Jobs that have the highest call for travel...

[greenfrog86]

So after reading lots of posts on here about credit cards, frequent flyer points and lounges around the world, my curiosity has been piqued...

My question - what kinds of things do people do or industries they work in that require lots of travel domestically and internationally?

I've just started my career and looking at my options in the future - would love to get into an industry/role that would put me in the position of so many on these forums and I too can enjoy the pleasures of the inside of cheaply decorated lounges, tight economy seats, free booze and microwaved food

Despite working for a large company, our HQ is in Melb and nobody gets to fly business anymore unless they report to the CEO... :shock:

Understand that people won't want to share exactly what they do, but interested to hear people's thoughts in general.... wouldn't be surprised if more people on here are interested in this too...

To start with the most obvious ones I can think of are self-employed public/conference speakers (one bag in hand, the other at home packed ready to swap), executives, airline staff :shock:

 

[Commuter]

I don't travel for work any more, for which I am very thankful.

I used to travel a fair bit for work but it was almost all to places that I would not choose to visit. Having had a lot of personal contact with people who have to travel extensively for work (including air crew), and seeing most of them are sick of death of the aeroplanes and hotel rooms, I do not really see travelling for work as a perk - more like an imposition. It is not as if you tend to have a lot of free time at the destination to do whatever you like. When I travelled for work, I frequently worked up to 16 hours a day. That left me with no time for myself. Not that I was missing anything as I was not exactly in a lovely location though.

Nowadays I probably travel as much as a very frequent business traveller, but effectively all of my travelling is 'self-imposed', so I get to choose when to go, where to go, which airline and class to fly on, and which hotel to stay at. To me, this is far better than travelling for work.

So, my advice to you would be to get yourself a flexible job so that you can fund your own travel.

 

[Dave Noble]

Conversely I travel for business and do a normal 7 hour day when Im away and make sure to travel during normal working hours

If taking a job with travel , don't fall into the trap of working long days and take advantage of enjoying the locations

Most of my travel is for running training courses

 

[Mal]

This question gets asked every now and again, generally you will find that the people who travel the most are very specialised in their field, or managerial.

IT and various forms of accountancy are two common themes.

Here's some links to previous threads, I'm sure people will add more that they're aware of.

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/what-jobs-do-you-have-4934.html
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/where-do-you-get-12085.html
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/playground/our-jobs-what-we-all-10645.html

 

[russianrob]

There's plenty of blue collar "fly in/out" types here as well as the Business folks.
Pretty easy to rack up miles on 2 weeks on/off! (but they're not always appreciated in the QP's where some of us are trying to work, or relax in peace)
Personally, I'm in the Remote Medical business, so plenty of trips to far away places courtesy of the Oil Companies.

 

[dajop]

My question - what kinds of things do people do or industries they work in that require lots of travel domestically and internationally?

Aah there's one particular industry that involves heaps of travel ....... but alas no FF points, no sitting around in lounges squaffing champagne, but on the upside not likely to be ever stuck in 67E for 12 hours.

That aside I'd say perhaps six main types of high volume travellers:
- Commuting (either fly in fly out as per mining, or living in one city and working in another as per some esteemed members of AFF)
- Servicing clients interstate/overseas (professional firms, trainers, those in sales domestically and exporters)
- Project related travel (IT, audit, engineering & construction?)
- Supply sourcing (importers)
- Management of MNC's or companies with national reach.
- Government

Any others??

 

[straitman]

Someone is going to say it so it may as well be me.

Pilots and Flight Attendants. Lots of travel and free hotel rooms:!:

 

[browski]

Travelling for work is like having sex to make babies. All the enjoyment is removed.

 

[Hvr]

Travelling for work is like having sex to make babies. All the enjoyment is removed.

Spoken by someone who is obviously getting both.

The worst of either of the above is better than none at all.

Still there is always the "solo aviator division".

Travel for work is either feast or famine and currently famine. Still personal travel for next year has been booked and the minute details being worked out.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Travelling for work is like having sex to make babies. All the enjoyment is removed.

Well, there are a few seconds of pleasure .......... (taking off!)

My travel is for almost entirely business related, 70% domestic, visiting clients, trade shows, speaking etc...

I'm in the online digital media space; we help website publishers maximize their inventory revenue (ecpms) and also run Australia's largest social network.

 

[BlueAU]

Someone is going to say it so it may as well be me.

Pilots and Flight Attendants. Lots of travel and free hotel rooms:!:

I live next to a QF FA. She says travel is hard on the body, as they are always going somewhere. Hotel rooms (At least they don't have to share with another FA).

No FF points, no hotel loyalty, and no QP! Stuck out in the back reading a book in between flights.

 

[Commuter]

Someone is going to say it so it may as well be me.

Pilots and Flight Attendants. Lots of travel and free hotel rooms:!:

Knowing some of the hotels some of them end up having to stay at, I really sympathise with them, even though they're free.

 

[BAM1748]

Me, a consultant in the transportation industry (previously in the transport insurance industry). I think the trick is to find a job where you travel only about once per month, doesn't kill off the enjoyment part of it.

Perhaps if you have an interest/hobby in something, join a "national peak body" for it, they'll be having meetings around the country and it will be a meeting you enjoy attending. e.g. sporting bodies, aero club, petrol station owners cough. you get the idea.

 

[pauly7]

Marketing roles, international based that look after multiple countries are some of the best for lots of regional travel!

 

[Alanslegal]

Find a job that pays well and gives lots of flexibility and you can travel as much as you want, where you want and when you want :mrgreen: OR otherwise tonight's Powerball jackpotted to $10M

 

[Keith009]

Perhaps if you have an interest/hobby in something, join a "national peak body" for it, they'll be having meetings around the country and it will be a meeting you enjoy attending. e.g. sporting bodies, aero club, petrol station owners cough. you get the idea.

I don't think there's one for collecting frequent flyer miles, eating inflight caviar, quaffing down champers in lounges, taking inflight pics, getting pissed inflight...

No wait...

 

[Flashback]

I don't think there's one for collecting frequent flyer miles, eating inflight caviar, quaffing down champers in lounges, taking inflight pics, getting pissed inflight...

No wait...

Yes there is ....... Gentlemen's club - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Flashback]

The Appeal of Free Corporate Travel and How To Get It! : Australian Frequent Flyer Gazette

In addition to the business people, there are many blue collar “fly in/out” roles in the construction, mining and oil industries. It’s pretty easy to rack up the miles on a “2 weeks on, 2 week off” schedule.

Just wanted to add my 2 bobs worth, and I may be in the minority here; but all my colleagues / friends that do FIFO are all white collar workers

Unless you call IT Consultants and Bean Counters blue collar?

 

[ronone69]

I have been traveling for business for years. It has its advantages and disadvantages

First, you generally have to do 2 days work in one. You have the work to do while you are away and then you have all the emails and stuff you need to follow up from the office or home. This is the major disadvantage

Second you are away from your family and friends. This can be good and bad - but distance does make the heart grow fonder !!

The advantages are you get meet people all over the world, build a bit of holiday travel into your business travel at little cost ie need to go to Asia for a week so send a second week on holiday and no airfares !!! Your boss may also pay part of your accommodation !! You get to meet people in other countries and build relationships with them. You get to taste the social life of the cities you visit. And, you get to do some great shopping !!

But beware : it is hard work, it can be very tiring and after you have been doing it for a while sitting in airport lounges is not a lot of fun !!

 

[TanyaGordon]

Travelling for work is like having sex to make babies. All the enjoyment is removed.

Amen!

I've had a quiet year. Only 40 Flights, 132 hrs flying time, 90,494 km, all economy.

We run a small business in the print media industry.
Simplistically, I'm a software trainer.

And to the guy who said "you should only work 7hrs a day and only travel in business hrs".... well La Di Da aren't you the lucky one...