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LinksArticlesCareer Field - International
Specialized Career Center Services
Student Organizations & Professional Association Information Career Paths/Occupational Information & Resources
Specialized Career Center Services
Student Organizations & Professional Association Information Participating in associations can be a valuable avenue for learning
about an occupation or field. Associations are an excellent resource for
networking,
and their websites often have information about careers.
Cal Student Organizations
Professional Organizations
Career Paths/Occupational Information & Resources
Internships & Short-Term Work
Internships - An internship is an on-site work experience that is directly related either to your major field of study or your career interest. Job duties are professional in nature. Although many overseas internships are unpaid, they can greatly enhance your international career. Just as with internships in the U.S. working with an employer in an internship will allow them to see your talents and skills. For international employers this could lead to possible long-term employment. A number of international internships are actually based in the United States, particularly in the Capital and New York City. For example, the Canadian Embassy offers internships in Washington, DC. Contact foreign embassies in the US using EmbassyWeb as part of your internship search. Several offer summer and/or semester-long experiential learning. Positions with these organizations are often overlooked by students, and are less competitive than internships with well-known entities. The US Department of State offers Spring, Summer, and Fall internships. The application deadline is November 1 for Summer internships. Students must be returning to their academic institution following their internship. While most of the internships are usually in Washington DC, there are opportunities for students to go abroad as junior Foreign Service Officers. The US Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service also offers an International Internship Program that provides international agricultural experience to college students that will assist them in making career choices. Internships are available for Spring, Summer, and Fall. Large multi-government organizations, such as The United Nations offer internship opportunities through different UN offices for graduate and post-graduate students. The World Bank offers undergraduate and graduate interns practical knowledge management experience with members of thematic groups (TG) in a mutual learning and sharing environment. Short-Term Work - The tourism industry is very broad. Student may find positions in tour agencies, resorts, cruise lines, hotels, or restaurants/pubs. Working in this industry can reward you by meeting new people and possible contacts for future employment, but it also has its drawbacks. Long hours, weekend hours and working conditions that aren’t always the cleanest should be a consideration when applying for this type of employment. This type of work is seasonal and many companies recruit months before the start of the season, i.e., application should be submitted in March for Summer employment. If applying directly to an international employer, it is preferable to write in their native language. Otherwise, start with U.S. companies that are global, such as Disney Cruise Lines or The Hilton Resorts and Hotels. Au pairs have a unique employment situation, in that they live with their employer. Typically, au pairs work approximately 5 hours a day, some evenings, 5 days a week. They should be provided with a private room and full board. Given the close proximity to your employer it is a good idea to talk with prospective employers well in advance and clearly define your hours and duties to make sure that the position is a "fit" for both of you. Au pair positions can be found through local listings in newspapers or through dedicated agencies such International Educational Services, which offers placement in Spain and other Western European countries. Jobs in the agricultural field are for those who like to work outdoors. These positions are also seasonal, although they can fill most of a year moving from one crop to another. If already overseas, asking at the local pubs is a good way to acquire leads. The Communicating for Agriculture Exchange Program hosts an exchange program (work for room and board) in the areas of agriculture, equine, horticulture or enology. Resources
Volunteer
Volunteering is one way to get your foot in the door of an organization. Volunteer opportunities are available in a wide range of locations and disciplines. Some provide room and board. If you are focusing on developing countries, volunteer positions are often your best bet for acquiring international experience. They may provide a "pay off" as you enter the job market after graduation by giving you valuable experiences to include on your resume and discuss during interviews. Many organizations promoting social change offer volunteer positions. Examine your values carefully if you are exploring this facet of international work, because service agencies usually seek individuals who share their political or religious beliefs. Understand the mission of any organization before joining or working for it. Resources
You know you want to go abroad, now how do you pay for it? Funding can come in a variety of ways. It is best to look in different areas, not just funding strictly for going abroad. There may be an academic or community related scholarship or fellowship that you are perfect for. UC Berkeley Scholarships Connection maintains a database that includes scholarships for international study or research. Talk to family, friends and local organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, and community cultural centers. The following programs offer some support for short-term work abroad: The World Pulse Program provides people of color, community organizers, and people from low-income backgrounds with unique 8-month community service and learning opportunity that combines 2-3 weeks of international work with service learning in the US. The Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship Program prepares students of color for future careers in public policy and international affairs through activities leading to a master's degree. Those who have successfully completed a junior institute and have received their undergraduate degrees may receive support for internships. Resources
Work permits and Visas - Work permits and visas are necessary documents for working abroad. No employer can legally hire you abroad without authorization, which varies from country to country. Getting a work permit is easiest when done through a company that regularly acquires work permits for its employees. Since this isn’t always an option, plan ahead for what can be a lengthy process. Contact the embassy of the country you are targeting for further information. Go to The Electronic Embassy Help and Resource Center for an online list of embassies. Students and new graduates can get short-term work permits for certain countries through programs such as Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) and the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC).
International Resume - You will need a polished resume for your international job search. Emphasize your international experience. List any languages in which you are fluent enough to conduct business conversations. Study abroad and international travel are relevant because they reflect an interest in other cultures. However, the key components of your resume will be the experience, training and skills related to the specific job for which you are applying. To "internationalize" your resume for employers from other countries you will need to change certain parts of your resume.
Teaching abroad is a popular option for paid or inexpensive stays overseas. Interest in teaching English abroad is growing. Proficiency in the local language is rarely a requirement for employment, although some knowledge of the host country's language and culture will strengthen your rapport with students. Language institutions in most countries require a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a commitment of 1-2 years. Resources
If you know more than one language, you may want to consider a translator or interpreter career. A translator deals with written text and an interpreter works with live speech. In addition to knowing a second or third language, you should have a thorough knowledge of the culture and customs of the countries where these languages are spoken. The requirement of being a translator or interpreter varies. Some employers may require you to be certified and others may not. The United Nations requires a candidate to have a Bachelor of Arts in the main language, passing a test and being skilled in three of the six official United Nations languages. Few schools in the United States provide certificate programs in translating and interpreting and fewer provide actual degree programs. The Monterey Institute of International Studies offers a Master's degree program in California. UC Riverside Extension, UCLA Extension, and UCSD Extension offer certificate programs in translation and interpretation. San Francisco State University (College of Extended Learning) offers legal/Court Interpretation Certificate program. The American Translation Association has an accreditation program, with exams scheduled regularly around the US and in several international locations. To learn more about Translation Careers, refer to our International Career
Symposium's
Resources
One of the reason you are interested in an international job may be you want international travel experiences. A job in the tourism and hospitality industry could be for you. The tourism and hospitality industry is one of the biggest and fastest growing industries. Most tourism and hospitality jobs are seasonal but there are long-term career opportunities available such as an activities director on a cruise ship, a resort manager at a beach resort, an animation director at a golf and casino resort, a customer services supervisor at an outdoor adventure touring company, etc. There are no formal training or education requirements. The skills you need are specific to each segment within the industry, and they are best acquired on the job. The salary may be 20 to 30% lower than other international industries, but you may get special benefits such as free accommodations and meals. Resources
Government - Working for the government is what many think of when they think of overseas employment. During the 1980's the government was criticized for being to inefficient. In this last decade the government administration has worked to streamline its process, which mean decreasing the number of workers. This doesn't mean that there aren't any jobs overseas with the Federal Government. International relations is becoming even more important as technology brings us closer and economies depend on each other. There are many types of jobs with the government in areas such as, intelligence, foreign policy, economics, translation and research. Resources
Research - Research positions are for those interested in fields such as public policy, politics or international affairs. The focus of the job is on writing papers and examining theoretical positions, all in the effort to gain new knowledge and understanding. Many research centers or "think tanks" can be based in the US or world wide and look at international issues such as development, world peace, and arms control. General Resources
Research and Think Tanks
International Development
Environment, Energy and Population
Foundations
Relief, Refugee Assistance and Human Rights Peace and Democratization Business and Banking are tough fields to get into. Most often you need an MBA graduate degree. International graduate schools are one way to propel yourself into this field. Another way is through internships and study abroad. Berkeley Programs for Study Abroad has information for undergraduates who want to study business or finance abroad. Since it is easiest to get overseas through companies in the US, start by looking at multinational companies with US headquarters or foreign companies with offices in the US. Forbes magazine lists the top international companies, which includes the top multinational and foreign companies in the US; Fortune magazine also lists their top 500 Global companies. Top Jobs on the Net, UK is a site that will email you job listing of positions you specify, including those for new graduates. Resources
With the invention of the internet, the "world went wired". Jobs in the technology fields have exploded not just in the US, but around the world. A great way to find a job in this field is by using the technology itself, the internet. There are dozens, maybe hundreds of sites that are dedicated to IT jobs. This Escape America site has a list of websites dedicated to IT jobs overseas. TotalJobs.com offers IT employment listings for jobs throughout the world. Services can be provided to companies in Hong Kong by someone in San Francisco. An international career in this field may mean taking trips to different countries and not necessarily being overseas for an extended amount of time. This is still considered an international career though. Don't forget to look at US companies, big and small for a possible international career. To find positions in the US that have overseas projects or components try job databases such as BestJobsUSA.com. When searching for jobs, type "international travel" or "overseas" in the keyword box to narrow the list of jobs to those with possible international connections.
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On the recommendation of our counseling staff, the Career Center lists job and career information sites that generally meet the following criteria: are of interest to Cal students, easily navigated, require no fee or registration prior to viewing, and (for job sites) list a significant number of entry-level positions in California. New sites may be submitted for consideration and are typically reviewed on a quarterly basis. Please indicate the page on our site where you think your link would be appropriate. |
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