👨‍✈️ The Briefing Room:

Notes and open topics from the editor’s desk.

Welcome Departures. The place to be for where to go and what to see. One of the biggest societal side effects of the pandemic has manifested in the workforce. Whether you are for or against these changes, one thing is for certain: The relationship between white-collar workers and their cubicles will never be the same. Lockdowns forced companies to reinvent themselves almost overnight in order to accommodate the new reality of conducting business as usual while everybody worked from home. With what seems the worst of the pandemic behind us now, companies are at a cross-roads between if and how to most effectively get everyone back into the office. Workers on the other hand are not only having to reconsider the value of returning to the office but also if they even want to go back to their old jobs at all. As someone who has been running a location independent business with a 100% remote workforce for over 10 years, I have been bombarded for the last 18+ months with questions from both the employers and employees on the subject. So for the next few editions of Departures, I will dedicate a few sections to this subject. Specifically for employees who love to travel.

So now without further ado, let’s take it away!

Alvin

📰 This Week in Travel:

A TLDR approach to some of the week’s most important headlines.

• Global demand for business and leisure travel surpasses 2019 levels. According to the lates report authored by the Mastercard Economics Institute, if flight bookings continue at their current pace, an estimated 1.5 billion more passengers globally will fly in 2022 compared to last year.

• Germany approves an €9 unlimited public transport pass. In an effort to continue to incentivize tourism in the country, the monthly pass will be available for the months of June, July and August. It will be valid across the entire country on local and regional trains, buses and trams.

• The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization fee is increasing. Inbound visa waiver passengers will see the authorization charge for the 90 day permit go from $10 to $17 according to new ruling passed this week effective May 20th, 2022.

✈️ Best Jobs for Travel Lovers:

Not all jobs are as travel friendly as others. Let’s explore a few of the most flexible ones.

The cat has been let out of the bag. People have been spoilt and there is no turning back. Those fortunate enough to have been able to work remotely for the past 2 years know exactly what I am talking about. There are some clear advantages to having a flexible work schedule. But these benefits are amplified by an order of magnitude when you add flexible work location. Just the reduction of commuting time on its own is enough for a lot of people to never want to do it any other way ever again. In 2022 the improvement in work-life balance of a well managed remote office workflow is undeniable. Yet, even notable increases in motivation and productivity summed to reduced turnover and reduced need for office space are not enough to persuade a lot of employers to permanently go remote with their employees.

If you find yourself disappointed with your current employers lack of post pandemic flexibility, you are far from alone. Here are some alternate career choices that might better feed your travelust:

1. Airline / Cruise employee. This one should be pretty obvious, except it isn’t. Most people just assume it is only the pilots and flight attendants that get all the benefits of jetting around from one place to another. Though this is true to an extent, most major airlines offer generous free flight allowances to all their employees. So whether you are part of the crew in the sky or the staff on the ground, you can take advantage of all the amazing opportunities opening up right now as the airlines staff up to support their comeback. Same thing applies to cruise ship companies. If you have the flexibility, you can sign a 6 month contract for a position onboard, or apply for any of the thousands of roles on dry land. As of this writing, indeed.com has over 8,700 job openings in the airline industry. The website cruiseshipjob.com lists many of the shipboard positions you can apply for.

2. Software engineering. This might be the quintessential job for remote workers. But with good reason. It is accessible in most universities, and community colleagues as well as in many online learning websites. It is a great option for those wanting to migrate into a different career and extremely easy to make a good living after you reach good proficiency level. Demand for engineers has never been higher and doesn’t seem to show signs of slowing. Best of all, this is one job that has been literally designed to be done remotely. If you would like t explore the world of engineering a bit more closely, MIT (yes that MIT) offers what in my opinions is the best online course for beginners and it is completely free. Check it out at the MIT Open Course Website.

3. Au Pair. This job had completely flown under my radar until I moved to France this year and went to visit some friends who employed one to take care of their children as they both worked. Though the specific job description and responsibilities can vary from one family to another, think of it as a resident childcare provider. Though this job seems more oriented toward young adults, it is a great way to get your foot into another country and travel while earning a living. The website interexchange.org is a great resource to connect with families in the United States, France, Australia and New Zealand looking for an au pair.

4. Telemedicine. The medical field has in recent years gone through its share of transformation thanks to advancements in technology. Many services that once required physical visit to the office can now be done completely electronically. treatment common ailments from allergies, arthritic pain, asthma, bronchitis, colds and flu, diarrhea, infections, rashes, sprains & strains, sports injuries, vomiting and even prescriptions can all be done online. As of this writing the website soliant.com has almost 80,000 job listings in the healthcare field and 15,000 of those in the “Travel” subcategory. For those in counseling disciplines, the site betterhelp.com has openings for Clinical Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, Professional Counselor and Phycologist. All of them remote.

5. Writer. To wrap this short list I thought it would be fitting to leave you with what is probably one of the most accessible remote career path in 2022. There is absolutely no special degrees, licenses or certifications needed. Not age limit or special training required. Writing professionally just requires some practice in your chosen language and a good disposition to built up on your existing knowledge. Websites like udemy.com, skillshare.com and creativelive.com all offer great courses to hone your skills and take your writing to the next level. Website indeed.com is currently listing 5200 openings for remote writers.

🗺 Bucket List:

Short highlight of a dream destination.

How to pick your “Bucket List” remote working destination.

Ok. So you have determined remote working is feasible and the right path for you. You already decided how you are going to do it. Now where do you go? The truth is you really do not have to go anywhere. There seems to be a growing misconception that you have to move to some farm away land in order to work remotely. Although the lines seem to be pretty blurry these days, working remotely does not mean you need to be nomadic. There is a good chance you have a perfectly suitable remote working destinations within a few miles of where you currently live. Here are 5 things I recommend you look for when selecting a remote working destination:

1. Accessibility. If looking locally you will ideally want to find a place that is easily accessible via your preferred mode of transportation. If looking outside your typical driving region, in a different city or country, staying within an hour radius of a major airport tends to work better whenever you want to move around.

2. Cost of living. Specially if thinking about moving abroad. Ideally you will want to pick a place that will offer some compatibility with your current fiscal situation. Sites like expatistan.com will allow you to compare how much your budget will get you on different markets around the word.

3. Lifestyle. In hand with cost of living, you will want to find place that is compatible with your current lifestyle or the one you would like to maintain. As an example, avoid moving to a landlocked city if most of what you like to do revolves around the ocean.

4. Support System. As a remote worker, chances are you will run in to little friction interacting professionally in the digital space with employers, colleagues and clients. It is in the social sphere where things quickly break apart for both nomads and remote workers alike. Look for places that have an established community of expats, nomads or remote workers.

5. Weather. Though this can be a lot less relevant for those remote working locally. For the vast majority of us weather plays a major role in our overall mood and everyday demeanor. If planning a big move to go remote work, make sure you research your destination to ensure the average climate matches your preference.

I will be expanding more on all the points on this list in future editions as each of them really deserver their own section. But the bottom line when it comes to going remote, regardless if you across the street or across the world, the more research you do before hand, the better equipped you will be to adjust to your new environment.

🧳 Carry-on Only:

Travel experience, tech and accessory reviews.

One of the challenges in working remotely is finding a way to consistently maintain proper posture while sitting in front of the computer for hours on end. The Roost Laptop Stand aims to fix that. By elevating your laptop’s screen to a more natural level, the seven position stand reduces all the strains and ailments that come from looking down at the screen for too long. But of all, at 6.3 oz (178 grams) it won’t break your back inside your bag when not in use.

via therooststand.com

🛠 Hack of the Week:

Tips and tricks for better travel quality of life.

If you are of the type that gets easily distracted like me, chances are you take any opportunity you get that will help you be productive and stay efficient. Although you can deploy this hack if working from the office, I have found it most helpful while working remotely where I only have myself to keep me accountable on time and task.

What is the Pomodoro Technique?

In short, it is a very effective time management method of staying focused. It was developed Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s and it uses a timer to compartmentalize work in to 25 minute intervals called “pomodoros” separated by short 5-10 minute breaks. Every 4 “pomodoros” take a longer 15-30 minute break. I personally live by this method to stay productive every day and literally using it as I write this newsletter right now. Though I normally use the Pomodoro - Focus Timer app on the phone, I also like using this pomodoro video from YouTube when collaborating with others in the same room:

🛫 About Us:

Departures is a free newsletter about photography, travel & lifestyle. To find out more about what this is, who I am and why should you be here, visit our dedicated about page here:

About Departures