Video: How to travel by RV and earn an income

What kind of jobs are available for RVers who want to work on the road? In this four-minute video, Workamping expert Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak tells you about the many ways. There's a whole lot more to do than just act as a campground host. If you've ever thought of combining RVing with earning a part-time or even full-time income, you'll appreciate Jaimie's tips. And, her book, Support Your Lifestyle -- THE guide to working on the RV road -- is available at a discount price at RVbookstore.com.

Earn money as you travel your RV

Support your RV travels and see the country. Learn the key to finding great jobs at Workamper 102— a Workamper University Webinar

HEBER SPRINGS, AR -- March 9, 2009 -- You’ve decided that working or volunteering as your travel in your RV would help your budget and add to your travels. How do you find a position that is a match? The key is in the interview. Find out how to use your Workamper interview to make sure this is the position for you.

Working on the road or Workamping® means money and adventure!

It is actually quite easy to find a position working or volunteering if you travel in your RV. Before you travel hundreds of miles to a job, how do you know it will be a good situation and be what you are expecting? It’s all in the interview. And since you will probably have your interview by phone, what do you need to ask? How can you make sure you don’t pay taxes on your RV site, that your cell phone will work there, that you’ll have time to see the area? Workamper 102: Interviewing for a Workamper Job will answer those questions. See http://www.workamper.com/university/workamper102 for complete curriculum, class hours and dates, tuition and list of free bonuses to participants.

Instead of spending money to travel, RVers who work on the road, also known as Workampers®, can earn money to pay their living expenses and add to their savings. Working or volunteering on the road can also reduce expenses. Some jobs provide a free or reduced-cost RV site and workers spend less on fuel and entertainment since they are in one place. Workers may also get valuable perks such as free or discounted admission to nearby attractions. So, what are the keys to finding a good position? A critical step is the interview.

In Interviewing for a Workamper Job, Jaimie Hall Bruzenak will lead participants through a process that will enable them to:

• identify questions to ask during the interview and prepare a basic checklist.
• identify knockout factors and screen employers.
• identify red flags that indicate this is not a place to work.
• compute what the RV site costs and what to ask so income tax isn’t owed on its value.
• provide tools to evaluate a job offer to compute compensation

Jaimie’s previous Workamper Webinars received high praise:

Jaimie: You did a great job last night! Thanks so much for putting together such an informative event. ~Dolores

I want to thank you for your class [Workamper 101] and your willingness to help me get started with Workamping. I am learning a lot of important information that would have taken much more time and effort to acquire had it not been for your class. I have barely started my resume on Awesome Applicants and was shocked that I have two campgrounds that have contacted me to interview. ~Darcy

Workampers have many possibilities for working on the road. Many people think RVers are strictly camphosts, but that is only one possibility. RVers work in RV parks, national and state parks, amusement and theme parks to name just a few of the hundreds of different ways they can earn money. In her book, Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road, author Jaimie Hall Bruzenak lists more than 350 different ways. Jaimie also covers all the how-to’s for finding a job including interviewing and negotiation, resumes, health insurance and legal considerations. She says, “The interview is a critical element in finding a job that will be the kind of place where you want to work while meeting your income needs.”

For more information see Workamping 102: Interviewing for a Workamper Job.

KOA always looking for seasonal RV workers

With more than 440 KOA Kampgrounds across North America, there's always a need for seasonal help. Hundreds of positions are usually available across the company's network of RV parks. If you're willing to roll up your sleeves, you can make a short-term commitment and earn pay while you stay. The company also offers rewards to "Work Kampers" after the completion of their first season. To learn more or to apply, visit WorkAtKOA.com.

Oregon seeks camp hosts for next summer

Looking for a camp hosting position next summer? If you've got an RV and want to grab a little of Oregon's summer sunshine, then the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to hear from you.

The agency is currently accepting applications for next year's volunteer host positions at the state's wildlife areas, fish hatcheries and field offices.

“This is a great way to travel around and discover new parts of Oregon,” said Jennell Hoehne, volunteer coordinator for ODFW’s Northwest Region in Clackamas, Ore. “Most of our sites are in close proximity to mountains, streams and trails and offer high-quality, low-cost access to boundless recreational opportunities.”

The volunteers stay at a location between one to three months. Duties vary with each site, but typically include groundskeeping, maintenance and clerical work but can also entail more unusual activities like feeding fish, banding waterfowl, baiting bears and counting deer and elk. For more information, click here.

Before you leave your job

It's the end of the season and you are gearing up to leave. Before you leave, ask for an appraisal. If the employer doesn't do a formal, sitdown appraisal, ask how you did. Find out if there were areas the employer thought you could improve upon. This can be insightful.

If you get positive feedback and/or are asked to come back next year, ask if the employer will write a letter of recommendation for your files. You might even be asked to write it yourself! Letters of recommendation can be photocopied and sent with resumes - an instant positive reference.

If, by chance, your appraisal or feedback is not positive, this may not be an employer you want to include in your list of references. In any case, do your best to find out why. For example:

• If it is a personality difference, look honestly at yourself. Did your behavior contribute to the problem? Workampers who have been used to running a business or a department sometimes have difficulty doing what they are told instead of offering suggestions the boss does not want to hear.
• Are you lacking skills in a certain area? If so, see about acquiring those skills or pick a different type of work. For example, if you had to use a computer and found it difficult, take classes this winter or work in an area where computers aren't needed.
• Was the work too much for you physically? If you couldn't stand as much as required or lift the weight needed, make sure this is not an element of your next job or that the employer is willing to accommodate you.
• If you are told you didn't get along with people, look honestly at yourself. Would you be happier working on your own? Or in a situation that was less customer-intense? Look for jobs next year that meet that need.

By now, most RVers have serious hitch-itch and can't wait to get back on the road. Take the time to get feedback from your current employer before leaving and learn from it. Find out what you need to change or improve upon. You may want to make these changes. Or, you may want to focus on different jobs/employers for next year. Either is ok. We're learning as we go. It is always valuable to find out what you don't like so you can focus on what you do like. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com.

Use a SEPP to pay health insurance

A legitimate concern for younger RVers is how to afford health insurance. Chuck Saletta, writing at the Motley Fool Web site, in "The real reason for to invest for retirement," suggests a way. He says, "Your retirement is far more than simply no longer showing up to work. It's about having the freedom to do what you want in life, and enough control over your personal finances to enjoy that freedom." With a SEPP (Substantially Equal Periodic Payments) plan, you can start withdrawing your retirement money early, without getting socked by penalties.

If you continue working, Saletta suggests, you can switch to a job you love while having the SEPP pay you health insurance. It does mean you have a few things lined up. You would want to have your RV paid for and be out of debt. Rather than $2 million saved to finance a full retirement, Saletta says $400,000 could work. In some areas of the country, the sale of your house could give you all or most of that to work with. You would also need to continue to make enough money to add to your retirement if you plan to eventually stop working. And, once you begin the payments, you must continue to receive them for five years or until you are 59 1/2, whichever is longer.

This could work for some people. It would take planning and saving ahead of time. It would also mean finding higher paying jobs on the road or having your own business. Working at an RV park would probably not cut it. There are other possibilities, though. Workamper is, in fact, having Jobinars (online Job Fairs) this week with companies that pay higher than average wages.

Read the article and decide. Maybe we'll see you out on the road a little earlier! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on higher-paying job possibilities, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com.

What's a key word?

When you send your resume in to an employer after seeing an advertisement, make sure you use the right "key words." Large companies often use electronic scanners to search for key words or phrases for the particular opening. While smaller companies don't do this, an employer's eye is still going to be drawn to a resume that uses the same words he does. And, if you use Workamper's Awesome Applicant database, employers can search for key words to select resumes to consider.

Key words can be classified into three categories:

• Position: manager, front desk, secretary, dealer
• Type of work or tasks: maintenance, reservations, registration, management, housekeeping
• Characteristics: self-starter, hard worker, initiative, attention to detail

Before you send off your resume, look at it and see if you are using the same terms that you see in the ad. If not, add or substitute. If you use the word "janitor" and the employer is looking for "maintenance," you might not be seen as qualified. Using the key words that an employer uses in the ad will increase your chances of getting an interview and getting hired. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Can you Workamp with pets?

Have you ever camped next to an RV with a dog that barked the entire time their owner was gone? It gets annoying, doesn't it. And then there is the owner who lets their dog off-lead because "It won't bite" or who doesn't pick up after their dog. Employers have every reason to be leery of hiring someone who has a pet. Many campgrounds limit the size, breed and number of pets campers can have and even charge extra for pets. They've had bad experiences with irresponsible pet owners.

So what are your chances of finding a Workamping position if you have pets? They are good - if your pets are well-behaved and you are a responsible pet owner. This means your dog should not bark continually when you are gone. It means your dog stays on the leash except in pet parks or areas designated for dogs to run. You pay attention to what your dog is doing and don't let them go up to people unless they want to pet your dog. You pay attention to where your dog relieves itself and pick up after him. You limit the number of pets you travel with.

Never show up to a job with pets the employer doesn't know about. You could have a very short tenure there. I suggest that in your Workamper resume, you can add a remark that you travel with....... (two cats that never go outside, two well-behaved, quiet Cocker Spaniels, one friendly, well-behaved Golden Retriever, etc.) You could include your pet's photo and even a letter of reference from a previous employer about how well your pet behaves. Those will help reassure the employer that your pet will not be a problem.

The most annoying is hearing a pet barking whenever the owner is gone. How do you keep your pet from barking? Start when they are young to teach them when they can bark and when to be quiet. You don't want to stop all barking or they may not bark when there is an intruder, but they can learn to give one woof or to not bark unless someone is right in their space. What many working RV pet owners is leave the TV or radio or air conditioner on when they leave. The noise screens out many noises that could cause your pet to bark.

Pets can add much enjoyment to your life and travels. Walking a dog or sitting out with a cat on a leash can be a great way to meet people too. Not all employers will accept pets but keep looking and you'll find a situation that works for you. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Bike to work day an ordinary day for Workampers

May 15 was Bike to Work day. In the San Francisco Bay area it was a record-breaking success.

For most RVers who work on the road, it was an ordinary day. They live at their place or employment or close so walk or bike every day to work.

This is one of the great features of the Workamping lifestyle. You often get a free or reduced -cost RV site that is close to where you work. You save an enormous amount of money since you don't have to commute using your gas- or diesel-powered vehicle. Are we lucky or what? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For many ideas for working within biking distance from your job, see the 2nd edition of Jaimie Hall's Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at RVBookstore.com.

A common mistake new Workampers make

Beginning the full-time RVing adventure is exciting! Many RVers combine full-timing with Workamping® or working or volunteering on the road. This brings in income, allows you to stay in one spot for an extended time and may even provide a free spot. It’s an excellent way to explore an area in depth or stay in an area you like as well as the chance to be productive and make RV friends.

However, many new to Workamping® make this mistake: They only apply to one or two jobs and they take the first offer. At the end of the season, they are often unhappy. It wasn’t quite what they expected.

What are the advantages of applying to lots of jobs?

1. Each time you interview for a position, you learn more about what to ask. One employer may mention discounted propane and free laundry. Not all employers offer that, but you are more likely to obtain these perks if you ask about them. It may not occur to you the first time to ask about days off together if you are a couple, but when an employer mentions that, it goes on your list of questions to ask.
   


2. You get a feel for what compensation you can ask for. By seeing the range of compensation, you may find some employers are willing to pay more—or offer more perks— than you had initially expected. You can ask for more from a stronger position.
   


3. You’ll get an idea of how seasonal businesses are run and how they differ. Perhaps one Workamper couple does it all. At other places, employees specialize and work at only one task. As you hear about these differences, you may realize one is a better fit than another.
   


4. Owners/managers can vary considerably in their personalities. Talking to different employers will give you a better idea of what type of boss you want to work with.
   


5. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you only apply to one or two jobs and those do not work out, you have to start from scratch. By having a number of applications and résumés in process, if your favorite one falls through, you have others in the works. You might even find a better one!
   


6. You can bargain. If you have applied to lots of employers —and I recommend 15-20— you are more likely to end up in the enviable position of having two employers who both want you. This can help you negotiate for better compensation or more perks.
   

There is definitely a learning curve when becoming a Workamper®. Rather than grab the first job and risk being unhappy, talk to a number of employers and get a feel for what is available. You’ll make a better choice when you have several to choose from. Jaimie

For more information on getting started working and volunteering on the RV road, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at RVBookstore.com.

Fireworks for 4th of July!

As we travel across the Midwest states a couple of weeks before the 4th of July, we have passed many fireworks stands, usually clumped together in the same area. Often they are just outside a municipal area that does not allow sales.

Selling fireworks can be a short term opportunity for workers on the RV road. Workamper News often has ads for managing a fireworks stand. You work on commission. Most promise a minimum of $1500 and work begins this weekend through the 4th, though stands are busiest the two days before the holiday. Right around New Years is another time some fireworks stands are open.

Be sure to ask plenty of questions. If you'll be providing security at the stand in your RV, will you have electricty? water? a porta potty or someone to pump your tanks? If you are paid commission, is that percentage figured on gross sales or net? Do you have to line up helpers for those last couple of days and does that come out of your earnings?

It's also a good idea to get feedback from other Workampers who have tried this type of work and who have worked for the owners you are considering. Posting a thread on the Workamping forum or other forums on working on the road can help you avoid the few employers who do not follow through on their promises.

Like selling Christmas trees, running a fireworks stand is hard work but you can earn a nice sum in a short period of time.

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.