Exploring what the big, wide world has to offer and broadening your horizons is the goal of every budding Marco Polo.

Forcing yourself out of your comfort zone can help lead you down the journey of self-discovery and expose you to all the incredible wonders that the world has to offer. More and more people are abandoning the grey mists of England and journeying to far-off lands.

From Thailand to Peru the world is filled with breathtaking beaches, captivating cultures, and night skies that sparkle like diamonds waiting to be explored.

However, you don’t need to abandon your career prospects to go travelling. Exploration can bring the opportunity to further your knowledge, gain extra qualifications, and broaden your scope of transferable skills. Don’t put off your adventure a second longer.

Check out our three ways to boost your career prospects while on your adventure of a lifetime.

1. Study around the world

Traditional study and travel don’t tend to go hand in hand.

But with distance learning from the likes of ARU, you can set your own schedule and carry your course anywhere in the world with you. All you’ll need is a laptop or phone and you’ll be hopping on the train to success in no time. The world is your oyster, and a track record of both study and travel will show future employers that you are dedicated, educated and organised on top of being well-travelled!

2. Mastering soft skills

Travel forces you to become completely self-reliant. You need to be fully organised, able to manage your time and schedule, and become thoroughly independent for all decisions.

These are all transferrable skills not just for life, but for any workplace. Travelling solo will sky-rocket you out of your comfort zone and challenge you to think outside of the box. These are some of the qualities that employers across hundreds of industries are looking for! They want someone who will go outside of what is comfortable, to solve and really innovate.

Wow your future employer with your travel adventures and stories of the skills you gained whilst crossing continents.

3. Networking

Travelling the world gives you the opportunity to meet people across the world and see the ways things are done in other countries and cultures.

It also gives you the chance to meet new people, not only in your chosen career field but in others too. Why not volunteer or gain work experience in a completely new industry around the world?

You can build portfolios of connections using social media tools such as linkedin, and using travel as a chance to connect and introduce yourself to new people will boost your networking skills and teach you how to put yourself out there.

These are just three ways that your travel adventures can build valuable career skills for the future.

Have your travel adventures influenced your career at all? Let us know in the comments below.