Work travel can put many people off applying for jobs that require it. Not everyone wants to spend much of their working week on the road. This often comes with living away from their loved ones and the comforts of home. However, before you say no to advancement opportunities due to business travel being required, consider how beneficial it might be. Here are some of the most surprising advantages associated with work travel that might change how you view it.
Avoid Routine Burnout
Many people love the sameness and routine of daily life, but not everyone does. If you don’t tend to like being stuck in the same job doing the same thing, day in, day out, a job with business travel might suit your needs. You can travel to new locations, stay in high-quality corporate housing and hotels, and enjoy variety in the average working week that many people miss out on.
Learn Soft Skills
You might have already gained a significant number of valuable skills in your job. Especially relating to the tasks you perform every day. However, you might be surprised by how many soft skills you can acquire simply by being required to travel frequently.
Your time management skills can be impeccable due to frequent flights and appointments. Additionally, you might learn all-important problem-solving skills when you’re faced with predicaments like canceled and redirected flights. You might even notice improvements in communication since you’ll be working and communicating with people from all walks of life on a daily basis.
Earn Airline Miles
Airline miles, also known as frequent flier miles, are points you earn for every dollar you spend on travel. When your company requires you to travel often, you can quickly accumulate hundreds of points that you can put toward flights, hotel stays, and many other rewards. Depending on the arrangement you have with your employer, you might be able to use these for personal trips. This is bound to be a desirable perk when the time comes to take a vacation.
Transition to Remote Work
When your employer requires you to travel, and you’re still able to complete all your assigned work while splitting your time between the office, airport, and various cities, it becomes apparent that you don’t need to be in one location to be productive. With time and enough evidence of your productivity, you might be able to negotiate a permanent remote work role, giving you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country or world.
Even when you don’t have to travel, your boss might give you the freedom to work from home, knowing you have the skills and motivation to achieve as much as they expect from you.
Explore New Locations
Travel is expensive. Most people need to save for months to afford a vacation outside of their own town or city. You don’t need to worry about the cost when you’re paid to travel as part of your job. While you’ll need to work during the day, your nights will be your own to enjoy. You can see tourist attractions, try different cuisines, and explore new locations you might otherwise never visit. Before you head out, find out more about where you’re staying and what there is to do.
Meet New People
Many situations in life allow you to meet new people, but employment is among the most common. Many people make friends, meet romantic interests, and earn valuable connections. All by simply working with people from all walks of life.
When you travel for work, you’re often able to broaden those people-meeting opportunities. While you might not make life-long connections with everyone you meet, there’s potential for you to make new friends. Likewise, this potentially includes networking with people who might provide exciting job advancement opportunities in the future.
Career Opportunities
When you become an adept traveler, you’re able to update your resume with many technical and soft skills that could serve you well in future jobs. If the time comes to make a change and apply for new jobs, you might find that those additions make you a more desirable applicant to prospective employers.
When they see that you’re open to the idea of business travel and can make yourself available for extended trips, they might be more inclined to hire you over someone who hasn’t spent the same amount of time traveling for business.
Experience Different Cultures
Many companies conduct business across multiple countries. This sometimes means employees must travel internationally to meet with clients, suppliers, and manufacturers. While international travel can be daunting, it does enable you to experience different cultures.
The more you learn about new places and different ways of working, the more well-rounded your view of different locations and people might become. You might even find that you’re more patient and understanding. Additionally, more empathetic toward people who don’t live the same lifestyle as you.
As stressful and tiring as business travel can be, there’s no denying that it can also be beneficial. This is both on a professional and business level. If you’re being asked to travel for work, there’s every reason to believe you might be able to experience some of the above benefits for yourself.
