Sometimes hard workers are forced to reinvent themselves due to circumstances beyond their control.

A job layoff can be emotionally and financially devastating. Often it has little to do with an employee’s talents or true value, but is instead a business decision based on cost. While that might not make it much easier to accept, it’s important to know moving forward.

This is not the end. In fact, it could be the best thing that’s ever happened to you. If you’ve dreamed of a career in travel, this could be just the push you need to pursue your passions as a tour director or tour guide.

First of all, evaluate your predicament. Do you have time to weigh your options, or do you need to start earning a check this week just to make ends meet? If you’ve managed to squirrel away a decent emergency fund, figure out how long you can make it stretch. Can you afford professional training? If not, don’t despair. You might need to find temporary work to pay the bills. Just keep yourself in a position where you can work toward your goals. A dead-end job can be tolerated as long as you know there are brighter days ahead.

Once you’ve regained your footing, begin taking the steps necessary to land your dream job. If your heart is set tour directing or tour guiding, then investing in training is one of the smartest choices you can make. ITMI Tour Guide / Director Certification can open many doors. The top tour operators in the world look to us for talented tour directors and tour guides to fill positions all over the world. Our 92% job placement rate speaks to how valuable our graduates are in the travel industry.

You might even qualify for special programs or tuition assistance. ITMI certification is listed by the U.S. Department of Labor on its CareerOneStop resource website. To learn more about your eligibility for training funds, check out its financial assistance page.

Ready to get started? Then you’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to wait months for a new semester to begin. There are eight, 15-day ITMI certification courses scheduled for 2016. All of them are great options as tour operators hire year round. Take a look at our schedule and admission details, then give us a call at (800) 442-4864. Ask us any questions you have and we’ll help you determine whether a career as a tour director or tour guide is right for you.