How to Find Work Abroad as a Student

The best time to seek work overseas and to prepare for an international career is while you are a student or soon after graduation.

By William Nolting

You may be considering an overseas work experience for many reasons: an adventure, a chance to gain in-depth knowledge of another culture and of yourself, an inexpensive way to improve foreign language proficiency, or as preparation for an international career.

Keep in mind what you want from working abroad: Will an unpaid internship working with Americans in a U.S. embassy do as much for your French as working in an ice cream shop in Paris? Or would the State Department internship be the best choice if your long-term goal is an international career?

Also, keep in mind how extraordinarily difficult it is to be hired into a career position abroad unless you have a scarce skill and professional experience.