Work Abroad
Job Availability and Work Permits
Getting a job abroad is difficult because government regulations typically favor hiring locals before considering foreigners, particularly when unemployment is high.
The search for a job abroad is further complicated by the need for a work permit, a government’s permission for a specific job during a fixed period of time. You or the prospective employer must petition a government for such working papers.
Students looking for work or volunteering opportunities abroad should look at
the
links to international job listings provided by IU's Career Development
Center, www.indiana.edu/~career/. In addition to web resources, the Career Development Center (CDC) at IU has a number of wonderful resources in the Career Resource Library. There are books on finding jobs abroad, writing resumes for an international audience, teaching abroad, international internships, etc. The Library is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students can receive help with their international job/volunteer search by meeting with an Arts and Sciences Placement Office advisor in the Career Development Center during drop in hours, Monday to Friday, noon to 4 p.m.
Work Exchange Programs
As a result of reciprocal government agreements that permit student work exchanges, you can
secure a work permit through CIEE (Council on International Education Exchange,
www.ciee.org/work) for:
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- New Zealand
BUNAC (http://www.bunac.org/) (British Universities North American Club) provides work permits for:
- Australia
- Britain
- Canada
- Ireland
- New Zealand
See the brochures in the Overseas Study Information Center, Franklin Hall 303.
For $275 to 550 you will receive a work permit for:
- 3-6 months (depending on the location)
- information on how to find a job
- a contact office in the host country
- access to temporary housing and advice on finding a place to live
- and more!
Internships
An internship is one of the few work abroad options directly related to your college interests and
career goals. Most offer no pay but grant some academic credit, usually as part of a study abroad
program. IU sponsors a number of programs that include internship components.
AIESEC, the world’s largest student, not-for-profit, exchange organization, has a chapter at IU. AIESEC offers internships in all 87 member countries that last from 6 weeks to 18 months:
www.indiana.edu/~aiesec.
For information on internships sponsored by other institutions, visit the
Information Center.
Teaching English
Many students teach English abroad either in language institutes, businesses or on a
private tutorial basis.
In some locations the pay is quite high, especially Spain and Japan. In many cases, you do not
need a work permit but that means you are not an "official" employee which affects your visa
status. The CDC has a number of useful resources for locating teaching jobs abroad.
The following sites might be of interest:
CIEE Teaching Programs — http://www.ciee.org/teach.aspx - CIEE currently offers programs for teaching abroad in China and Thailand.
Fulbright Teaching Assistantships — www.iie.org/fulbright/us
- The U.S. government offers Fulbright Teaching Assistantships in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, South Korea, Romania,
Taiwan, and Turkey. For more information see www.iie.org/fulbright/us or contact Charlie Bankart, Franklin Hall 311, 855-7557.
IU Program in TESOL and Applied Linguistics — www.indiana.edu/~tesol/
IU School of Education Language Education Department — education.indiana.edu/~langed/
- While many people teach abroad with no formal preparation, training and certification in teaching english as a second language can improve your skills and marketability.
Dave's ESL Cafe — www.eslcafe.com/
- The ESL Cafe offers teaching resources and tips, job opportunities, chat rooms and bulletin boards for teachers of English as a second language (ESL).
Lining Up Jobs Abroad
Some students use their connections in the host country to line up a job before leaving the U.S.,
but most go and search for work in an area where they wish to live. There is little security in the second option,
so be prepared for a certain amount of frustration and take enough money with you for housing and meals while you conduct the job search.
Other Types of Work Opportunities Abroad for Students
| Archaeology Digs |
Particularly in
England and
Israel |
Au pair |
Students may obtain positions
to care for children and do
some housework in exchange
for room and board.
Search the World Wide Web or
you can find
a job on your own using the
classified ads of international
newspapers or announcement
boards at
universities. |
Kibbutz | A voluntary democratic
community in Israel where people live and work on
a communal basis in an economy oriented to
agricultural or factory production. |
Outdoor Work | There are
agricultural jobs overseas and summer camp
work, but hours
are long and the pay is low. |
Tourist Industry | Usually low paying
jobs that require no prior experience but may require some foreign language
background. Typical jobs: waiter, cook, cashier, clerk, dishwasher,
receptionist. The hours are long, but the pay covers room
and board expenses. |
Volunteering | Students
from around the world live together
to work on community
service projects. |
Related Work and Travel Websites
-
www.cie.uci.edu/~cie
- Very useful information on study, work and travel abroad, with
many links to other web sites. Also has a how-to guide for finding study
and work abroad opportunities on the web. From the University of
California at Irvines Center for International Education.
-
www.umich.edu/~icenter
-
Articles on working abroad, with links, from the University of
Michigan's International Center.
-
www.ciee.org/work
-
Information on study, work and travel abroad opportunities
offered by CIEE (Council on International
Educational Exchange). Lacks links to other web resources.
-
www.bunac.org
-
Information on working in Canada, Ireland, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Lacks links to other web resources.
-
International Careers
Career Development Center — www.indiana.edu/~career
Excellent, comprehensive web site has links to international careers, work abroad, and teaching overseas.625 N. Jordan, 855-0527
Careers in Languages
Most IU language departments have a great deal of information and advice on their web sites.
Work and Teach Abroad —
http://www.internationalcenter.umich.edu/swt/work/
Most comprehensive and basic site on the topic.
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