Ways to Work Abroad
Programs
There are many good reasons to consider working abroad, either for a summer or after a graduation:
- You would like to be completely immersed in the daily life and culture of another country.
- It is important that you obtain practical work experience to enhance your resume.
- You are looking for a different type of international experience that will complement your study abroad plans.
- You need to earn money in order to support your plans to go abroad.
- You are looking for relevant experiences that will help you launch an international career.
Working in a casual job or an internship is a great way to go abroad, and your best time to go is while you are still a student. There are many programs that will help you find a job and navigate the complicated processes of obtaining work permits that will help you to legally work in a foreign country. Be forewarned, however, that working abroad is not the same as studying. There are some countries in which laws regarding foreign workers or economic conditions make it impossible to get a job. Also, many work abroad programs require that you plan well in advance, sometimes as much as a year.
Finally, unlike studying abroad, you will work more independently to find a job abroad. The CGE staff can tell you about programs and advise you about the issues associated with working abroad, but you will be ultimately be responsible for your application, locating housing, etc. You can learn more about working abroad by visiting the CGE Resource Library or attending one of the workshops that we offer on working abroad.
Regardless, working abroad can present an exciting way to experience living abroad and be a rich complement to your TU education.
When To Go 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, Australia, New Zealand and Canada..
- 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 abroad programs. 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.
Visas
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.
Working "under the table"
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.
Working while studying abroad
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 countries (e.g. France) will generally not allow students to work unless they participate in a special student work exchange program.
Working abroad after graduation
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.
Money and working 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.
A word on language skills
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.
Types of Work Abroad Programs
You have many options when deciding how you want to work abroad. You should select an option that will best fit your goals for your time abroad:
Work permit program: BUNAC is the only work abroad program that will provide you a work permit without a job offer. This is an ideal option if you are looking for casual work, such as working for a temporary staffing service or waiting tables. This program offers you the greatest flexibility in terms of your type of job, length of employment, and date of departure. Although you can arrange your job before you leave, most BUNAC participants wait to find their job when they arrive in country. BUNAC will provide you job listings and names of organizations that have previously hired American students. Other organizations, such as CDS International and IAESTE, can assist you with your work permit if you have otherwise set up your own internship.
Internship exchanges: A few reciprocal exchange programs offer paying internships in applied fields AIESEC and IAESTE are examples of internship exchange programs. These programs typically require that your internship be related to your academic major. They will also charge a small placement fee that is only partially refundable.
Internship placement programs: Other programs will guarantee you an internship placement for a fee. This is a good option if you want to be guaranteed an international job. Organizations will vary as to whether they will guarantee you a paid or unpaid work assignment. These programs usually require a substantial lead time in order to make the appropriate placement. The International Cooperative Education Program (ICEP), for example, is one of the few paid internship programs available to liberal arts majors, and also offers placements in engineering, business, and other fields. NanoJapan places science and engineering students into nanotechnology research internships in Japan.
Experiential education programs: Not all of the programs intended to enhance your resume require you to work! There are some programs intended to give you exposure to issues in the international workplace. For example, INNOVATE is a ten-day conference intended to introduce students to issues in globalization and technology.
Study abroad internships: Hundreds of overseas internships sponsored by universities and for undergraduates are easily available. Probably the biggest advantage of these types of programs is that you can apply your financial aid to your living expenses. Additionally, certain internships, such as in the arts or government, are most easily arranged through a local university. The disadvantages to study abroad internships are that they can be costly and placements can be unpredictable. You can find more information about which study abroad programs offer students an opportunity to complete an internship by reviewing the database of study abroad programs or by speaking with a staff member in the Center for Global Education.
Jobs directly with international organizations: Some organizations in international sectors offer internship programs with a centralized formal application process. Many do not have formal internships but often respond positively to applications from individuals who propose their own "internship." In general, the larger and better known the organization, the more competitive the application process for internships will be. Smaller and more locally-based organizations, often overlooked by applicants, may offer some of the best internship experiences. The U.S. State Department, for example, manages its own internship program.
Teaching abroad: Teaching English as a foreign language is one of the most accessible options for working abroad after graduation. A college degree is required by most programs. Jobs are typically in Asia or Eastern Europe (few such jobs are available in Western Europe for Americans.) Experience in tutoring or teaching is recommended. Additional teaching abroad options are available for those with teaching qualifications at the university level. A good example of program that recruits new graduates to teach English is the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.
Volunteer programs: Volunteers usually work and live together with ordinary local citizens. You can work on jobs ranging from archaeology digs to social services in locations worldwide. This is excellent career preparation for those interested in work in developing countries or careers with non-governmental organizations. Volunteer programs usually provide you room and board during your participation, but you are usually responsible for any travel costs. The website VolunteerAbroad.com provides searchable database of international volunteer opportunities.
Work Abroad Programs
Click here for a list of programs that provide opportunities to work abroad.
Access to GOING GLOBAL Database
TU CGE and Career Services have acquired a great database to help you with your international job search. Using your TU username and password, log in to the Golden OpporTUnities website and under 'additional resources', access the GOING GLOBAL database! There, you will find:
- Expert advice for finding jobs abroad
- More than 35,000 country-specific career and employment resources
- Corporate profiles for key employers in 26 countries and 40 cities
- Worldwide internship and job listings
