Sections
- Getting Started
- Further Research
- Internships
- Federal Jobs
- International Job Opportunities
- Non-Profit Opportunities
- Private Corporations and Businesses
International Job Opportunities
Jobs on the international circuit are also abundant, with quite a variety of options available. You could work for the U.S. government in a foreign country, for a private or non-profit U.S.-based organization, for a foreign firm, or for a variety of social change/ development assistance programs. Working abroad can offer numerous benefits, such as cultural enrichment, tremendous learning opportunities, language improvement, and many travel opportunities. Working for a multinational can offer substantial economic benefits, as well as practical knowledge to bring home upon your return, while working for a non-profit human rights group can be extremely rewarding for those with driving moral compulsion. You must determine how well you can adjust to cultural barriers, extreme distance between you and your family and friends, potential health concerns, and a number of "inconveniences" which life in the developing world can offer. If you have never spent significant time abroad, an international career may be best postponed, but for those who enjoy life outside the United States, working in your favorite country can be extremely satisfying, and you may never come home! One option for international employment available to most people is teaching English, and there are numerous source books to obtaining a position. Many organizations recruit volunteers to work on development projects, from the Peace Corps (a federal job, actually), to Amigos de Las Americas.
Many of these positions do not pay, and some even require you to pay for your own transportation. Here again, grants can be secured to cover the cost of such a plan. Several religious affiliations recruit volunteers to help in missionary and development projects as well. The books listed in the Bibliography at the end of this document are a good starting point, as well as contacting a particular organization or corporation to inquire about their overseas hiring practices.
