Challenges and Tips
Finding employment and living in another country can be overwhelming. Here are some common questions/challenges and tips for overcoming them.
"Which do I choose – professional international experience or short-term international experience?”
Each has its pros and cons; decide what is most important to you. Which opportunity aligns with your goals? What do you hope to gain from the experience? If you do not want to work abroad, you could also study abroad. Contact the UF study abroad office for more details.
“I can’t work without a work visa.”
Yes, this is true in most places around the world. However, there are many ways to secure a work visa. Most of the “easy” ways are only for temporary stays, not permanent employment. If you are doing well in your internship, it may be possible to extend your visa depending on your employer’s needs and the country’s requirements. There are numerous programs to help students gain temporary work visas.
“How do I find an international position?”
Officially, you are supposed to secure work (and a work visa) before entering most countries, but this can be difficult for people seeking professional positions.
Low-skilled exchange programs (like BUNAC) allow you to secure a temporary work visa for one of several different countries before leaving the USA so you can hunt for employment (typically in the hospitality industry; i.e., pubs, hotels, restaurants) once you arrive.
Other programs, like teaching English and being an au pair, set up the necessary legal paperwork and find employment for you before you leave the USA.
For professional positions, it is probably easiest to try and secure an internship by using one of the numerous international internship websites or by approaching employers with international offices/affiliates at Showcase.
“Is this program legitimate?”
Many programs claim to help students go abroad, but not all of them are legitimate. Do your research and speak to students who have used the program’s services. If it sounds too good to be true, it probable is.
“I don’t know how to write a resume/CV.”
The American style of resume or CV is not standard throughout the world. The CRC library houses books on writing international resumes and there are online resources for finding countries’ standard resume format.
“Will going abroad hurt my chances of getting hired in the USA when I return?”
No, as long as you gain transferable skills or useful experiences that can be put on your resume, going abroad will help you. Internship or professional international experience will help further your career.
An information interview can give you insight into how much and what kind of international experience will be most helpful, and a career counselor can also help you weigh your options.
“Which fields have the best opportunities for international careers?”
The most opportunities for international careers are in the business, education foreign service and non-profit fields. The American State Department and the US Foreign Service also have many government jobs abroad at consulates, embassies and government offices in different countries.
- Business- international finance and international real estate are areas in demand.
- Education- teaching English abroad as a career or getting an advanced degree and teaching for an international college/university are both viable ways for students to enter international careers.
- International non-profit organizations exist that will hire people from around the world.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I up to living in a foreign country?
- Am I adventurous?
- Do I thrive in new environments?
- Am I open-minded to new experiences and cultures?
- Would I be willing to learn a new language?