Do You Dream About Working Abroad?
Would you like to spend a summer interning in Spain? Do you dream about volunteering in El Salvador? Are you hoping to start your professional career in another country? Use the resources below to make your dream a reality - but also make an appointment with a Career Center counselor to discuss the complexities of working abroad. Defining "International Jobs"
Having an international job can mean many different things. Before you start your search, be sure to identify which type of international work you would like to pursue.
- Live in a foreign country for a short period of time. Participate in a Year of Service Program, explore short term opportunities such as teaching, volunteer with nonprofits and NGOs, or participate in an internship program.
- Live in the US and work for an international company or government agency. If you want to work for a foreign company in the US, check out the Directory of Foreign Firms Operating in the United States from a library. Or work with a federal agency with an international focus, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Trade and Development agency. Consider also working for an intergovernmental organization such as the United Nations or the World Health Organization.
- Live in a foreign country and establish your career. Work for the American Government, such as the Foreign Service, or in civilian positions at military bases worldwide through the U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange. Or, work for a foreign-owned business or an American business (e.g., Disneyland Paris or PricewaterhouseCoopers London). Typically, employees start their career in the U.S. with a global company to gain skills and expertise in order to position themselves for relocating abroad.
- Work with people of another culture. Work in the U.S. for social services organizations or for the U.S. Immigration Services.
Challenges to Working Abroad
All countries have requirements for entry, often including a visa or work permit in addition to a passport. While some international employers provide assistance in obtaining a work permit, it can be a complex and expensive process for the employers. Companies are not inclined to pay for a foreigner’s work permit when they can hire within their country. Therefore, coordinating your work abroad experience through an internship program, a teaching program, a volunteer program, or a short-term work program is often the easiest way to work abroad and secure a work permit.
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Contains more than 10,000 resources for finding employment abroad, including comprehensive country-specific information about the job search, visa and permit regulations, cost of living and compensation guidelines. Log in through BroncoLink to access Going Global.
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A collection of sites to help you find internships through established programs that assist you in going abroad. Many charge tuition or a program fee.
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A collection of sites with short-term opportunities to work abroad.
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Non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work around the world to provide services dealing with issues like human rights, education, poverty, health care, and more. Program duration may span from one week to several years.
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Many programs offer opportunities to teach abroad. Often people teach English as a foreign language. Some placements require a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification or credential that can be obtained through completion of a month-long course.
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The Federal Government employs many Americans abroad. Visit a collection of sites offering opportunities to work abroad.
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Year of Service opportunities are post-grad experiences in the U.S. or abroad that generally last for one to two years, depending on the program. Visit a collection of national and international Year of Service programs.
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Check out the Directory of International American Universities.
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