Being a tour guide can be an incredibly fun and rewarding career choice, with new experiences and opportunities every day. Some tour guides travel to other countries where they work as guides for tours that last for several days or even weeks. The variety of job settings and duties alone can make the field an interesting one for someone who enjoys traveling and likes working with people.
Being a tour guide can be an incredibly fun and rewarding career choice, with new experiences and opportunities every day. You might work as a tour guide in a museum and give guided tours of the rooms and exhibits or you may work as a guide on an organized tour of a city. Some tour guides travel to other countries where they work as guides for tours that last for several days or even weeks. The variety of job settings and duties alone can make the field an interesting one for someone who enjoys traveling and likes working with people. If you are considering working in this profession then continue reading for a list of ten reasons to become a tour guide.
1. Variety of job settings- Tour guides work for museums, historical homes, organized city tours, long-distance tours, and even field guides that take groups camping and hiking. With such a large variety of job settings available you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a setting that is interesting to you.
2. You like working with people- Tour guides must have strong personal skills and communication skills. Most of the job requires interpersonal interactions. If you like working with a diverse group of people then this job could be very rewarding for you.
3. No two days are ever the same- Even if you are traveling with the same group for several weeks, no two days will ever the same. New challenges will arise, you’ll get to meet new people, and questions will be asked that require you to think on your feet.
4. You get to learn new things- As a tour guide, you get to become very familiar with a place, person, or even area that you might not have been familiar with beforehand.
5. Potential to earn a good salary- Although most tour guide jobs don’t pay extravagantly well, if you are personable and do your job well the opportunity to make good tips exists.
6. You want to have your own business- Some people end up starting their own tour guide services. If there is a place or area that you love and you want to share your interest in it with others then this can be a great business for you to get into.
7. You have a passion for the place that you are showcasing- If you love the museum, place, or area that you are considering working for then working there as a guide is a great way to combine your love of it with a career.
8. You have a special set of skills- If you have a special skills set, such as camping, hiking, or even just general knowledge about an area, then using those skills to inform and educate others can be a very rewarding career choice.
9. You want to volunteer- Some tour guide jobs aren’t paid, but are conducted by volunteers. This can be a good alternative if you’re not looking for a job but simply want the experience.
10. You need seasonal work- Many tour guide jobs are seasonal. For college students or those that have summers off, this might be a very good fit.