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Traveling Jobs in IT?

Posted by Cliff on from the avoiding-the-cube-farm dept.

wed128 asks: "I am currently a freshman at Penn State University, studying for a Computer Engineering degree. However, I look at the graduates ahead of me and many of them are cubical warriors. This doesn't really bother me, however i'd like to see the world before being confined to a cube for the rest of my life. Are there any jobs in an IT field where I can travel? How would I go about getting the right contacts regarding this? I have 4 years till graduation, so this isn't a direct plea for a job..."

7 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Pre-sales engineer by -dsr- · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you have or can develop people skills -- presentations, answering questions, talking without stuttering, explaining complex technical subjects to your Mom -- then you may want to look into sales engineering.

    A sales engineer has a few important functions: uphold the technical reputation of the company, find solutions to customer problems, and keep the salescritters honest. (Bad sales engineers destroy the company's rep, push the most expensive products even when there's a better cheaper solution, and care only about their salescritters' quarterly numbers. That's a short-term ticket to wealth, followed by the death of your company.)

  2. You will have to work to not travel. by (H)elix1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This doesn't really bother me, however i'd like to see the world before being confined to a cube for the rest of my life. Are there any jobs in an IT field where I can travel?

    You have got to be kidding me. Join most any company that has a significant consulting services or sales branch, and it is easy to see the world. Within the next six weeks I'll hit cities in four continents.... Surprisingly, the view is about the same as a cube. A card table if the client planned ahead, a hotel every nigh where you spend the rest of the evening making magic, and eating at whatever restaurant is nearby. I know where the plane is on some international flight just by the snack cart shuffling about.

    There was a point - travel is easy. If you want to spelunk the world and enjoy it, better to do it as a vacationer than trying to 'see the world' after a shift is done. I saw more of Europe backpacking on the cheap in college than I have 'commuting' back and forth.

    As a bonus, make sure you pick a career that affords you the purchasing power to see the world. Air and hotel miles are a brutal way to do it... (grin)

    --
    +++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
    1. Re:You will have to work to not travel. by PD · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I disagree completely. I travel between 20% and 40% of my time in any given year, and I've seen many things that I wouldn't have bothered to see otherwise.

      You will as often find yourself in Lizard Lick, North Carolina as you find yourself in Paris, France. The difference is that while you might go to Paris for a vacation, you'll never to to Lizard Lick on your time off.

      But if you make it a point to dig up something interesting no matter where you are, you will always be able to tell stories about that time you were stuck in Lizard Lick. Every place you visit has something interesting to see. If you rely on a big sign and a line of people with cameras and big hats to find something interesting, you'll hate it. If you can talk to people and don't mind walking out of your hotel with the goal of seeing something before you know what it is you will see, you'll like it.

      You may not be able to backpack your way down the Appalachian Trail on a business trip, but there's plenty of other ways to see cool things in Virginia if you're sent there.

      --
      If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
  3. If you like traveling, then this is for you! by saden1 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I happen to know that The Naval Research Facility is hiring network and system engineers. These guys do a lot of traveling since they have contracts with and support the US Navy. They are all over the place (Hawaii, Norfolk, Japan, Italy, etc) installing equipment and such in Navy ships.

    Word of caution, traveling sucks after a while...the first few times it is cool but after that you will hate it. I don't know about most people but I don't like flying every week a day flying to a destination and another day flying backs from it.

    --

    -----
    One is born into aristocracy, but mediocrity can only be achieved through hard work.
    1. Re:If you like traveling, then this is for you! by aminorex · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, travel the world, meet interesting
      people, and kill them.

      --
      -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
  4. A GREAT job by LePrince · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Try this : Cirque du Soleil. I work there, but in the International HeadQuarters in Montreal, so I don't travel. But it's a GREAT company, that treats its employees really well and pays a decent salary. And there are of course travelling jobs, with the many tours (Quidam, Saltimbanco, Alegria, Varekai and Dralion). As a matter of fact, the Dralion tech is a good friend of mine... Of course, I don't get to see him much. :-P But beware, these jobs aren't available often, because the techs love their job, so we don't get many departures...

    There are also some "fly-in" jobs that are based in Montreal, and I believe there are some too in Vegas and Amsterdam. Check it out ! :-)

  5. Education by Jmstuckman · · Score: 3, Informative

    You might want to try to work for a large company and get into customer education. Many of our instructors travel around the world, delivering education to customers on using our server software.