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==High-travel jobs==
{{infobox|Not a vacation|Travel to exotic locales, staying in quality hotels, maybe even flying business class may sound like an all-expenses-paid vacation. But it's not: in the end, business travel often boils down to the '''stress of working''' combined with the '''hassle of travel''', only now you'll often be working in an unfamiliar environment without the ability to walk down to your colleague's cubicle and ask for advice. You are only rarely in control of your own schedule. You may have no time to explore the destination, just seeing chain hotels and the airport walkways.<br />▼
{{quote|I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?|source=''Death of a Salesman''|author=Arthur Miller}}▼
Being on the road constantly can have an '''adverse impact''' on:▼
'''Sales''' is the classic high-travel occupation, so much so that "traveling salesman" has become a bit of a cliché. '''Consulting''' can also mean high travel, but on a somewhat less intense scale, as individual consulting gigs can sometimes last weeks or months and can easily turn into long-distance commuting. In general, any very specialized job, where customers are few but can afford to (or have no choice but to) fly in experts will tend to mean high travel.▼
'''Transportation workers''' such as truck drivers, bus drivers, locomotive engineers and ship crews see many places through work. The '''airline industry''' also offers good travel opportunities. Aside from the obvious pilots and cabin staff, maintenance crew and sales & marketing people may also fly extensively, and even desk job employees can often fly for free or very cheaply using space-available seats. The quality of accommodation varies a lot, and free time on a destination might be short.▼
: Some academic subjects that naturally contain travel for field research, are '''aerospace engineering, anthropology, [[astronomy]], [[archaeology]], biology (including [[birdwatching|ornithology]]), civil engineering, geology, geography, linguistics''' and '''meteorology'''; see also [[science tourism]]. Scientists are usually the only people who go to [[next-to-impossible destinations]], such as [[exclusion zones]]. In addition, researchers also occasionally travel to attend conferences.▼
'''Military''' personnel may get to work abroad, though this depends on the country and your position. ''"Join the Navy, See the World"'' is a classic slogan. Going abroad in uniform does not necessarily mean [[war zone safety|going to war]]; many missions abroad are for training, observation, logistics, or peacekeeping. ▼
'''[[Religion and spirituality|Religious]]''' personnel such as chaplains and missionaries typically travel to places far from home. The assignment is usually combined with humanitarian work and proselytizing.▼
'''Journalism''', '''writing''' and [[travel photography|photojournalism]] might include travel. This is however a high-competition business with poor job security.▼
Health personnel such as '''doctors''' and '''nurses''' can work on board ships, or in isolated communities. In some countries a mandatory stint in some far-off region is actually a required part of your job-training.▼
'''Domestic work''' is a common migrant job; while no formal skills are required, it is usually poorly paid. While some domestic workers are hired locally, others are recruited internationally, and yet others follow their employer around. '''[[Au pair]]''' service is an interesting way for young people to see a foreign country; usually without a proper wage.▼
'''Entertainers''' frequently travel for work, such as actors traveling to movie sets on location or to attend film festivals, as well as touring musicians.▼
▲Travel to exotic locales, staying in quality hotels, maybe even flying business class may sound like an all-expenses-paid vacation. But it's not: in the end, business travel often boils down to the '''stress of working''' combined with the '''hassle of travel''', only now you'll often be working in an unfamiliar environment without the ability to walk down to your colleague's cubicle and ask for advice. You are only rarely in control of your own schedule. You may have no time to explore the destination, just seeing chain hotels and the airport walkways.
▲Being on the road constantly can have an adverse impact on:
* '''Relationships'''. You may not be able to see your family or significant other while travelling.
* '''Health'''. Practicing [[sport]] and [[food|eating]] well is harder when travelling, and the risk of picking up bugs your immune system isn't equipped to handle is higher.
* '''Levels of stress'''. After a bad day at work, imagine going to the airport only to find that your flight has been cancelled.
Of course, business travel does have its '''positive aspects''':▼
▲Of course, business travel does have its positive aspects:
* '''See the world for free''' or low cost – flight tickets, taxis, hotels and meals all add up to a significant sum. Your company will usually pay all of these for you, allowing you to visit a new location for free or very low cost. If visiting over multiple weeks then you effectively get a paid weekend break to do whatever you like in your new city. It may also be possible to have a (short) holiday at the destination before returning, paying food and accommodation for the extra days, but not the return ticket.
* '''[[Frequent flyer programmes|Frequent flyer miles]]'''. Your company pays for the tickets, but it's you who will rack up the miles. Some companies restrict the airlines that you can travel on.
* '''New challenges, new experiences'''. Business travel is still travel, and you will encounter new people, new things and new situations that are guaranteed to be a learning experience and change the way you think.
}}
▲{{quote|I realized that selling was the greatest career a man could want. ’Cause what could be more satisfying than to be able to go, at the age of eighty-four, into twenty or thirty different cities, and pick up a phone, and be remembered and loved and helped by so many different people?|source=''Death of a Salesman''|author=Arthur Miller}}
This list contains jobs which intend the employee to be based in their home country, in contrast to [[working abroad]] (e.g. [[Working abroad#Digital nomad work|digital nomads]] who work outside their home country, may periodically relocate, but the job itself doesn't entail a lot of travelling)
▲* '''Sales''' is the classic high-travel occupation, so much so that "traveling salesman" has become a bit of a cliché. '''Consulting''' can also mean high travel, but on a somewhat less intense scale, as individual consulting gigs can sometimes last weeks or months and can easily turn into long-distance commuting. In general, any very specialized job, where customers are few but can afford to (or have no choice but to) fly in experts will tend to mean high travel.
▲* '''Transportation workers''' such as truck drivers, bus drivers, locomotive engineers and ship crews see many places through work. The '''airline industry''' also offers good travel opportunities. Aside from the obvious pilots and cabin staff, maintenance crew and sales & marketing people may also fly extensively, and even desk job employees can often fly for free or very cheaply using space-available seats. The quality of accommodation varies a lot, and free time on a destination might be short.
▲
* '''Language''' experts can often get temporary jobs or assignments abroad, as interpreters, translators and teachers (but they may also be stationed abroad for long periods, and not effectively travel much). See [[teaching English]].
▲* '''Military''' personnel may get to work abroad, though this depends on the country and your position. ''"Join the Navy, See the World"'' is a classic slogan. Going abroad in uniform does not necessarily mean [[war zone safety|going to war]]; many missions abroad are for training, observation, logistics, or peacekeeping.
▲* '''
▲* '''Journalism'''
▲
▲* '''Domestic work''' is a common migrant job; while no formal skills are required, it is usually poorly paid. While some domestic workers are hired locally, others are recruited internationally, and yet others follow their employer around. '''[[Au pair]]''' service is an interesting way for young people to see a foreign country; usually without a proper wage.
▲* '''Entertainers''' frequently travel for work, such as actors traveling to movie sets on location or to attend film festivals, as well as touring musicians.
==Get around==
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* '''[[Flying]]''': Businesspeople create the market for [[first and business class flights]]. If budget is short, consider economy class; the difference in comfort and service is not that big, on most airlines.
** For a VIP in a hurry, [[general aviation]] such as a business jet or a helicopter might save some time.
* '''[[Rail travel]]''' gives a fast and comfortable ride on distances up to {{km|1000}}, if available. First class (or in some cases even a specially named class "above first") is often aimed at business travelers.
* '''[[Public transportation]]''' rarely guarantees good comfort, but
* '''[[Driving]]''' makes a traveller independent, but also tired. Usually the only practical option in the countryside, and if you don't bring your own, [[renting a car]] can be an option. Driving and parking in an unfamiliar city can however be difficult. In addition, things like disorderly traffic or inability to read street signs in the local script may make hiring a car with a driver the best alternative.
* '''[[Taxis]] and
* '''[[Bus travel]]''' is not always the fastest road transport; some long-range buses are however fast and comfortable enough to appeal also to those with a good budget. They can be a good option in some countries such as Japan, Mexico and Sweden, where good quality buses from airports stop directly at major hotels, or for onward travel to another city or town from the airport. If your business operates on the proverbial shoestring (or if you are subject to the oft-quoted sadistic expense account manager) you might find yourself on a bus more often than not.
==Sleep==
While business travellers tend to stay at [[hotels]], some organizations offer private accommodation in different sizes and comfort levels. Workers who spend much time at a destination might consider [[second homes|renting or buying a second home]].
==Cope==
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===Before you travel===
{{infobox|Packing for Business|The needs of a business traveler will differ from that of a typical tourist. In general it's a good idea to pack basic business tools such as business cards, stationery, and a small/easily packed gift from your home city while traveling. These, along with normal essentials such as [[hygiene and body care|hygiene supplies]], can easily be stored in a go bag for short notice travel.▼
▲The needs of a business traveler will differ from that of a typical tourist. In general it's a good idea to pack basic business tools such as business cards, stationery, and a small/easily packed gift from your home city while traveling. These, along with normal essentials such as [[hygiene and body care|hygiene supplies]], can easily be stored in a go bag for short notice travel.
}}
* '''Find a good [[travel agent]]'''. Booking online can be cheap and easy, but making changes later can be difficult and expensive. A good travel agent or your company's travel provider can be worth their weight in gold when you need to react to changes.
* If you are a frequent business visitor of an APEC-participating country, consider
* '''Have a [[Packing list|packing routine]]'''. Invest in a good carry-on bag and learn to pack enough to survive a week with it. Figure out the optimal way to pack it, because when everything has its place, it's easy and fast to pack. If you often travel on short notice, consider keeping the bag packed and ready to go.
* '''Mileage, mileage, mileage'''. You probably know you can [[Frequent flyer programmes|get miles from flying]] — but you can also get them from staying at hotels and renting cars, and if you pay by credit card, you can get more miles yet again. Familiarize yourself with the programs at places you visit regularly and work out how to maximize your benefit. Dedicated sites like [http://www.flyertalk.com/ FlyerTalk] are useful for working out the loopholes and finding the latest promotions.
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== See also ==
*[[Computers]]
*[[Time management]]
*[[Working abroad]]
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