There are a variety of issues to consider when planning to work abroad:
When should I plan to work abroad?
What do I need to do to legally work in a foreign country?
I’ve had friends that “worked under the table.” Do I really need a work permit?
Can I get a job while I’m studying?
Can I work abroad after I graduate from TU?
Will I really make money if I work abroad?
Do I need to speak a second language?
How do I get started finding a job abroad?
When should I plan to work abroad?
The time you choose to work abroad affects the type of jobs that are available to you. You can work abroad as early as your first summer after your freshman year and as late as the year after you graduate from the University of Tulsa. Some of the issues to consider:
- The best work abroad options for freshmen and sophomores are often casual jobs such as waiting tables, camp counseling, or office temping. It is hard to compete for internships without significant college level coursework. BUNAC, for example, provides opportunities for students to work in casual jobs in the UK and Australia.
- Some internship programs require that you complete a certain number of credit hours before making an application. If you desire a career-related internship, you should plan to work abroad after your junior year.
- If you don't speak another language well, consider delaying your plans to work abroad and enrolling in language classes to expand your geographic options.
- It is always easier to work abroad while you are still enrolled as a student. There are many program options that are available only to people currently enrolled as full-time students. Keep in mind, however, that some of these programs, such as BUNAC, will consider you as a student until six months after graduation.
- The first year after you graduate, before you begin your permanent job or enroll in graduate school, is a good opportunity to participate in longer international programs such as Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) or the CIEE Teach in Thailand program. Many of these programs specifically recruit new college graduates. A few, such as Peace Corp, offer assistance with finding a job when you return to the US.
What do I need to do to legally work in a foreign country?
One of the major obstacles to working abroad is the law. All countries require special permission called visas for foreigners to either work or reside for longer periods of time. Whereas short-term tourists often 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 prove that you have unique skills and abilities not possessed by local citizens. This is expensive and time-consuming to prove, so most employers will not offer a job to a foreigner who does not already possess a work permit (employers who hire illegally are subject to heavy fines.)
There is good news, however! As a student, it is often easier for you to obtain work permit because an internship or other work experience is considered an educational or cultural experience. It is for this reason that we generally advise students interested in working abroad to apply to a program that is able to provide you the necessary legal documents. You can review a list of these programs by clicking here.
Project Visa provides information about worldwide visa requirements. If you are not working through a particular program, however, contact the consulate for your destination country in order to obtain the most current information about work permits.
I’ve had friends that “worked under the table.” Do I really need a work permit?
It is possible to work abroad illegally or without a work permit. Such jobs often turn up in restaurants and agriculture as well as in teaching English. It is not recommended that you work without a visa because it puts you at risk of immediate deportation, possible fines, lowest wages (or failure to pay wages at all) and other types of exploitation, and lack of legal protection or health insurance in case of injury or illness.
Can I get a job while I’m studying?
Work abroad can be combined with a study abroad experience (before, during, after) helping you defray the cost and gain experience in a very different environment than academia. But two important caveats:
- Do not expect to finance study with part-time work. At best, it can provide extra spending money. You can make more money in less time by working in the US.
- You must carefully investigate whether and under what circumstances work is allowed for American students in a particular country. Most countries do not allow students to work and may deport those who work without a work permit. However, student work-permit programs for some popular European destinations allow work in combination with study. You have to enter the country with a special work permit provided by the work exchange program, which can only be obtained by applying in advance. A few countries (e.g. Australia and some locales in Germany) permit part-time work for students who are directly enrolled in local universities. Other counties (e.g. France) will generally not allow students to work unless they participate in a special student work exchange program.
Can I work abroad after I graduate from TU?
It is possible to work abroad after graduation, but it does take planning. There are certain organizations, such as schools and non-profits, that regularly recruit new graduates to work abroad. JET, WorldTeach, and Peace Corp, for example, specifically seek to hire new graduates. It is highly unusual to find companies that recruit new graduates to work abroad, mostly because it is very costly to relocate an employee overseas and they will prefer to send more experienced workers.
Click here to review the list of programs providing work abroad opportunities for new graduates.
Will I really make money if I work abroad?
It may seem obvious – working abroad can make going abroad much more affordable. It is true that many jobs will provide you a living wage. It is not true, however, that you will necessarily make the same money that you would when working in a summer or full-time job in the US. You can anticipate that, at best, you will break even once you have accounted for your flight, program fees, living expenses, and travel costs. Keep in mind the reason that you are going abroad – learning a foreign language, working in an international business or organization, and gaining exposure to a different culture are invaluable experiences.
Do I need to speak a second language?
There's no way around it. Your fluency in another language strongly affects your ability to find work abroad. It is true that in many foreign countries, English is very widely spoken. Even if you are able to intern in an English speaking company, however, you will still be living in a French, German, Japanese, Spanish, or Norwegian speaking country. Your ability to speak with your landlord, negotiate at the grocery store, or join your co-workers for happy hour after work is strongly affected by your ability to communicate in the local language. Your previous experience with studying a language is also a sign to an employer that you are very serious about wanting to work abroad, and that you are culturally adept enough to be successful.
The biggest exception to this rule of thumb is with organizations that hire people to teach English abroad. These organizations are often prepared to assist people who don't speak the local language. Since you are being hired to teach English, you will find that many of your co-workers and acquaintances want to practice speaking with you. Some programs, such as JET, make specific arrangements and accommodations for teachers who arrive with no previous experience with the language. In these instances, it is highly recommended that you plan to study the local language during your free time.
How do I get started finding a job abroad?
Planning to work abroad is different than studying abroad. Most programs require that you apply directly, which means that you will be much more independent than when studying abroad. The CGE can recommend programs and advise you about the quality of different opportunities, but since you will not be earning TU credit for this experience, we do not approve your work abroad plans in the same way we do with study abroad. If you are interested in working abroad, a good starting place is to review the information about different programs available from the CGE website. You can also visit our office to look at the materials and other resources we have on file. Many of these program providers will attend the International Opportunities Fair, held each fall and spring. Finally, keep an eye out for the various workshops we sponsor on working abroad for more information about how to get started.
