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Working Abroad
Working
alongside people of a different culture is an exciting and
rewarding experience! You will gain a deeper understanding
of yourself and the people of another culture. While
working abroad, you will gain a global perspective, have
interesting adventures, possibly learn foreign language skills,
and experience unique career growth that will make you more
marketable to future employers.
Several
different types of work abroad exist for students including
short-term paid work abroad, volunteer abroad, teach abroad,
intern abroad, Peace Corps, and long-term work abroad. The
biggest obstacle to getting paid work in a foreign country is
that you must have a work visa. To get around the
red-tape, consider a program to facilitate your transition
abroad.
Work abroad resources, along with scholarship and grant
information, can be found on our reference shelves in the
Education Abroad Office. Feel free to come
browse our information or make an appointment to talk with one
of our peer advisors.
Short-Term Paid Work Abroad
This option is common for students
wanting to explore another culture by living and working in a
country for a summer or a semester. Some common jobs
include bartending, waiting tables, and working at a seasonal
resort. Use the following websites to find work abroad
placements:
JobsAbroad.com,
Transitions Abroad,
CIEE, University
of Michigan International Center, and
BUNAC. If you have questions, please make an appointment with
one of our peer advisors in the Education Abroad Office.
Volunteer Abroad
Students often chose to volunteer
abroad during their summer or winter break to experience another
culture while leaving a lasting impact on people in need.
Many opportunities exist for volunteering abroad, and programs
and information can be found on the following websites:
VolunteerAbroad.com,
Transitions Abroad,
CIEE, University
of Michigan International Center, and
BUNAC.
If you have questions, please make an appointment with
one of our peer advisors in the Education Abroad Office.
Teach Abroad
Students choose to teach overseas to
deeply immerse themselves in a foreign culture, to gain a global
perspective, and to spread knowledge under challenging
conditions. The length of time spent teaching abroad can
vary from a month to several years. Teach abroad programs
and more information can be found through the following
websites:
TeachAbroad.com,
Dave's ESL Cafe,
Transitions Abroad,
CIEE, and University
of Michigan International Center.
If you have questions, please make an appointment with
one of our peer advisors in the Education Abroad Office.
Intern Abroad
This option is for students
wishing to gain work experience relative to their major in an
international setting.
One example is a VT fashion marketing student interning with one
of the fashion houses in Milan, Italy. The following
websites will help you find internships abroad:
InternAbroad.com,
Transitions Abroad,
University of Michigan
International Center, and
BUNAC. Remember that you can attach an internship to
the beginning or end of your academic study abroad experience.
Also, some programs such as University of Sunshine Coast arrange
internships for academic credit to be taken during a semester
along with other courses. The next step is to make an appointment with
one of our peer advisors in the Education Abroad Office for more
information and to ensure that all necessary forms are filed
with Virginia Tech.
Peace Corps
If you would like to commit two
years to serving humanitarian causes while gaining unparalleled
experiences that will change your global perspective and help
you gain a deep understanding of yourself, then Peace Corps is
right for you. Virginia Tech has a
Peace
Corps office on campus in Litton Reaves that will
provide you with all the information you will need.
Long-Term Work Abroad
As you near the end of your studies
at Virginia Tech, you may be interested in pursuing an
international career. The following websites will help you
learn how gain an entry-level position in another country:
Transitions Abroad,
Going Global,
Expat Network,
The Riley Guide,
Monster,
Dickinson College, and
UC Berkeley. Additional
print resources including lists of companies can be found at the
Education Abroad Office and in the Career Services Building.
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