in that requires extensive air travel and hotel stays?
2.) Do you enjoy the work travel?
3.) Would you recommend working a career that requires travel or would you avoid it at all costs?
4.) Any other insight, info, advice, or thoughts?
Thanks!
#55
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,362
1)
Generally it is upper level customer facing jobs that get the most travel. This can be sales, it can be technical, it can be financial, it can be whatever. There are some jobs that require extensive travel within the corporation, but these are rare.
2) 3)
That is highly individual. Some like it, some do not. One common issue is that some see glamour in travel before they need to do so constantly, then see the pain after they start doing such every week. The battle of Preparation H vs. free miles.
4)
Do what works for you, but I would not make a career choice based on travel.
Generally it is upper level customer facing jobs that get the most travel. This can be sales, it can be technical, it can be financial, it can be whatever. There are some jobs that require extensive travel within the corporation, but these are rare.
2) 3)
That is highly individual. Some like it, some do not. One common issue is that some see glamour in travel before they need to do so constantly, then see the pain after they start doing such every week. The battle of Preparation H vs. free miles.
4)
Do what works for you, but I would not make a career choice based on travel.
#56
Senior Moderator; Moderator, Eco-Conscious Travel, United and Flyertalk Cares
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Fulltime travel/mostly Europe
Programs: UA 1.7 MM;; Accor & Marriott Pt; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17,822
As this question is not specific to United or Mileage Plus, please follow it in Travel Buzz.
l'etoile
UA moderator
l'etoile
UA moderator
#57
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Posts: 211
1) Advanced technical support for electronics company. That means I can go anywhere in the US or Canada.
2) Yes
3) I do, if you aren't married. Definitely not if you have kids. I'm engaged so now I'm starting to look to stay local more.
4) It is worth trying while young. You'll quickly find out if it is for you. I love having low living expenses (all meals comped during the week, smaller electric bill, etc). If you can't deal with delays and issues, you won't like it. I'm writing this after my flight was diverted so I am lucky to get home at midnight. Just have to take it in stride.
2) Yes
3) I do, if you aren't married. Definitely not if you have kids. I'm engaged so now I'm starting to look to stay local more.
4) It is worth trying while young. You'll quickly find out if it is for you. I love having low living expenses (all meals comped during the week, smaller electric bill, etc). If you can't deal with delays and issues, you won't like it. I'm writing this after my flight was diverted so I am lucky to get home at midnight. Just have to take it in stride.
#58
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
1. Sales
2. I'd say that you can find ways to make it enjoyable. In my job, I often get to my hotel in the evening, have my meeting the next day, and hustle back to the airport immediately after. But if you have to travel for work, find ways to make it feel like home. Plan ahead and make reservations at a cool restaurant. Go for a walk or run from your hotel. Whatever you would normally do, otherwise it can become really tedious.
3. I would neither recommend it or avoid it. If you like the work, you won't mind the travel. If you don't like the work, you will despise the travel.
4. A lot of people enter the workforce thinking travel is glamorous. It's not. It's difficult and it means a lot of time away from friends and family. It's not all champagne in first class, Ritz-Carlton hotels, and fancy steak dinners with expensive wine. Sometimes you stumble into those things, but most of us spend a large part of our lives eating at McDonald's on the run, staying at Marriott Courtyards, and sitting in a cramped coach seat after a 3-hour delay. The benefits we get from being frequent travelers is a small (but real) consolation for all of this.
Bottom line: Don't make a job decision because you think it will be fun to travel.
2. I'd say that you can find ways to make it enjoyable. In my job, I often get to my hotel in the evening, have my meeting the next day, and hustle back to the airport immediately after. But if you have to travel for work, find ways to make it feel like home. Plan ahead and make reservations at a cool restaurant. Go for a walk or run from your hotel. Whatever you would normally do, otherwise it can become really tedious.
3. I would neither recommend it or avoid it. If you like the work, you won't mind the travel. If you don't like the work, you will despise the travel.
4. A lot of people enter the workforce thinking travel is glamorous. It's not. It's difficult and it means a lot of time away from friends and family. It's not all champagne in first class, Ritz-Carlton hotels, and fancy steak dinners with expensive wine. Sometimes you stumble into those things, but most of us spend a large part of our lives eating at McDonald's on the run, staying at Marriott Courtyards, and sitting in a cramped coach seat after a 3-hour delay. The benefits we get from being frequent travelers is a small (but real) consolation for all of this.
Bottom line: Don't make a job decision because you think it will be fun to travel.
#59
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SYD-YUL
Programs: QFWP; HH Diamond
Posts: 60
What kind of job/career do you have that allows you to fly?
1. Entertainment industry.
2. Yes - I travel all over the world.
3. Yes - if you don't like traveling then it's not for you.
4. It's a lifestyle choice. If you want a house and a family, a traveling lifestyle will not work. My industry and company is based on travel and everyone knows everyone on different shows and in different companies/countries.
2. Yes - I travel all over the world.
3. Yes - if you don't like traveling then it's not for you.
4. It's a lifestyle choice. If you want a house and a family, a traveling lifestyle will not work. My industry and company is based on travel and everyone knows everyone on different shows and in different companies/countries.
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,703
1.) What career field are you in that requires extensive air travel and hotel stays?
Communications consulting.
2.) Do you enjoy the work travel?
Only to the extent the miles, loyalty rewards, etc. create opportunities for my family.
3.) Would you recommend working a career that requires travel or would you avoid it at all costs?
I've been traveling for work now for 30 years and even the "elite" experience has become abysmal, particularly on the three remaining US network carriers. I would have stopped traveling long ago if I didn't have to.
4.) Any other insight, info, advice, or thoughts?
For God's sake don't select a line of work because you think you'll get to spend a lot of time in airports. Every once in a great while I get to go somewhere interesting (typically a new overseas destination), but 95+% of work trips are grueling and unpleasant, regardless of what boarding group you're in.