Resources for job searching outside the U.S.
Where to Start
When considering work abroad, start by identifying why you want to work abroad and what you are looking for. Most international work can be broken up into short-term and long-term.
Short-Term Work Opportunity vs. Long-Term Career Overseas
- When do you want to go overseas: Now or a year from now? What is a realistic timetable?
- What’s more important: a prestigious career-oriented job or actually being overseas? In other words, are you willing to be a nanny or a hotel clerk as along as it is overseas?
- Do you want or need more education before you go? Do the jobs you’re interested in require a master’s degree or teacher certification?
- Do you need to get more experience in your career field before you try to find a job overseas?
- Are you willing to volunteer or do you only want a paid job?
- Are you considering going to just one country, one of several countries, or anywhere so long as it’s overseas?
- Have you been overseas before? If not, are you ready and willing to handle the cultural differences?
Remember, the more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find a short-term or long-term job overseas. For more information on different types of opportunities, visit the University of Michigan’s Types of Work Abroad resource.
Things to Consider for Short-Term Work Abroad
- Desired length of time abroad
- Finding a position through a work program or independently
- Financial situation
- Desired location(s) and desired type of work
- Goals for working abroad
For more information, visit University of Michigan’s Is Work Abroad for Me resource.
Long-Term Work Abroad
Getting Started
There are many resources to help you realize your dream of working abroad long-term. Before you begin, it is important to know the reality of working abroad.
Those who find career-related work often start off working for an international company in the United States and are transferred to an office abroad.
It can be very difficult to obtain a work permit to work legally in a foreign country. Employers usually have to prove that there are no national candidates qualified to perform the job and that the foreign worker is uniquely qualified. This is one of the reasons that teaching English abroad has become one of the easiest and most popular ways to work abroad for an extended period of time.
Don’t let this discourage you – many people are successful at finding long-term work abroad, but it does take perseverance.
Eligibility
To obtain resident and legal work status in a country, usually:
- You must already have a job waiting for you
- You must have means to live in a country without working
- You fulfill government criteria to establish a business
- You are descended from or married to a national
- You have lived legally in the country for a number of years for a reason acceptable to the government
- You are willing to pay a fee to an organization that will assist you in obtaining a temporary work visa. Then it would be up to the employing company to sponsor you for longer. It is not guaranteed that the company you temporarily work for will sponsor you permanently. (e.g., BUNAC, USIT, Alliance Abroad)
Keep in mind that work visa qualifications vary from country to country. Do your research for what is required and be aware of:
- work visa categories (skilled workers, temporary workers, recent graduates, etc.)
- sponsorship requirements
- documentation (passport, education credentials, proof of financial means, health insurance, etc.)
- processing times (anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the country and visa type)
- duration and renewability (visas may be valid from 1-3 years, with varying options for renewal or pathways to permanent residency)
To learn more about visa requirements in the location you want to work, use the Learn About Your Destination site from the Department of State. You can also find information on different work permits through this resource from University of Michigan’s International Center.
Common Fields of International Employment
Now that you know the reality of working abroad and have started to think about what you’re looking for in an international career, start thinking about some of the fields where international employment is more likely:
- Business & Banking
- Criminal Justice/Law
- Consulting Firms
- Government
- Healthcare
- Infrastructure/Public Service
- International Education
- Nonprofit and Relief/Volunteer Agencies
- Public Policy Initiatives
- Technical Fields
- Travel Industry
How to Find Visa Sponsorship
- Multinational companies: Pursuing roles with US companies that have international offices can facilitate transfers abroad.
- Industry-specific job boards: Many fields have international job boards (tech, education, healthcare, etc.).
- Teaching English: A common entry point, with TEFL certification often required.
- International organizations: NGOs, UN agencies, and international organizations frequently hire Americans. Working through offices such as the State Department and in the Foreign Services offer opportunities as well.
- Networking: Alumni networks, professional associations, and LinkedIn can connect students with opportunities abroad.
Job Search & Preparation Resources
My Perfect Resume: This website provides inclusive website links for job searches in eight regions: 1) Canada, 2) the Caribbean, Central & South America, 3) Western Europe, 4) British Isles, 5) Central and Eastern Europe, 6) Scandinavia, 7) Africa and the Middle East, and 8) Asia and Pacific Rim.
Monster Global Gateway: This website connects Monster.com users to 51 affiliated job sites in 44 countries, including Singapore, Korea, India, and Malaysia. Note that there are jobs posted for Hong Kong but not Greater China. Each country’s site is different because it is operated by Monster’s global branches or affiliated companies. English or home language is used.
Indeed Worldwide: This website provides free access to millions of jobs and internships from thousands of job boards, newspaper classifieds, and company websites in 63 countries across five continents. You can search for jobs in your home language. Employers can post jobs on this website, but it is more likely that Indeed.com collects job postings from other sites by using online search engines.
Career Jet Worldwide: This website is a job search engine, where you can search the “where” box by entering “Worldwide.” It covers 61 countries. If you click a country, it shows a search box where you can type in your home language.
Robert Walters: This website is for a global recruitment company with country-specific pages and postings, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, and Malaysia.
DevNetJobs: This website shows very a comprehensive list of jobs in the international development sector, including NGOs, UN organizations, nonprofits, funding agencies, and foundations in developing countries
Go Overseas: Over 15,000 program featuring teaching, volunteering, gap year programs, teaching English, and more
Go Abroad: Another site offering teaching and work abroad programs
Additional Supporting Sites
Indiana University Resource: Includes links to a number of websites for teaching, volunteering, and working abroad
University of Michigan International Job Listings: an extensive list with notations next to highly recommended resources.
WorldTrips Resource: Advice and additional ideas for working abroad after college
FAQs
Please visit this site for frequently asked questions and answers about working abroad.
This resource borrows from resources created by the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan.
Additional Resources
Work Abroad – University of Minnesota