A short-term overseas job, lasting anywhere from a few weeks to about six months, is an economic way to experience another culture while you earn your way through an adventure abroad. The typical job you can expect to obtain varies from working in a restaurant/hotel, an office, a shop, as an au pair or working outdoors. The kind of work you choose to do will depend on your skills and your willingness to be flexible and open to what is available. Keep in mind that although the job may not necessarily relate to your long-term career goals you will develop effective transferable job skills.

Making Your Choice

One of the first things you will need to consider is where you want to go. This is an important consideration since it might effect the kind of job you obtain - some countries are so impoverished that they may offer few or no jobs. Also, it will determine from which programs you can obtain a work permit for the country of your choice. Unfortunately, finding a job overseas is not as simple as getting on a plane and starting to look for work when you land. This approach to finding a job abroad is not advisable. Prior to making a commitment to going overseas, your best bet is to carefully research the countries where you are interested in working.

Securing the Work Permit

After choosing the country where you wish to work, the next step is to obtain work permission. Usually, you will not be granted a permit to work overseas unless you have secured a job offer and typically you cannot get an offer without a permit. Fortunately, there are ways to get around this paradox. There are established work exchange programs that assist with obtaining a short-term work permit for a fee. This includes, programs such as the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) that will provide you with a permit, but, you have to find the job when you get abroad; and overseas job placement services that can arrange an exchange for a fee. Depending on the individual program, "exchange" may be defined as a cultural exchange, or one where your involvement enables someone from abroad to have a similar experience in the U.S.

Other Considerations

The work permit will be the primary document you will need to work overseas, however, you will also need to consider other things, such as, obtaining or renewing your current passport, securing the visa, health insurance, money and finding a place to live when you get there. As you research the programs that may be appropriate for you, explore with them whether or not they cover some of the expenses for the aforementioned. Some programs may include the costs for insurance, securing the visa and housing in their fees. In most cases, you will be responsible for airfare and survival funds (recommended $800 to $1000).

An international internship can provide you with training related to your college major and career goals. Internships are available in practically every country in the world for most industries, although these opportunities are very competitive. The benefits include being immersed in an international atmosphere, gaining a competitive advantage in the international job market, and having the opportunity to learn valuable and transferable job skills.

Types of Internships

There is no limit to the type or field of internship that you can pursue. There are opportunities in many industries including business (banking, technical, economics, marketing), communications (advertising, journalism, publishing), arts (fashion, applied arts), tourism (hotel management), and social sciences (law). The majority of internships are unpaid, although in business, agriculture, engineering, and private industry compensation is more likely. These wages would probably be enough money to cover basic living expenses. Please note, if you are solely interested in a general working abroad experience it may be easier and more lucrative to find a paid position not necessarily related to your long term career goals (see •Short Term Paid Opportunitiesê).

Many international internships are actually located here in the United States, mostly in New York and Washington. Most often these are through corporations and government agencies, such as the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, the World Bank, and many non-government (non-profit) organizations who offer internships in their U.S. based offices.

Finding the Right One

Once you decide that you want an overseas internship directly related to your career goals, you must determine what type of job you are looking for. Consider the following: the nature of the work, keep in mind that most internships do require some administrative tasks; the desired geographic location; the length of the internship and how long you intend to stay in the host country; and your finances, an estimate of how much money you will need for daily living expenses.

There are several ways to find internships. You can go through a placement program, however you will most likely be charged a fee. Some of these are reciprocal exchange programs where you are practically guaranteed placement if you can find an opportunity here in the United States for an international student. These programs include the International Association of Students in Economics and Business Management (AIESEC), specializing in the placement of business and economics students; and the International Exchange for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), placing engineering, architecture, and natural science students.

Another option is a self-arranged internship. This requires doing the work yourself, finding a position based on your own research, sending resumes, and networking. Many students each year find positions through their own efforts, but it takes resourcefulness and initiative. Positions at larger organizations will be more competitive, so you may want to target smaller companies, even if they do not have a formalized internship program. The Directory of International Internships, describes different types of internships in many countries.

Many universities sponsor study/work abroad programs which include an internship component. In most cases you are assisted in finding a placement. However, you must pay for your tuition and these programs are usually very competitive and often unpaid. Government and arts internships are easier to secure this way.

Permission to Work

Besides finding the right opportunity, there is another challenge to working abroad. You are required to have, in your possession, a work permit in order to be legally employed in the country of your choice. When going through a formal program to find a position, they will assist you in the process of obtaining these papers. However, when finding something on your own, you will need to do the research to determine what the guidelines are for the country in which you are planning to work.

General Tips

Fortunately there is no limit to the industry in which you can obtain an internship. However, to land a position you need to be organized in your search. You must apply to placement programs in time to meet deadlines, make plenty of copies of your resume, track who you send them to, and be persistent in your search. Before sending off your resume, check out www.eurograduate.com for resume formats for all over Europe. Always have a positive attitude and be professional. Since other cultures differ from ours, do some research on the country you would like to work in so you can go overseas prepared for anything.

Volunteering abroad is, for many, a very attractive and very viable option. It is particularly best for acquiring experience with humanitarian or service-oriented organizations and scientific expeditions. Volunteer opportunities are particularly plentiful in underdeveloped nations. For American students, it is often the only way to work in many Third World countries. Some of these countries are often so impoverished they cannot afford to provide financial support to foreign visitors. However, volunteering abroad allows you to become totally immersed in a foreign culture while providing a much needed service to developing countries.

Overseas volunteer positions may be short-term, lasting anywhere from two weeks to six months, or long-term, lasting one or two years. The opportunities you seek will depend on the country of your choice, your available resources (time, money, etc.) and how flexible you are. Some volunteer opportunities may provide none, some or all of the following: Round-trip airfare, housing, food, a stipend and insurance. Research your options thoroughly so that you may adequately assess your needs.

Workcamps

Workcamps involve groups of volunteers from different parts of the world working together on projects that may last from two to three weeks. Their purpose is to meet the community needs of the country they are serving, such as building a school or providing education for the natives. The information on cost and location of programs is approximate - work camps and projects are constantly changing for these types of programs. For more accurate information, contact these organizations directly.

There are opportunities for teaching overseas in practically every foreign country. Most positions are for teaching English and require a Bachelors Degree. If you know the English language well, are willing to commit to at least one year, and have an outgoing personality there is a good chance you'll find a position teaching abroad. By living and working abroad for a substantial amount of time, you will have the opportunity to be totally immersed in another culture, which will have great benefits and marketability for other international positions in the future.

Finding a Position

To find a position you can either go through an organized placement program or look on your own. Some of the programs charge a fee, but will place you and arrange for your accommodations and work permit. Others are actually organizations recruiting for positions abroad, so there is no fee. In general, apply to programs one year before you want to start teaching. If you use your own resources you can look for a job either before you leave, sending resumes and using any contacts you may have; or after you get there, applying in person (remember to find out about work permits for the particular country before you go there). Although it is possible to find a job once you arrive in a given country, it is usually easier to obtain the necessary permits while still in the U.S. Public schools, private language schools, and universities are places to search for work.

Credentials

The opportunities that are available to you will depend on your credentials and the country where you want to teach. The majority of positions are for teaching English as a Foreign Language (also known as EFL, ESL, TESL, TEFL, or TESOL) and require an undergraduate degree, generally all majors are considered. Employers are looking for people who have a good educational background, clear speech and outgoing personalities. Teaching experience is helpful but not always a mandatory requirement.

Bachelors or Masters Degree Options

There are tremendous opportunities for those with at least a Bachelors degree (for those with a Masters degree starting salaries are often higher). Most jobs are for a one or two year contract. With certification and a degree, there is also the opportunity to teach subjects besides English.

For those who do not have certification there are also many opportunities to teach. These range from volunteer teaching - health or technical subjects, to paying jobs teaching English.

Non-Degree Options

Most undergraduate positions are non-paid volunteer assistant teacher positions, teaching in language institutes, businesses, freelance tutoring and translation work. There are fewer positions for those who do not have a Bachelors degree, but if you are resourceful, you may find the right opportunity (it is rare to find a paid position). Another option is to go through one of several university programs in the United States, where you will be placed in a position and gain credit for the experience.

All Candidates

For both graduates and undergraduates there are also volunteer programs, like the Peace Corps, where you volunteer to teach in an underdeveloped nation. Although these positions may not be glamorous, they may provide you with an invaluable cultural and learning experience.

Permission to Work

You will need to have a work permit in order to be legally employed. If you gain employment through a placement program, they will provide or assist you in getting the work permit. Each country has their own policy regarding work permits. Review the resources at 5 Washington Place for specific information on the country you intend to work in.

General Tips

Most placements require a long-term commitment of at least one year. Getting accustomed to a culture in which local customs seem strange, extreme climate differences, new cuisine, and homesickness, are just a few of the things to be prepared for before you start your teaching experience abroad. However, this can also be an adventure, trying new and exciting things, and exploring other countries. A very useful website to consult for tips, ESL job postings, links, resources, and past experiences is www.eslcafe.com. Also, check out www.eurograduate.com for information on resume formats for all over Europe.

The Center regularly receives E-mail announcements from a wide variety of organizations listing full-time openings throughout the world. You can find these listings on the Work Abroad bulletin board in our office at Palladium on the Second floor. They can also be found in a binder located at our Work Abroad Resources Center. For a detailed on-line search, click on the Internet Resources link.

If you would like to stay informed about overseas job opportunities and work abroad organization presentations, join The Center Work Abroad listserv!

In order to reciece this information you will need to have an activated "nyu.edu" email address. To activate your email address, go to http://www.nyu.edu/its/students/internet/ and follow the on screen instructions.

To subscribe to the Work Abroad listserv, please send a blank email from your "nyu.edu" email address to :