Working on the Road - One Way to Full-Time RV

"If you are new to working on the road, you'll find you are qualified for more jobs than you think"

Working on the Road - One Way to Full-Time RV

by RV Lifestyle Expert Author Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Bill and I were 47 when we hit the road full-time in our RV. We had taken a trip and discovered people lived full-time in their RVs and that you could get jobs while traveling. In fact, there was a publication called Workamper News just for RVers looking for work. Wow!

In 1992, we sold everything, bought a used '89 Pace Arrow and began traveling. We not only supported ourselves, but we put money in savings each year. And we had a heck of a good time. In fact, working or volunteering is an excellent way to spend time in an area and get to know it as well as support your RV lifestyle. If you are not at retirement age, it can be a way to start full-time RVing before you retire.

If you are new to working on the road, you'll find you are qualified for more jobs than you think. Your life experience, work ethic, ability to get along with people and common sense are valuable. Employers are looking for good workers; they can train you on the rest.

Follow these six steps to find a position you enjoy and that meets your needs.

1. First identify your goals, then your skills and abilities. What do you want to do? How much do you want or need to make? What can you do? Think about what skills the jobs you might want require, then list those you have. For example, jobs working in RV parks requires people skills, computer skills, handling complaints, maintenance, directing activities, making reservations.

2. Apply to many jobs. You increase your chances by applying to at least 20 jobs. If you pin all your hopes to one job and it doesn't come through, then you have to start over. Even if you think you are going back to the same job, apply to others. That way, if it falls through, you'll have some jobs in the works. You also learn something each time you talk to an employer.

3. Persistence and follow up are key.Don't be unhappy that an employer doesn't acknowledge your résumé, see it your follow up contact as an opportunity to find out more about the job process and sell yourself. Checking back periodically without being a pest makes you a more familiar person and your résumé rises to the top. And don't forget to send a written thank you after your interview.

4. Listen to your gut. Often RV workers have told me they "had a feeling" about something but ignored it and went anyway. Sure enough, the situation wasn't as they had hoped. If your intuition is telling you something, listen.

5. Get it in writing. Even if you are a believer in handshakes, by spelling out each point and writing it down, it makes sure you have a realistic picture of what the work situation is like. It also makes the owner think about how he will use you and whether or not he can accommodate your needs. If you have a signed agreement and things change, you have that to show that the owner promised something else. Often that is enough to correct the problem.

6. Keep in touch. After you have the job, keep in touch periodically. You'll get to know the owner better. Something may come up or you may hear something that concerns you. Better to get it straightened out before heading to the job. Check in again before you start driving to your new location. Make sure nothing has changed. If it has, see if you can work something out. If not, you save your time and money driving there. 

Full-time RVing is a wonderful lifestyle. Full-timing can be less expensive than living in a stick house. When you work or volunteer as you travel, you reduce your expenses even further plus you can bring in money too.      

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak is an RV Lifestyle Expert. She has been RVing since 1992. She and her late husband weren't retired so RVed on a budget and worked on the road. She is the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, and other RV books. Seehttp://www.RVLifestyleExperts.com for for a road map to RVing and articles on working on the road. You can sign up for RV Lifestyles Ezine, a free bi-monthly newsletter at http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/free-rv-info/rv_lifestyles_ezine/ . Jaimie shares more trips, tips and tidbits about the RV lifestyle at her blog, RV Home Yet? http://blog.rvlifestyleexperts.com