Around this time of year folks in travel companies around the globe receive their destinations for the next round of seasons...It can be good or bad news. Today my feed has been full of joy, moaning and even job resignations. It can make or break the next steps of your career. It opens up your mind to a whole range of questions and emotions about what to do next...Is it fine to stay another season somewhere you're not too happy with? Is it time to move on and seek out work at home? Is it time to switch jobs/company? Many times I have said that "this will be my last season" and it never is. I've said it this season though, a lot. But I know if I get my first choice then I'll do another one...And then another one...And so the cycle goes. But there is a niggling thought that keeps rearing it's head about whether or not it really is time to go back home, settle and find a 'normal' job. I'm not old by any standards, however I've been working abroad for nearly 6 years on and off and beginning to miss out on friends/families lives back at home. I'm constantly jealous of college and university friends who suddenly have scary sounding job titles or are tying the knot or worse still, popping out sprogs. Then I have to remind myself I too have a fancy sounding job title, albeit not with the fancy wage packet and I chose to give up the rest for the love of travel. That sounds pretentious but falling in love abroad is not something I would wish upon anyone, you think regular relationships are tough?
I'm dissapointed for a few of my friends who I know have worked hard in their current resorts, yet have seemingly being forgotten by said companies and not even given any of their choices. At that point, and if it happens to me I would definitely consider a move. But that's me, a big part of my working ethic is being appreciated for the work you do. Sometimes in a big company it can all get lost in translation and you start to wonder if there was any point working so hard in the first place. The advantage I have is working for an outside agency that specialises in entertainment for these big tour operators. We find out our placements later, we are self-employed and can pick up contracts as we wish. It's not great on the job security front mind, I could be without a placement for winter and that would mean a complete change of direction in career and outlook. But everything happens for a reason I always say! I know I'm starting to become incredibly picky about which destinations I do and I only do this because there are parts of the world I want to see, lots of places I've already been and some places I know for a fact I would not enjoy. Maybe I'm narrow minded but the more off the beaten track and obscure the destination, the more interested I am. I would never put down mainland Spain but I'd definitely put down Madeira or the Italian Riviera. Most people at Christmas want Lapland...It definitely has it's appeal but having done it, I definitely say be warned it is the hardest season you will ever work. But very rewarding. And a few husky rides do sweeten the workload!
So whether it's congratulations or commisserations, I wish all my travel friends the best of luck in the coming seasons and if they choose to move on then I also respect that it's a tough and heartbreaking decision to make. Nobody wants to come home and stay home after a life on the road, but sadly for most of us, this life comes with an expiration date...I can sometimes feel my ovaries screaming at me to get a move on and find a man as it will all be too late very very soon! ;-)
I'm dissapointed for a few of my friends who I know have worked hard in their current resorts, yet have seemingly being forgotten by said companies and not even given any of their choices. At that point, and if it happens to me I would definitely consider a move. But that's me, a big part of my working ethic is being appreciated for the work you do. Sometimes in a big company it can all get lost in translation and you start to wonder if there was any point working so hard in the first place. The advantage I have is working for an outside agency that specialises in entertainment for these big tour operators. We find out our placements later, we are self-employed and can pick up contracts as we wish. It's not great on the job security front mind, I could be without a placement for winter and that would mean a complete change of direction in career and outlook. But everything happens for a reason I always say! I know I'm starting to become incredibly picky about which destinations I do and I only do this because there are parts of the world I want to see, lots of places I've already been and some places I know for a fact I would not enjoy. Maybe I'm narrow minded but the more off the beaten track and obscure the destination, the more interested I am. I would never put down mainland Spain but I'd definitely put down Madeira or the Italian Riviera. Most people at Christmas want Lapland...It definitely has it's appeal but having done it, I definitely say be warned it is the hardest season you will ever work. But very rewarding. And a few husky rides do sweeten the workload!
So whether it's congratulations or commisserations, I wish all my travel friends the best of luck in the coming seasons and if they choose to move on then I also respect that it's a tough and heartbreaking decision to make. Nobody wants to come home and stay home after a life on the road, but sadly for most of us, this life comes with an expiration date...I can sometimes feel my ovaries screaming at me to get a move on and find a man as it will all be too late very very soon! ;-)
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