How to Become a Workamper

If camping and working sound like a package deal to you then workamping might be right up your alley. The name and concept was derived from Workamper News, an organization that caters to full time and seasonal RVers for over thirty years. The term workamper refers to an individual that seeks employment or volunteer position and resides in his/her respective abode be it a motorhome, trailer, fifth wheel, van, or tent during the duration of their stay. Still interested in being a part of this ever-evolving population? The section below details the process of becoming a workamper.

Related Read: Workamping- How to Go Where You Want

Understand what it means to be a workamper.
Workamping is synonymous with full time RVers but encompasses anyone that works and camps out in other structures like a tent or even onsite lodging. Work is ambiguous in that it encompasses pretty much any kind of job you can imagine. Some workampers have a business they can operate remotely, in the comfort of their rig or vehicle. They have the most flexibility in their work schedule, destination, and length of stay. The more typical route involves working or volunteering at an establishment for a period of time (a season) in exchange for an RV site and/or some form of compensation (usually monetary).

In our four years as full time RVers, we have worked mostly seasonally, scheduling jobs in locations around the country that we would like to explore and also have preferred climate for that period of time. Winter in the south, and summer in the north. We have intermingled remote work with these seasonal jobs, however, as freelance writers. The most important thing to know is that there is only one rule with workamping: There are no rules; you do what suits you.

Determine what you want to achieve through workamping.
Solo travelers, couples, and families choose to take on workamping for a number of reasons. Those reasons fit their present state in life and future goals. Before delving into the process of finding a job, take a step back and evaluate your current situation and what direction(s) you want to take from there.

Are you a retired couple with a carefully carved out retirement savings, ready to explore the country but stop every once and a while to smell the roses? Quite a few retired travelers prefer volunteer positions where full hook-up sites are offered for a few hours of minimal labor at places like national or state parks and visitor centers.

Related Read: Top Jobs Options for RVers on the Road

Travelers that are nowhere near retirement or not ready to dip into their retirement accounts rely on a stream of income to get by. Workamping jobs that offer pay for all hours worked and/or a site with full hookups is preferable. In this case, workamping opportunities can range from remote work like software programming to self-made businesses via online or fairs/festivals to seasonal or traditional 9-5 jobs.

The factors to consider when determining your preferred workamping job is compensation, location, length of stay, and desire to work in the particular field. Questions to consider when determining what you want out of workamping include: Is this a job I am excited about/ wanting to take on? Will this job or cluster of jobs meet budget needs? Do I want to stay in this particular location and for how long? How does the rest of my traveling crew feel about this decision?

List workamping opportunities that appeal to these wants and needs.
After you have considered what you want to gain from workamping, move onto the fun part: exploring job opportunities. What type of job is most appealing? Workamping jobs typically fall into two main categories: remote and location based.

Related Read: Using the Gig Economy to Earn Money While Traveling

Remote jobs involve working in your home-on-wheels. As mentioned before, these jobs allow the workamper the most flexibility on the road as they can stay in their destination of choice (provided all the necessities like internet service are available) for as long or as little as desired. Most remote jobs require online access and pay can fluctuate depending on your skill set. The following article lists some more well known examples of jobs for those interested in at-home employment.

The more sought after jobs, however, are those that involve some form of commute to a central location. Many of these workamping jobs are referred to as seasonal positions and easier to find compared to remote jobs since there are so many companies nationwide seeking extra hands during the summer and holidays. Other jobs that involve reporting to a central location can include camp hosting, manning a booth at a fair or festival, oil field guards, or a traditional 9 to 5 job. The latter option may involve staying at a location for more than a few months, more like years. Since these jobs are in varying locations, they do require workampers to set commitments on schedules, location, and initial travel to the state (if they are hundreds of miles away).

Aside from Workamper News, there are other companies that advertise many types of workamping opportunities. They include, but not limited to, WorkampingJobs.com, CoolWorks, HappyVagabonds, Workers on Wheels, and Working Couples.

More Great Info Here: Making Money While RVing-- Here Is One Way It Can Be Done

Get ready, set, and go job seeking!
Once you have at least a rough draft of the job or jobs you are looking into, keeping in mind your interests, skill set, desired location and length of stay, along with your budget needs, it’s time to prepare for applications. Unless you are starting up a business, most job application processes require a resume. In the following article, I discuss the sections of a workamping resume and include ways to improve each section.

Personally, we begin applying for workamping jobs several months in advance so we have seasonal jobs set up throughout the coming year. However, there are some businesses that request help at the last minute due to sudden workamper cancellations. During the application and interview process, be prepared with your information and questions and be on time with answering emails and phone calls. Preparedness and eagerness speak volumes to potential employees!

With the plethora and diversity of jobs available, it’s never a dull moment with workamping. For us, each job has some form of a learning curve and we always leave the end of the season or stint with a new understanding and appreciation for the experience. Do you think workamping is something for you? If you are currently a workamper, what advice do you have to share with potential workampers? Please share in the comments below.