How Owning a Van Can Give You the Career (and Lifestyle) of Your Dreams

The Washington Post recently reported that “71 percent of employees are looking for new jobs.” This statistic is remarkably consistent with another study from 2013 that revealed that “only 13 percent of people worldwide actually like going to work.” While you may have heard otherwise in college, landing your dream job is clearly no easy task. Workers in 2018 are burdened by stressors such as low pay, high student loan debt, long hours, and frequent layoffs. In addition to these stressors, many workers feel as though they are not using their talents or performing meaningful work on a regular basis.

Is there nothing that can be done about these discouraging facts? Thankfully, there is. In order to land a job you love in the current market, job seekers are having to get extremely creative. What’s one of these creative ideas? Using a van to land the lifestyle and career of your dreams. Here’s how you can leverage your mode of transportation to better your career.

Save money to start your own business

The latest research shows that the majority of Americans have debt. In fact, “80.9% of baby boomers,” “79.9% of gen xers,” and “81.5% of millennials,” have debt. Additionally, the “average student loan debt for Class of 2017 graduates was $39,400.”Despite the desire of many to follow one’s passion and start a business, a large number of individuals cannot do so because of the current debt crisis. What can you do to change your financial picture if you find yourself in this situation? Using your van as your home on a campground can help you save thousands per year. While this by no means is a permanent solution, it is a creative way to potentially pay off tens of thousands of dollars in debt within a short period of time. Alternatively, if you have relatively low debt, you can use what you’d pay in traditional housing expenses on the startup costs for your new business.

Stay ahead of the remote work trend

Gone are the days when people would work at a steady job for 40+ years. The world is changing at an unbelievably fast pace, and it’s crucial for workers to stay ahead of the curve. One trend that is quickly gaining popularity among employees and employers alike is remote work. The latest statistics estimate that “mobile workers will account for nearly three-quarters of the U.S. workforce by 2020.” Instead of waiting to be forced into a remote work position, get started now. Rather than paying fees for shared workspaces, turn your van into your remote work office. A van not only gives you a private workspace at no additional cost, but it also serves as a way to attend client meetings and travel with ease.

Network with more people than ever before while traveling

If you are planning on embracing the freedom of travel available to remote workers, having a van allows you to see the country for as low of a cost as possible. While traveling, you have the opportunity to network with more people than ever before. Why is networking so important (especially for remote workers)? It’s estimated that at least “28% of professional[s] have found or been referred to a new role through a network connection.” Rather than traveling by plane, bus, or train, a van allows you to bring your entire office with you wherever you go. Having a mobile office allows you to complete work right away, which can be especially helpful when networking with potential new clients.

Thriving in today’s job market is all about breaking tradition and getting creative. As demonstrated, owning a van can provide unconventional ways of solving common career problems. Whether you need the funds to start a business, or want to network with potential clients across the country, consider the ways that owning a van could help your individual situation.