Ways to Go Abroad
Short-Term Experiences
Study Abroad
- Take one or two semesters to earn credits at universities around the world. You won’t have to worry about finding work in these short-term experiences. There are programs in English, the country’s native language or a combination of both. Visit the UF Study Abroad Office to find out about opportunities to study around the world while gaining UF credit.
- Other study abroad programs exist, speak to one of the UF study abroad office personnel for more information.
Peace Corps:
- Started by President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps is a program that enables students to go abroad. Participants agree to a two-year commitment in which they go to developing nations and work with education, youth outreach, community development, health and HIV/AIDS; agriculture and environment; business development; and information technology. The Peace Corps trains its volunteers and offers partial student loan forgiveness.
BUNAC:
- BUNAC arranges work visas for its participants and has resources to assist them finding work abroad. Most visas are for 4 to 6 months in Australia, Ireland, Peru, South Africa or the UK. Participants typically work in the hospitality industry, earning money for living expenses and travel during their stay.
CIEE:
- CIEE is a non-governmental international education organization that creates and administers programs that allow high school and university students to study, volunteer, work and teach abroad. Among many activities, CIEE administers 80 study abroad programs in over 30 host countries and teaching programs in China and Thailand. Educators can participate in summer seminars in 20 countries.
International Au Pair Association
- Au pairs serve as live-in childcare providers for host families around the world. Au pairs become an extended member of the host family and receive room, board and a small stipend. IAPA maintains connections to au pair agencies around the world that place participants with host families.
Teaching English As A Foreign Language
- Teaching English as a foreign language requires a college degree and certificate in teaching English as a foreign language. Certification programs cost between 4800 and $3,000. Prior experience before teaching English abroad is advised. If you are pursuing a career in education, teaching English abroad is considered professional experience.
- When choosing a program, consider housing, how much they charge you, salary, living expenses, health insurance, airfare, type of students, etc.
Scholarships/Fellowships
- International fellowships and scholarships are prestigious awards that allow for research or study abroad at a foreign institution. For more information, please contact the UF Honors Office.
Internships
- International internships are excellent ways to gain short-term experience in your field while also opening up long-term opportunities if you wish to pursue a career overseas.
Volunteering
- Volunteering, as with an internship, can lead to long-term employment as you gain experience. These positions are not paid, but some programs/organizations do provide room and board. There are a variety of global organizations that need overseas volunteers
Long-Term Experiences
Foreign Service Careers
- The US State Department manages all careers at overseas US government offices, typically in US embassies or consulates. Foreign Service employees are placed in positions based on their skills. New hires can request working in a particular country or part of the world, but placement is not guaranteed. Some Foreign Service employees spend their entire career abroad, going to different parts of the world and serving American policy abroad.
- You must be an American citizen to work in the US Foreign Service.
International Non-Profit Organizations
- Non-profit organizations and their employees are usually committed to a particular cause. Working for a NPO requires long hours because funding is rarely adequate enough to meet the organizations needs. Opportunities may exist in non-profit organizations (NPOs) that receive governmental assistance. Beginning with non profits may require you to begin at a low-level position and move up with experience in the organization. Networking can be very helpful in the NPO industry.
Teach at a Foreign School
- If you have teaching experience, certification and/or an advanced degree, you may be able to teach your subject at a foreign school or institution of higher education. Most opportunities for teaching abroad are for teaching English. Some people begin teaching English as a foreign language for the short-term experience and end up wanting to continue long-term after the initial position ends.
- Short-term programs can connect you with a longer-term experience or you may try to find a teaching position independently (as long as you have the certification required). The Department of Defense employs American teachers to teach K-12 on its bases around the world.
International Business Careers
- Although it is possible for a recent graduate to find long-term employment in a business overseas, most new graduates may not have enough experience for advertised positions. There are other ways to get your foot in the door, however. Industrialized nations (like in Western Europe, Canada, Japan) will have the greatest number of opportunities. It will be more difficult to find work in Central America, South America, Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim because of various economic and political factors in those areas. However, some opportunities may exist in those parts of the world.
- Recent graduates will find it easiest to work internationally by getting into a large American corporation that has subsidiary and corporate offices abroad. People rise through the ranks most quickly by working in sales, marketing or advertising. International finance may have the most opportunities. Another way recent graduates work in international business is by completing an internship with an international corporation or bank and doing well enough that the employer is willing to take a chance on hiring a foreign national. Most employers will only send someone to or hire someone in the global arena if they possess knowledge about the country/area of the world, are culturally sensitive and are considered at a minimum bilingual.