Working Overseas

Introductions
Job opportunities in the international field cover a broad spectrum, and are found in the federal government, business, communications, education, banking, nonprofit and multinational organizations. A career decision, however, needs focus and definition if you want it to work for you. Before you begin your job search or your research regarding international opportunities, you must know your purpose for wanting to work overseas. Are you looking for an opportunity to travel and see the world, wanting to study a particular language, history or culture, hoping to participate in social or political causes, looking for short-term or long-term work, or for a career-related position? Are you interested in one particular country or region or are you open to anywhere in the world? Your purpose will determine not only where you go and what you do, but also the manner in which you search for your international job. Your goals must be clearly defined to help you compete effectively with others who are also entering the international market. The first question, then, is

"What do I really want to do in the international field?"

If you are uncertain of how to answer this question or if your answer seems vague, don't worry, this is a good place to begin. You basically need two kinds of knowledge to assist you in your career decisions. First you need self-assessment of your skills, capabilities, values and lifestyle needs. Second, you need knowledge about the world of work in general and specially about working internationally. Self-assessment may be explored with a career counselor in the career services office, and can be invaluable in clarifying your personal and professional goals, as well as in preparing for your job search. Knowledge about the world of work and about international work can also be found in your career services office and library, and some of the websites listed in this handout. Ask your career counselor or other career services personnel for assistance regarding specific areas of interest.

Planning
The amount of planning needed depends on the type of work you are pursuing, the amount of certainty and security you need, whether you are working through an organization or on your own, your length of intended stay, and the country's requirements for foreign workers. Pre-arrangement is required for some overseas positions and is recommended for people who have never traveled abroad or who feel some trepidation at the prospect.

Visas
One major obstacle to working abroad is the law. All countries require special permission for foreigners to either work or reside for long periods of time. Whereas short-term tourists sometimes do not need a visa and student visas are granted relatively easily, work permit visas are normally available only through application by an employer who has offered you a job. The employer must show that you have unique skills and abilities not possessed by local citizens. This is expensive and time-consuming to prove, so most employers, who are subject to heavy fines if they hire illegally, will not offer a job to a foreigner who does not possess a work permit. In certain countries, however, English teachers are welcome and can readily obtain a work permit. Work exchange programs are one of the few legal ways around this. The following organizations offer exchange programs for American workers.

1. The Council on International Educational Exchange and BUNAC
   This program does not require applying far in advance, enables you to get a work permit without a job offer, and to work at any job you find. These work permits cannot be extended or renewed, so you may need to contact additional placement programs for extensions. For further information and requirements, see www.councilexchanges.org and www.bunac.org.
2. The Association for International Practical Training (AIPT) can get you a permit
   for up to 18 months for college graduates.
3. Overseas job placement programs offered by U.S.- based work exchange organizations can provide assistance. There are several different programs depending on your job and country interests. See Work Abroad, p. 43-44 for specific listings

Types of International Work
The types of international work available runs the gamut, ranging from short-term temporary positions to permanent career positions. The following gives a brief synopsis and resources for various types of work.

Study and Work Abroad
After graduation, there are still some ways to get abroad. Fulbright, Rotary, and other scholarships are available to support a year of overseas study after graduation. Direct enrollment in a foreign university is another postgraduate possibility. Student status may allow you to work part time or during vacations in some countries. The primary disadvantage of this is that you may find yourself marking time, neither making progress towards a degree nor progress towards a career.

Types of Work Abroad Programs

1. International Internships
   Internships offer the most direct connection to international careers, and are available in a wide range of locations and disciplines. Internships for academic credit are plentiful; paid internships are rare.
2. Short-Term Paid Work Abroad
   Typical types of short-term paid work abroad include restaurant work, temping, childcare and farm work, though enterprising students do find work of a professional nature. Typical duration of these programs is up to six months.
3. Volunteering Abroad
   Usually living with local citizens, volunteers participate in a wide range of work including archaeological digs, social services and many others.
4. Teaching Abroad
   Teaching English as a Foreign Language is one of the most accessible options for long-term work abroad. A college degree is required by most programs, and jobs are typically found in Asia or Eastern Europe. Experience in tutoring or teaching is recommended. Additional teaching opportunities exist for those with credentials at the K-12 or university level. See the numerous resources in the Career Library for further information on Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

International Careers
Planning for an international career is similar to planning any career. It takes knowledge of the field and intended work, development of skills and experience in the area of interest, awareness of the job market, and a growing network of people connected with your field of interest.

If you are interested in a particular country or region, begin now to study the history, culture, language and current events. Research the international companies or agencies that work with that country. Find out what background and skills those agencies are looking for and what opportunities exist for Americans. Be proactive in developing those skills through internships, volunteering or participating in local associations. Build your network of relationships with people in that country or with those organizations of interest. Locate the U.S. headquarters and begin communicating your interest with them. Working stateside for an international company may be a good starting place for a career which leads you overseas. Build your fluency in the national language and any additional languages that may be useful.

If you are more interested in a particular type of work and are open to a variety of locations, you must identify and develop the skills and experience that are needed to do that particular job. For example, if you want to teach English overseas, you need to find out what certification is needed and build your resume with teaching or tutoring

Federal Government Positions
It is difficult to generalize about international jobs within the federal government, as the opportunities are extremely broad in purpose and function. A beginning breakdown of types of work in the Federal Government follows. For detailed information, see Chapter 5 in International Jobs, by Kocher and Segal, and the listed websites.

Federal Jobs: Department of State, The U.S. Information Agency, The Agency for International Development, the National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Peace Corps, the Department of Commerce, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, the International Development Cooperation Agency, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, the Foreign Service of the Department of State, the Inter-American Foundation, and the U.S. International Trade Commission. In addition, nearly all federal agencies have an international division and are worth exploring, including the Department of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Science Foundation.

Foreign Service Careers
A career in the Foreign Service can be both rewarding and challenging, as one has the opportunity to learn about various cultures of the world and represent the U.S. government. Governmental bureaucracy, little personal control over assignments, and limited social networks is not for everyone, but for many with a Foreign Service Career, it has been a rewarding experience. For official information on careers with the U.S. Department of State, see www.state.gov/www/careers/index.html. To learn more about the Foreign Service exam, the first step to entry into the diplomatic corps, click on "Foreign Service." For the "unofficial" lowdown on life in the Foreign Service, see www.aafsw.org and www.thesun.org.

International Organizations
United Nations and Related Organizations: The size of the U.N. has drastically decreased in recent years, and the number of available positions is relatively few. In addition, because the personnel quota system is based on nationality, and Americans are often already overrepresented, permanent positions are nearly impossible to get at the current time. For further information, see chapter 6 in International Jobs, by Kocher and Segal.

International Nonprofits and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO):

Research and Think Tanks, Area Interest Nonprofits, International Development

Teaching Opportunities

Short-term Work Opportunities

Teaching English

Development

Workcamps
Volunteer projects known as workcamps, which last two to four weeks, usually in the summer and "pay" only room and board, provide invaluable opportunities for international experience. The best time to apply is early April, when you'll have the greatest choice. For further information, contact the following agencies:
Council International Volunteer Projects, www.ciee.org; Operation Crossroads Africa, www.igc.org/oco; SCI-IVS, www.wworks.com/~sciivs; Volunteers for Peace, www.vgp.org. Also see Work Your Way Around the World, by Susan Griffith.

Effective Job Search
Networking still remains the most effective way of landing quality jobs, including international jobs. Many international jobs are acquired through personal contacts and word-of-mouth communications. Consequently, it's incumbent upon you to initiate an effective networking campaign through which you conduct numerous information interviews. These interviews are designed to generate a great deal of information, advice, and referrals that further build and expand your network of employment contacts. If done properly, your networking campaign will open many doors to job opportunities you might never have learned about had you only focused your job search on the advertised job market of published job vacancy announcements. (-Krannich, "Directory of Websites for overseas job seekers."

Websites
http://www.goinglobal.com/
Includes information for researching by country, by industry and by job function. As well as helpful cultural information and tips regarding visas, international resumes, interviewing, and more. Purchase of "Country Guides" and other international materials is available.

www.goabroad.com

www.iie.org

www.volunteerinternational.org

www.study-abroad.com

www.embassy.org

www.transitionsabroad.com

www.state.gov

Work Abroad Resources - Key Publishers

Looking for international work, whether abroad or in the U.S. with an international organization, will be more effective with good resources. The following list of work abroad resources can be helpful when beginning to research international opportunities.

Central Bureau, The British Council, www.brit-coun.org/cbiet/resource Publishes guides to working, volunteering, internships, and teaching abroad.

Language
Many international jobs will require you to have a basic level of fluency in the national language, however there are exceptions.

Resources on Working Overseas
Working Abroad, Hubbs, Clay, ed., Transitions Abroad Publishing, Inc., 2001

Teaching English Abroad
Being an English language teacher abroad can be whatever you want it to be: a passport to world travel; a stable and fulfilling career; a way of helping others or the first step to owning your own business. Your purpose for wanting to teach English will determine the amount of preparation and training that is needed, as there are opportunities at all levels of expertise.

Training
Depending on your goals, you will need to consider the training requirements for those institutions at which you are interested in teaching. Some require specific certification while others are satisfied with a willing and energetic person who is fluent in English. Opportunities at all levels exist all around the world, but it is important to do some research and plan ahead, lest you arrive abroad without the qualifications to teach, and end up in a low-rate school with very low pay.

Certification
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) is not governed by a single group or qualifying exam, rather there are multiple routes to qualification as an English language teacher, ranging from intensive four-week certificate courses to two-year Master's Degrees. The route you take depends on where and who you want to teach, the time and cost of training, and your personal and professional goals. For an extensive description of training opportunities, see Careers in English Language Teaching. in the International section of the Career Services Library. See http://www.languagemagazine.com/internetedition/links.html for a list of ESL-related links.

Finding an Overseas Teaching Position
There are opportunities to teach English in nearly every country of the world, and just like finding a job in the U.S., finding an overseas teaching position takes some work. You must know what you have to offer, including your interest and enthusiasm, as well as your practical teaching and tutoring experience. Start now to build some experience and skills in teaching and tutoring. Brush up on your English grammar and familiarize yourself with commonly used ESL teaching materials. Talk with local ESL teachers about their work, or better yet, ask to sit in on some classes to get a clearer picture of what teaching ESL entails. Once you start teaching, you will be considered an "expert," so prepare now for your future role.

In addition, read up on the countries in which you are most interested in working. Learn about the basic culture and language, current events, governmental regulations, taxation and visa requirements. The more you know ahead of time, the better equipped and less stressed you will be when you arrive.

For detailed country profiles with a listing of language schools, see Section 3 in Careers in English Language Teaching, located in the Career Services Library. In addition, check out the following websites: http://www.eslcafe.com, http://www.alr.org, http://www.cie.uci.edu/~cie/iop/teaching.html, which give extensive links to international teaching opportunities and information.

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