augustiner05

Hello Guys!
I just wanted your opinions on whether or not I should add my travel experiences on my resume?

The job prospect is at a swanky hotel, so kind of travel related….. I guess I’m just worried that they will see I take off for a few months at a time for travel ever year. Is there a way of adding my experiences without highlighting as soon as I save enough money, I’m on a flight out of the country.
Has anyone been hired or not hired because of frequent travel?
Thanks for your input, Sandy

Elizabeth

I leave travel off my resume when applying for "McJobs" because more often than not the supervisors just don't understand that its backpacker, low budget travel. They end up thinking I'm spoiled or privileged.

You could mention international travel experience, but maybe don't put dates.

pinknic38

Yeah I am with Liz, mention you have international travel experience, but only elaborate if asked, I wouldn't add your backpacking trips on your resume. Now I know a LOT of grad programs LOVE to see people who took a year off to go travel and blah blah blah, but real world? Maybe not so much.

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Canadian Bacon

I would add one or two lines in the 'other interests' category. Mostly it's a conversation starter, and I you would be surprised just how many people are former/current backpackers at heart and just dressed up in a suit.

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Jules: "Well, basically, I'm just gonna walk the earth."
Vincent: "What you mean 'walk the earth'?"
Jules: "You know, like Kane in 'Kung Fu'...go places...meet people...get in adventures."

Trips (only counting recreational travel):
FIRST TRIP (2005): FIRST EUROTRIP EVER! UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland
SECOND TRIP (2007): First Solo Trip! Greece, Turkey, Syria, Spain
2008: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Yangshuo) ...right before the Olympics!
2009: Japan & HK, Southern Spain
[size=1]2010: All over Lebanon, Ibiza (Spain), Oktoberfest (Germany), Thailand.
2011: India (Goa), Jordan, Jerusalem, San Sebastian (Spain), Amsterdam (again), London, Driving from Vancouver to L.A. (stopping in Portland, Seattle, San Fran and all the little stops), Montpellier (France), Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland)

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it."

joe7f

I think in general leave it off. However, if you are using it to highlight that perhaps, you have learned a little bit of a few foreign languages that would be useful at a hotel.

If you have experience working/volunteering at a hostel I would say that would work.

--Joey

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TheWills

Save it for the interview, I always get asked why is there a one year gap in your work here, what did you do in that time ?? Travelled

raoulduke

I've been meaning to post this link for a while:

How to Make Travel Look Good on a Resume

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c0urt

i have a two year gap back in 06,
that hurts just as much as it help.
and no two jobs are in the same state on my resume
they understand i did it to travel, but several understand i am likely to walk off the job and travel for little reason other than i need clean underwear

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blinkchick2134

I've been applying for jobs here in Hawaii for the past week or so. I make up for the near two-year long gap in my resume but simply stating in my cover letter that I've been traveling to improve upon whatever it may be that would sell well with the company (cultural for tour companies, budgeting/money management for sales jobs, etc). Usually it's one or two sentances ending with "I'm looking forward to applying the skills I've learned in *insert company type* position". Usually I say I've settled here for the long term (if the job pays well enough I might stay, who knows?).

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Amber

"If I had a kid I'd f**k it. Then kill it. Then f**k it again." Seattle 2006

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tumblezweedz

I have been turned down for a job because they thought I wouldn't stick around, but that was more because I would have had to move for the job and they figured I would want to move back to my cooler hometown eventually. Would I? Who knows? Within a year I was married, had moved out of the country and embarked on a life involving 13 moves in 15 years, living in four different countries on three different continents... Not getting that job was not the end of my world!

Since it's a hospitality industry job, I'd say include it as an interest (I always did, even for non-hospitality jobs), and perhaps give an idea of the countries you've visited, though not necessarily detailed itineraries. Since you'll be dealing with people from other nations and cultures (presumably), indicating some sort of cultural awareness - particularly of etiquette - and comfort with dealing with people from diverse backgrounds, and definitely any language skills you have, should all be considered assets. Travelers also tend to be fairly self-reliant, confident and can perform tasks with some independence (you can gauge whether that's an asset for this particular job or not!), all of which can be pluses in your working life.