Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Look for Opportunities
• Method 2 of 3: Get a Job
• Method 3 of 3: Deal with Difficulties
• Tips
• Warnings

Working as a tour guide can be a great career option for people who love to travel, be in the center of the crowd, and are true masters of multitasking. If you are one of those people, start looking for jobs online and in your city right now. You can improve your chances of doing this by obtaining a professional certification or degree in the field. And once you find a job, be prepared to face the challenges of this fun and unique but sometimes stressful job.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Look for Opportunities

1. 1 Review all online vacancies and job offers. Guides work in parks, historic buildings, travel companies, cruise ships, and more. Think about where you would like to work the most, and narrow your search according to these criteria.
   • To start your search, in your favorite search engine, type in something like "guiding a cruise ship to the Caribbean." Then you can view the vacancies for the position of the guide in different companies, with different requirements and salaries.
2. 2 To find out which tours you might like, check them out for yourself. Take several tours to determine your specific job. Visit museums and historic buildings in your city, and book a sightseeing bus tour. Write down all the pros and cons of different types of tour guide work.
   • You may have to stretch out your visit to the tours as they can be too expensive. Plan one tour every two weeks or so. While you're looking for work, take tours instead of cafes and other fun activities.
   • You can also invite friends and family to go on the tour with you. They will be able to share their opinions on what they liked and what did not, and in this way it will help you become a better guide when you find a job.
3. 3 Take notes to jot down your thoughts on the different tours. When you go on tour, be sure to bring a notebook to keep track of your thoughts on your experiences in the field. Later, when you weigh and compare different job offers, you can return to these notes. These recordings can also help you develop your personal touring style.
4. 4 Check the websites of the tour guide associations. There are professional tour guide organizations in many cities, countries and regions. These organizations help tour guides advance their careers and promote the very work of a tour guide as a positive aspect of international tourism. They can help you find educational opportunities as well as provide directions for work.
   • For more information and a list of these associations around the world, please visit http://www.beabetterguide.com/tour-guide-associations/ (in English). Also visit the resource http://www.agipe.ru/.
5. 5 Visit your local travel agency for brochures. For advertising purposes, travel agencies may partner with local travel companies. Take the brochures they offer in the office and ask which companies they recommend to their clients the most. Contact the best companies using the information found in the brochure and inquire about job openings.
   • Keep in mind that some travel agents may tell you that they prefer a certain company if they are in partnership with them, even if they know the company has some problems. Therefore, be sure to do your own research about the company by going to the official website or visiting the company's offices.
6. 6 Get in touch with the major travel companies in your area. Travel companies may even be close to your home, especially if you live in a big city. Email or call them to see if they have any vacancies. Local opportunities like these can be a great start to your touring career.
   • You can also check online to see if the company has open positions, as most companies list similar information on their websites.
   • If you are hoping to become a guide to travel, then these options are not an option for you. Remember, doing work locally can help you improve your resume and experience while staying in your comfort zone. By working locally, you can always keep looking for a travel-oriented job!

Method 2 of 3: Get a Job

1. 1 Pass all required exams. Many cities and countries require guides to pass certain exams before they can lead a group. Some travel companies require you to take this exam before you even apply for a job. Read on the Internet if you need to take a qualifying exam in your city, and then pay the required amount to register for the test.
   • You can also read the test details, tutorials and other registration information online. To find everything you need to prepare and pass the exam, enter something like “Professional qualification exam for guides in Krasnodar”.
   • Take the exam seriously. If you fail, you will have to pay for registration again!
2. 2 Take training to gain experience and make useful contacts. Professional tour guides' associations offer professional development classes for tour guides. These lectures teach public speaking, tourism and tourism industry terminology, leadership and teamwork, and other skills valuable to tour guides. These institutions also issue certificates upon completion of their program.
   • Make sure you register for guides and not tour managers. The managers are in charge of logistics and management, while the guides lead the group and talk about the places they visit.
   • These programs are great for meeting people in this area. In particular, your teachers can lead you to people who need good guides.
3. 3 Take classes in the relevant field to expand your knowledge. If you live near your local university or college, review your list of activities. If there are courses in linguistics, leadership, hospitality and / or tourism, be sure to sign up. These courses will improve your resume and also increase your chances of getting a job as a tour guide.
   • Make sure you have the money and time to devote to your studies. If you are currently working full time, consider attending evening classes.
4. 4 Try to get a degree in hospitality or tourism if you can afford it. This degree does not guarantee you a job as a guide, but it will show your potential employers that you have the basic skills to work in this area. If you are currently a college or university student and you know for sure that you want to be a guide, then this may be a great option for you to earn a degree.
5. 5 You can apply for the vacancy online or in person. Once you have selected several companies you would like to work for, fill out their applications online or in person. You will need to provide your contact information, work background / work experience, provide some good references and resume.
   • Most reputable companies will do background checks before hiring you.
   • If they like your application, most companies will contact you within one or two follow-up interviews before hiring you.
6. 6 Be prepared to answer individual questions. Travel companies will want you to prove that you are ready to work as a guide. Their questions can be designed to test how you will handle emergencies, to test if your personality is the right fit for leadership, and to make sure you enjoy the job itself.
   • Such questions may include the following: "What will you do if the bus breaks down?", Or "What do you like most about being a tour guide in our company?"
7. 7 Settle for the best job offer you receive. If you are lucky and you get a lot of offers, then make a list of all the pros and cons of each of them. When doing this, take into account the location, work schedule, and salary. Decide which one offers the best balance between fun and financial practicality, and agree!

Method 3 of 3: Deal with Difficulties

1. 1 Accept that you will always be working with people. Working as a guide means you need to be the life of the party. Be prepared to constantly answer questions, find an approach to difficult personalities, and lead people to interesting places and locations. Every time you are at work, you need to be cheerful and optimistic.
   • You may want to plan your weekend time to balance your work schedule.
2. 2 To be a good guide, you need to absorb and memorize a lot of information. Your main job is to tell people interesting facts about the places you visit. Take the time to explore these places. Get information from your company, your local library, and the internet to expand your knowledge.
   • Participants will ask you questions that may be slightly off-topic, and knowing the answers to such questions will impress your audience and make you a better guide.
   • If you don't know the answer to a question, say so. Tell your audience that you are not sure about the answer, but would really like to know it, and therefore, as soon as possible, start looking for this answer.
3. 3 Act quickly when things don't go according to plan. When you coordinate people, travel plans, and site visits, there are many opportunities for contingencies! Don't panic if someone gets sick, the bus breaks down, or the entire park is suddenly closed for the whole day. Thinking ahead and solving problems as soon as they arise is your job.
   • You can always contact your company for help in such situations, but there is no need to get excited. When you are out on tour, you are the leader of the group, so people will be waiting for your directions and instructions in any given situation.
4. 4 Get ready to work as a freelancer. One of the hardest aspects of being a tour guide is that you are usually hired as a temporary worker. If you live in a country that provides health insurance through employers, you may need to negotiate private insurance yourself. You will also need to be responsible for keeping labor and tax records.
5. 5 When leading a group, you must put your needs last. Remember that these people are on vacation and you are at work. Do whatever is necessary to keep the group happy and safe. When you're at work, be as focused on your people as possible.
   • This can be quite challenging, especially if you are touring in beautiful places where people usually relax, but you have to stay strong! You get paid for this job.
6. 6 You must understand the physical requirements for this job. As a tour guide, you should spend most of your time on your feet. You need to be physically fit and prepared to keep up with the rhythm of this work.
7. 7 You have to be a real storyteller to make facts interesting to your audience. Tell stories to keep your excursions moving and engaging. You shouldn't just be listing names, dates, and events. Give your audience something exciting by telling short stories at multiple locations throughout the tour; and each story must have a beginning, a middle, and an exciting ending.
   • In addition, it is imperative that you be respectful of the place you are visiting. Both you and your group. You will be responsible for adhering to the rules.
   • Always face your audience when leading a tour.

Tips

• If you are looking for a job in a country with an official language that you do not speak, you should learn the language by enrolling in courses or using special language learning software.
• Take a course of first aid and artificial respiration. This may not be necessary depending on the job you are staying at, but as a guide, you will need to know what to do in emergencies. These skills will also work well on your resume.

Warnings

• Keep in mind that while you may be working in a vacation location, you yourself are not on vacation. Most of your time will be spent on work.
• As a guide, you may have to work for hours on end. Your job may be in an interesting place, but you need to be sure that you can work on a tight schedule.
• Keep in mind that in many cases the tour guide's work is seasonal. This may mean that you will not have a permanent job in one place. However, if you are not against travel, you can always travel to different places in the world during the working season.