The desire to travel and see the world is often met by the concern that doing so would rule out the possibility of having a stable long-term career. However, there are many career paths that not only allow for traveling but absolutely require it. Social workers are fortunate enough to be included in a group of professionals that can regularly find jobs in other countries and are eligible for international positions that necessitate frequent travel to various destinations. Whether you choose to temporarily move to another country to experience its culture, or pursue a job that has you going to many different places in the course of a year, chances are you’ll prefer it over being stuck in the same old building for years. With that said, here are 4 options to consider if you’re looking for travel-friendly social work jobs:
1. Educational and Medical Organizations
Educational institutions and healthcare facilities worldwide are always in need of social workers. Of course, if you want to maximize your chances of being hired by a university or healthcare facility you may want to earn a masters in social work online to obtain a degree that proves your eligibility. The good news is that there are plenty of online programs that you can complete during your spare time without compromising your current job or personal obligations. Furthermore, once you have your masters you’ll be eligible to play any role in social work, including the five most popular positions in the field.
2. United Nations and UNICEF
The United Nations (UN) is one of the world’s largest disaster relief agencies in the world with locations in more than 190 countries, so they’re always in need of good social workers. They even have a page on their site dedicated to international and domestic social work job listings for the UN. Bilingual social workers are particularly preferred, especially those who can speak the native language of the country their new employer’s based in. If you’d prefer working with children, another option to consider might be the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which also has its own page for employment opportunities.
3. Military
You could also apply to become a social worker for the US Army or US Navy and receive a highly desirable salary and benefits. It’s important to remember that enlisting for a position in the military is a serious commitment, and you may find yourself positioned in places that have been affected by war and tragedy. Still, most social work jobs in the military are very safe and aren’t much different from similar domestic positions.
4. World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization is located in more than 150 countries and specializes in the prevention of disease. They’re almost always hiring social workers somewhere on the planet, so it’s worthwhile to check out the WHO job openings page.
Plenty of Social Work Jobs to Go Around
Between the five options listed above, you should have no problem finding plenty of social work positions within dozens of different countries at any given time, especially if you’ve already earned a MSW online as mentioned earlier.
