Expert: Sharon Reed Abboud - 10/11/2007

Question
I don't know what type of job should I do. I am 24 years old, I finished a business college and a master in tourism and I speak English, Italian, French and Romanian. I love to travel and enter in contact with many people and it must be a work that keeps me out of the office as much as possible. I can not stand desk work. The problem is that with my study background all I could find were jobs that keeps me in front of the computer all day and I hate that. I found some jobs that keeps you out of the office but, or they are for less qualified people then me or they require outdoor experience like for example some sport trainer which I don't have. Can you help me with some job suggestions?
thanks

Answer
Hi. Thanks for your question. There are many career options for someone with your language abilities, business degree and master in tourism.   

Here a just a few careers that might appeal to you:

Airline Personnel
Airport Management
Travel Agent
Tour Group Leader
Tour Group Business Owner
Hotel and Resort Staff Manager
International Conference Manager
Restaurant Staff Manager
Cruise Ship Staff

I found these sites about foreign language careers via Internet search that may be of interest to you:

1. http://lrc.wfu.edu/careersinlanguages/index.html (check out the page about jobs in international organizations: http://lrc.wfu.edu/careersinlanguages/main/internationalorg.htm)

2. http://www.vistawide.com/careers/language_jobs.htm

For information on working overseas, check out the Transitions Abroad website: www.transitionsabroad.com.

You might like to check out the job listings on some of the travel and tourism industry association websites, including:

Travel Industry Association: www.tia.org
Travel and Tourism Research Organization, http://ttra.com/Jobs.asp

Check back with the Career Center at the university where you graduated. They should be able to give you additional information on tourism and foreign language careers. They may have books on careers in travel and tourism. Many universities have information on their websites about tourism careers.  You do not say where you are located, but here are two examples:

http://student.bton.ac.uk/studserv/Careers/sector_travel&tourism.htm (UK)

http://www.bsu.edu/students/careers/publications/hospitality/ (US)

Good luck and happy travels!