How to Become a Tour Guide

A career as a tour guide will be a great choice for those who love to travel, enjoy being in front of a crowd and have excellent multitasking abilities. If that’s what you describe, start looking for career opportunities on the internet and businesses in your area. You can increase your chances of finding a job by studying for a professional certificate or degree. Once you have a job, get ready to face the challenges of being a tour guide, an exciting and unique job but sometimes extremely hectic.

Table of Contents

Find a opprtunity

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Search online for job postings. Tour guides often work at parks, museums, historic homes, tour companies, yachts, and many other locations. Consider your favorite workplace and narrow your search to these positions. ^{[1] X Research Source}

To get started, you can type a phrase like “Be a tour guide on a cruise ship in Nha Trang” into the search engine. Then you can browse tour guide positions of different companies to see job requirements and salaries.

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Choose the tour that you like. To choose the right workplace for you, join different types of tours. Visit museums and historic homes in the area, and book a sightseeing bus tour. Note the advantages and disadvantages of being a guide on these tours. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You may have to extend your time to join the tours, because some tours are quite expensive. Make a budget to go on a tour about every two weeks. While you are looking for a job, you should choose to go on a tour instead of going out to eat or participate in other enjoyable activities.
Invite friends and family to travel with you. People can give you feedback on their likes and dislikes. These tips will help you do better once you become a tour guide.

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Record your thoughts on different tours. When joining tours, remember to bring a notebook to record your comments about the trips. You can later review the notebook as you consider your selection of job offers. These notes can also help you develop your own travel guide style.

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See the website of the tour guide association. Many cities, regions and countries have professional tour guide organizations. These organizations help guides develop their careers and promote the profession of tour guide as a positive aspect of the international tourism industry. These organizations can help you find study opportunities and can guide you in your search for job opportunities. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

For more information and to find a list of associations around the world, visit: http://www.beabetterguide.com/tour-guide-associations/.

Please apply

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Pass the required exams in the region. Many cities and countries require tour guides to pass exams before leading a group of tourists. Some tour operators may require you to pass this exam before you even apply for a job. Look online to see if your area requires applicants to pass a licensing test, then pay a fee to register for the exam. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can also go online to find exam details, study guides, and registration information. Enter keywords like “Tour guide license exam” to find everything you need for the exam.
Be seriously prepared for the exam. If you fail the test, you will have to pay to retake the exam!

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Take training courses to gain experience and make connections. Professional guide groups and associations such as the International Guide Academy in Denver, Cporado offer professional tour guide classes. These classes teach public speaking, travel and tourism terminology, leadership and teamwork skills, and other valuable skills a tour guide needs. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the training program. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Remember to sign up for courses for tour guides instead of tour operators. The tour operator is responsible for logistics and management, while the tour guide leads the groups and explains the attractions.
These programs are great meeting places for people in the industry. In particular, the instructors can help you connect with people who are looking for guides.

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Sign up for classes in related fields to expand your knowledge. If you live near a university or community college, check the list of courses. Sign up for language, leadership, customer service and/or tourism classes if they offer one. These classes will help you get extra points on your resume and increase your chances of getting a job. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Make sure you have enough time and money to take these classes. If you are working full time, you can find night classes.

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Study for a degree in tourism or customer service if you can afford it. While these qualifications don’t guarantee you a job, they do show employers that you have basic skills in the industry. If you’re a university or college student and want to be a tour guide, getting a degree could be the right choice. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Face the challenge

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Prepare to interact with many people while working. Being a tour guide also means that you have to “be married to hundreds of them”. You must be ready to answer incessant questions, deal with difficult customers and lead groups of tourists to tourist attractions. You will always have to be happy and excited at work. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

You may need to schedule some alone time during the holidays to regain your balance.

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Collect and memorize a lot of information to become a good guide. Your job is basically to tell visitors about interesting events in the destination. You should take the time to learn about these tourist attractions. Get information from the company you work for, at your local library, and on the internet to expand your knowledge base. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Tourists may ask you side questions. Your ability to answer will help you leave a good impression on people and gain more credibility.
If you don’t know the answer, just tell the truth. Tell visitors you’re not sure, but you’ll find out as soon as you can.

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Act quickly when something goes wrong. During the time you’re working with people, arranging travel plans and attractions, things can happen! Don’t panic if someone gets sick, a car breaks down, or the park suddenly closes. Your task is to improvise and handle situations when there is an unexpected incident. ^{[10] X Research Source}

You can absolutely contact the company for help in these situations, but it’s important to stay calm. You are the leader of the tour when leading guests on a tour, and everyone depends on your guidance.

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Willing to work freelance. One of the hardest aspects of being a tour guide is that you are often hired as a temporary worker. In countries that offer health insurance through an employer, you may need to combine it with self-purchased private insurance. You are also responsible for maintaining employment and tax records. ^{[11] X Research Source}

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Put your own needs last. Remember that the tourist is on vacation, and you are at work. Do everything necessary to ensure guests are satisfied and safe. Stay focused on the customer while you are working.

This can be difficult when you’re leading the group to scenic and relaxing places, but give it a try! You get paid for this work.

Advice

If you are looking for a job in a country whose official language you do not know, you should learn that language by signing up for a course or using language learning software.
Take a training course in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Depending on the job you get, this skill may not be needed. However, as a tour guide, you need to know what to do in emergency situations. Moreover, this is also an advantage of your resume.

Warning

Don’t forget that even though you’re in tourist spots, this isn’t your vacation. You have to work most of the time.
Being a tour guide can require you to work long hours. You have the opportunity to visit amazing places, but you have to make sure to withstand the hectic work schedule.
Note that many tour guide jobs are seasonal. This also means that you may not have a steady job in one place. However, if you don’t mind moving, you always have the opportunity to go back and forth between the two hemispheres.

Steps

Find a opprtunity

Please apply

Face the challenge

Advice

Warning

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