Is becoming a tour guide right for me?
The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:
Still unsure if becoming a tour guide is the right career path? Take the free CareerExplorer career test to find out if this career is in your top matches. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a tour guide or another similar career!
Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.
How to become a Tour Guide
Prospective tour guides should possess a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Required academic backgrounds vary by company, but often a bachelor's degree in a field related to the subject of the tour is necessary. Museum tour guides, for instance, usually have a degree in history and eco-tour guides often major in conservation or environmental education. In most cases, employers provide on-the-job education that includes safety training.
Most importantly, tour guides must be experts in their area of concentration. They must be able to answer specific questions about locations, their history, amenities, and artifacts. Effective communication skills are absolutely essential for a successful career in the industry. In addition, tour guides must be highly organized, punctual, and ethical. They need to have exceptional time-management skills and be able to throughly research pertinent information. The ability to speak multiple languages, while not essential, is an asset for many tour guides.