Many people find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Wanting to both travel the world and build a career seems like a long shot and many feel like they have to choose one or the other.
However, it seems you can have your cake and eat it too. According to a study done by booking site Hostelworld, travelling has various benefits that will look good on your CV and might even help you get chosen for a position over someone who hasn’t travelled. Here’s why.
Hostelworld surveyed 1,000 people from eight different countries — the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Brazil and South Korea. Respondents were a mix between randomly chosen people and those who were responsible for hiring new employees for companies. In the survey, ‘travelling’ was defined as being in another location for at least one month.
Here’s the good news: 82% of employers say that they would employ job applicants who have travelled.
Of people surveyed, 38% think that travel boosts confidence, 37% believe it increases people skills, and 35% said it helps you adapt to new situations. Other reasons cited for travel being beneficial to employability were that it improves communication skills, provides a more global view, and teaches you to handle money better.
Of the survey respondents who had travelled, 62% said their experiences helped them understand what they wanted to do with their life. While 61% said they did work abroad that looked good on their CV, 46% made connections while travelling that helped them get their foot in the door at companies.
‘We know that for some people employment can be a barrier to travel — whether it be young adults wanting to get on the career ladder, or those further down the line with mortgages to pay — but our research shows that this doesn’t have to be the case,’ said Feargal Mooney, Chief Executive Officer at Hostelworld.
Travelling teaches valuable skills, deepens understanding of the world and helps people get to know themselves better, and employers seem to get this.
‘Travelling is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, and those who ignore the desire to see the world often regret it… Whatever stage of life you’re in, there’s really no excuse not to get out there and meet the world,’ Mooney added.
Image: Pixabay
