If you’ve just got a new job that requires you to travel here, there, and everywhere in order to close deals, welcome to the modern workforce! So many more people are travelling for job purposes these days, and that can mean catching flights to other countries and trains to the other side of your own.
However, travelling for work can be just as unsafe as heading off on a solo adventure to parts unknown. Commuting on a small scale is something we’re used to, of course, but travelling on this kind of global scale can sometimes get dangerous. Who knows what situations you might run into?
Photo by Anna Shvets
Never Travel without Insurance
This is key whenever you leave your own country to jet set off elsewhere. Without insurance, you could be liable for any number of accidents or emergencies! If you get sick or injured, or you lose something or it gets stolen, you’ll have to cough up and cover the damages. And when you’re on a work trip, travelling without insurance isn’t a good way to impress.
Take a policy out just to be sure; you never know when you may run into trouble and a company laptop or tablet could be damaged as a result. Do your research and double-check the policy before you buy to make sure it’s a comprehensive type of cover.
Always Connect to Protected Wifi
If you want to check something on a personal account or your company’s secured server, make sure you’re connected to wifi first of all. Using the data on your phone can be dangerous; passing confidential details across servers tends to lack encryption on 4G and above. If you’re wondering how to keep your email secure, the best starting point is a proper connection!
However, you should also stay proactive about the wifi you connect to and how you use it. If you don’t have your own hotspot to take with you, you’re going to have to use a public version. If you’re in a hotel, this isn’t usually a problem – only paying guests have the password! But in a cafe or waiting area, it’s a different story.
Have a Backup for Your Documents
Of course, it’s best to have a hard copy of all documents on hand whenever you’re about to travel, but what about if you lose a paper or two? What if one slips out of your pocket or it gets drenched in water from a loose top on a bottle in your bag? How will you get past the airport security gate or into your hotel without the right passes on hand? By having plenty of backups to rely on!
Start by keeping a copy of everything on your phone. Download confirmation emails and tickets or take screenshots if that’s not an option – you shouldn’t let yourself rely on needing an internet signal here either. If it’s downloaded to the machine itself, you’ve got proof of where you need to be and when you’re allowed in.
You could also use a portable hard drive or USB stick as storage if you’re taking your laptop with you; if you can bring it up on screen, they’ll be able to scan it!
Double Check You’re Meeting the Right People
Most of the time people are who they say they are. However, every now and then you can run into the wrong person or accidentally be taken in by a scam. This is especially true if you’ve never seen the person before, but speaking to people face to face beforehand over Skype or Zoom is helping to eliminate that! However, if you’re really not sure, there are a couple of checks you can do.
If you’ve got the name of the person you’re supposed to be meeting, get them to introduce themself without saying anything; you can ask what their name is, but don’t let them know you’re looking for a certain answer. Similarly, be sure to check for an ID card, or call the company they’re representing and make sure you’re in talks with the right person. Verify before going anywhere else – staying vigilant is a good way to get ahead.
If you need to travel for work in the future, treat these trips just like any other. You’re there to be professional, and you have more guarantee over the experience you’re going to have. However, when you’re not in a meeting or attending an event, it’s up to you to put your travelling safety head-on!