Unskilled Jobs Outside of North America?

[gargamel]

Does anyone have any suggestions of jobs that I could get and/or places that I could live outside of North America without having any particular skills and not being able to speak any languages other than English and very poor Spanish?

As a little background, I'm 31 years old and have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and a law degree, and I've been working as a corporate/intellectual property lawyer for the past few years, but I just quit my job and need to do something that I enjoy.

I've never lived outside of North America and would like to experience that for a while before possibly coming back and finding a job in another field (I'll worry about that later), but I have no idea about what opportunities, if any, are out there. If there's nothing that I can do for work, I'll probably just use my savings to be the too-old backpacker in hostels for a few months, but I'd ideally stretch it out a little longer by finding a job and spending some quality time somewhere. I'm open to pretty much anywhere. Any ideas?

[Nage Waza]

There are assorted volunteer jobs you can take, or see if any mining companies want to take you up for environmental auditing (you will have to learn local and CDN mining rules and best practices).

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Does anyone have any suggestions of jobs that I could get and/or places that I could live outside of North America without having any particular skills and not being able to speak any languages other than English and very poor Spanish?

As a little background, I'm 31 years old and have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and a law degree, and I've been working as a corporate/intellectual property lawyer for the past few years, but I just quit my job and need to do something that I enjoy.

I've never lived outside of North America and would like to experience that for a while before possibly coming back and finding a job in another field (I'll worry about that later), but I have no idea about what opportunities, if any, are out there. If there's nothing that I can do for work, I'll probably just use my savings to be the too-old backpacker in hostels for a few months, but I'd ideally stretch it out a little longer by finding a job and spending some quality time somewhere. I'm open to pretty much anywhere. Any ideas?

1. Surf Shop/Live on Gold Coast. Kirra's got a huge surf shop and it's 2blocks from the beach, rent is $300-$400/week. Pay would be ~$20/hr.

2. FIFO work for one of the mines/oil and gas...live anywhere you want in Australia and fly in to site for 2weeks on/2weeks off. Just tell them about your chemical engineering degree and your want to start at the bottom.

[DuffMan]

drug mule

[flylock shox]

I was a disaffected travelling lawyer myself not so long ago. Always wished I'd discovered this site earlier. Maybe it can help you.

[CaramonLS]

Many countries in Asia - you can teach English with just an undergrad degree.

Friend of mine did the JET program - http://www.jetprogramme.ca/

You don't need to speak any Japanese.

[Northendzone]

Have you considered a career in the adult film industry?

[Muta]

gargamel - good for you for giving up everything at the moment and making a choice like this. Lots of people might think you're crazy, especially at 31, but I would definitely do what you've done. I'm 30, and wouldn't let age stop me like it hasn't you.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Many countries in Asia - you can teach English with just an undergrad degree.

Friend of mine did the JET program - http://www.jetprogramme.ca/

You don't need to speak any Japanese.

Yeah I was going to mention this too. I think I know five people that have done this. Still think about doing it myself.

[gargamel]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'd always assumed that I'd need to speak the local language to be an English teacher, but that sounds like a great job if that isn't a requirement. I'm definitely going to look more into that and into the mining/O&G options, and that workaway site is really helpful.

Originally Posted by Muta

gargamel - good for you for giving up everything at the moment and making a choice like this. Lots of people might think you're crazy, especially at 31, but I would definitely do what you've done. I'm 30, and wouldn't let age stop me like it hasn't you.

Thanks. This may end up being a horrible decision, especially if I have to resort to DuffMan or Northendzone's suggestions, but I'm feeling pretty good about it for now.

[rd_aaron]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I was a disaffected travelling lawyer myself not so long ago. Always wished I'd discovered this site earlier. Maybe it can help you.

Very cool site! I kinda wish I had a reason to do something like this.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Does anyone have any suggestions of jobs that I could get and/or places that I could live outside of North America without having any particular skills and not being able to speak any languages other than English and very poor Spanish?

As a little background, I'm 31 years old and have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and a law degree, and I've been working as a corporate/intellectual property lawyer for the past few years, but I just quit my job and need to do something that I enjoy.

I've never lived outside of North America and would like to experience that for a while before possibly coming back and finding a job in another field (I'll worry about that later), but I have no idea about what opportunities, if any, are out there. If there's nothing that I can do for work, I'll probably just use my savings to be the too-old backpacker in hostels for a few months, but I'd ideally stretch it out a little longer by finding a job and spending some quality time somewhere. I'm open to pretty much anywhere. Any ideas?

I was about your age in the late 80's when I went to Cancun and then to Isla Mujeres, an island off the coast.

While out walking I came across a pretty 26 year-old lass from California with six buckets of ice cream and one employee . . . . and she was enjoying a laid back lifestyle, living in the moment.

It was just a brief conversation and a chocolate cone but I never forgot her, particularly as I was stepping on the plane to leave Cancun, returning to the Rat Race which was pretty tough at the time.

I have no idea what happened to her - maybe she's an ice cream conglomerate or something - but I salute your choice and she's an ample demonstration that it doesn't take much in some places.

Enjoy the time off.

Cowperson

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'd always assumed that I'd need to speak the local language to be an English teacher, but that sounds like a great job if that isn't a requirement. I'm definitely going to look more into that and into the mining/O&G options, and that workaway site is really helpful.



Thanks. This may end up being a horrible decision, especially if I have to resort to DuffMan or Northendzone's suggestions, but I'm feeling pretty good about it for now.

If you have a degree in anything you can teach English almost anywhere in Asia, without being able to speak the local language. I have 2 brothers who did that and a cousin. You can make some pretty good money at it too.

[valo403]

I'll bookmark this thread for a couple of years out from now, when I too will be looking for an exotic locale at which to burn my law degree.

[Free Ben Hur!]

These two dudes from the US (Chicago if memory serves) basically quit their day-to-day lives, liquidated all of their US assets and moved to the north coast of the DR where they bought a fishing boat. Now their business suits are shorts and flip-flops and their clients are wealthy Americans and Europeans that want to catch big fish.

[Hevishot]

These two dudes from Utah basically quit their jobs and went to Africa to mine gold I cannot remember how it went for them but I am assuming it went well..

[Bill Bumface]

These two dudes from Philadelpia quit their jobs.

And then they died.

Govern yourself accordingly.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by valo403

I'll bookmark this thread for a couple of years out from now, when I too will be looking for an exotic locale at which to burn my law degree.

You're a lawyer?

[blankall]

I would look into consulting jobs. I'd also look into going back to school for another degree. If your serious about moving abroad, a local degree from the UK would go a long way. I'm talking about getting a 1-2 year master's program. Not another 3+ year degree.

It sounds like you want a break from law/engineering and just want to do something simple. There are plenty of skilled jobs that will allow you to work at a better pace.

You could also consider working for the other side for lower pay. People have suggested consulting for mining. Why not try consulting for an environmental/aboriginal group.

Basically, I don't think you need to be as extreme as getting a job in a surf shop on the other side of the globe. There are plenty of things you can do with both your law and engineering degrees, which don't involve working in a law firm. As a lawyer myself, I understand how certain lawyers are the problem with working in law. I worked briefly in IP myself, and those lawyers were some of the worst of the bunch. Many totally lacked social skills and were especially arrogant about their jobs.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by blankall

I would look into consulting jobs. I'd also look into going back to school for another degree. If your serious about moving abroad, a local degree from the UK would go a long way. I'm talking about getting a 1-2 year master's program. Not another 3+ year degree.

It sounds like you want a break from law/engineering and just want to do something simple. There are plenty of skilled jobs that will allow you to work at a better pace.

You could also consider working for the other side for lower pay. People have suggested consulting for mining. Why not try consulting for an environmental/aboriginal group.

Basically, I don't think you need to be as extreme as getting a job in a surf shop on the other side of the globe. There are plenty of things you can do with both your law and engineering degrees, which don't involve working in a law firm. As a lawyer myself, I understand how certain lawyers are the problem with working in law. I worked briefly in IP myself, and those lawyers were some of the worst of the bunch. Many totally lacked social skills and were especially arrogant about their jobs.

I'll second this, it may just be a matter of changing your position within the industry, not the industry itself. If you're at a big firm maybe move to a small one or look in house. Sometimes that doesn't change things, but you never know. Perhaps look for a way to utilize your skills to bring something new to a completely different area, maybe one that's not dominated by legal/engineering think but could benefit from some of that.

I've definitely been in your shoes (well without taking the step of leaving my job) and can relate to the desire to just go far far away and do something like rent surf boards on the beach. It sounds amazing, but the reality might not live up to it. On the other hand, I worked with a guy who left law to become a spin class instructor and meditation teacher. Ran into him the other day and he's about the happiest guy I've ever met (not even high, I don't think) and doing well enough financially to be comfortable.