Accelerated Learning Programs (Contact: Dartmouth College, 6071 Wentworth Hall, Hanover, NH 13755-3525. Tel: (603) 646-2922 <www.dartmouth.edu\~rassias>) and the Language Immersion Institute at the State University of New York (Contact: College at New Paltz, JF916, New Paltz, NY 12561. Tel: (914) 257-3500).
For a comprehensive list of language instruction options, check out Smart Vacations: The Traveler’s Guide to Learning Adventures Abroad, compiled by the nonprofit Council on International Educational Exchange and published by St. Martin’s Press.
If you can’t speak the language of a country you are visiting, a willingness to attempt some basic phrases will usually win approval (and often a broad smile at the accent) from the local people. A pocket dictionary/phrase book should be part of your standard equipment — especially if you are anything less than totally fluent in that language.
3.2 Body language
Don’t forget that language is not made up only of words. Every culture has idioms, gestures, and other nonverbal language. Here is a sample of some unusual customs and body language you may experience:
(a) In Portugal you may discuss business over lunch but never at dinner.
(b) Do not send flowers to thank your Chinese host. Except when brought to the hospital, a bouquet is believed to bring misfortune to the recipient.
(c) In Australia, the thumbs-up sign we use in North America to say “great” is more vulgar than the middle finger — something former US president George Bush learned to his lasting embarrassment while on a diplomatic trip Down Under.
(d) In Malaysia, pointing at an object with your index finger is rude. Use your thumb instead.
(e) In Israel, Singapore, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, crossing your legs so someone can see the sole of your shoe is an insult.
(f) Fijians consider it a sign of respect for a person to talk with arms crossed over his or her chest.
(g) A smile is universal. Show yours frequently!
Cross-cultural faux pas can be embarrassing for both host and guest, so prepare before you go. Talk to other guides or make friends with someone who was born in the country. You might want to take a look at books in the series The Simple Guide to Customs & Etiquette in..., published by Global Books.
4. Your Résumé
Résumé writing is a skill all on its own, and there are dozens of books on the subject. The following very basic list will help you catch the eye of a potential employer, but if you are at all uncomfortable about your résumé-writing skills, pay a professional. The investment will be worth it!
(a) Use plain, white paper — fancy colors, sparkles, or other gimmicks label you as an amateur in any field. Choose a type font and size that will be easy to read. Serif fonts tend to be easier on the eye than sans serif, for example, and any size less than ten point will make your reader squint. Twelve point is even better. If you do not have a laser printer, find someone who does and is willing to let you print out your résumé.
(b) Keep it short, to the point, and, above all, accurate. A résumé should be no longer than two pages except in the most unusual circumstances. A single, well-written page is best. Be sure it is grammatically correct and completely free of typos or spelling mistakes.
(c) Your name, address, phone number, and, if appropriate, fax number and e-mail address should appear centered at the top.
(d) State your objectives clearly. If you want to work locally only, say so. If you are willing to travel anywhere, any time, tell them that.
(e) Use active verbs such as developed, achieved, or organized when talking about previous experience.
(f) Special skills should be shown prominently and early in the résumé. Languages are especially big attention grabbers for a tour operator, but be sure to list all certificates and training such as first aid, CPR, and current licenses to drive motorcoaches or other vehicles.
(g) Volunteer work shows commitment to your goals and a willing attitude. If your neighborhood has a volunteer bureau it can save you many hours of door knocking and searching for some practical experience. While it is not as easy to find as other types of volunteer work, you can gain guiding experience this way. For example, many cruise line meet-and-greet guides are volunteers. Or you can contact local museums, botanical gardens, historical attractions, and art galleries. Many are chronically short of cash and welcome volunteers.
(h) Include hobbies if they are relevant and demonstrate experience. If you say you have been a member of Toastmasters for six years, a potential employer will know something important about your public speaking ability.
(i) This is a people industry. Whenever possible, drop your résumé off in person so at least one person knows what you look like and how you present yourself. Always be polite, professional, and immaculate in your appearance. Skilled receptionists and secretaries frequently eliminate sloppily dressed or rude applicants before the first round of job interviewing starts.
(j) Have some references available to show a potential employer during the interview. Be shameless about asking past employers or other responsible individuals for a letter of reference which will show you as levelheaded, energetic, reliable, and competent. If you organized a city tour for your church group or your son’s baseball team, the minister or coach will likely be more than happy to help you out.
No book can teach you how to have the personality tour operators are looking for when they hire guides. Once you are invited for an interview, be prepared before you go in, be natural during the process, and remember that “fit” within the company is just as important as skills and experience — sometimes even more important. Many guides, when talking about past interviews, have told us about “great” interviews which ended with the tour operator explaining, “You have a wonderful future in this business, but you’re not quite what we are looking for.” Do not get discouraged and always ask if your interviewer can recommend another company you should apply to.
5. A Starting Point
The best starting point for any job search is in your own community. While the newspaper is traditionally downplayed as a source of employment leads, it is still worth looking at. Sometimes you can strike paydirt in the local daily.
Visit your local travel agent — he or she will know if there are any tour companies locally who might be hiring guides. If you see a bus sporting a sign that says “ABC Tours,” note down the company’s phone number and give it a call. All tour companies hire guides from somewhere, so why not put your name in front of as many of them as possible. Other sources are the Yellow Pages (yes, they really are a great reference), your local chamber of commerce, and departments of tourism (municipal, provincial or state, and national). Appendix 2 lists some of the major tour operators you should contact. Don’t be put off by a company just because it is located on the other side of the continent. Tour operators need reliable guides everywhere because tours are created everywhere.
6. How Much Will I Make?
6.1 Pay rates
Payment varies widely throughout the industry, usually by region. According to research by the National Tour Association, rates are highest in the northeast, Great Lakes, mid-Atlantic, and southern regions. The northwest, west, and Pacific coast areas tend to be at the lower end of the pay scale. While it is possible to earn up to $65,000 per year (including tips) if you are employed by one of the major tour companies, a more realistic figure is probably $20,000 to $35,000. As an overall average, you can expect to make $100 to $150 per day as a tour director or $10 to $20 per hour as a local guide. Gratuities can