There are infinite job opportunities available to you, depending on your
interests, skills, and experience. You may decide you don’t want to do anything
international, but in case you do, we want to provide a glimpse of the
different types of work you might find.
International Careers vs. Working Abroad
Many of us use international careers and working abroad interchangeably, but
while working abroad often entails an international career, it doesn’t work the
other way around.
An International career is one
where you may be based in another country, but more often you start in the U.S.
With increasing globalization, companies potentially consider many positions
international in scope, especially when working for a company that operates
across national borders. Your main work responsibilities will be tied to
something international, whether it is working for a large corporation, for a
study abroad organization, for the U.S. government, or even a small firm. An
international career will often require some travel abroad and can lead to
working abroad.
Working abroad is just what it means—you are actively working in another
country. Most work abroad opportunities are for those in the sciences and
engineering. However, there are opportunities for people in every field,
particularly through business, education and government work. Many recent
graduates opt to work abroad through Peace Corps or another volunteer agency in
order to gain experience as well.
If you truly want to work abroad, be prepared to do a lot of research and
background work before applying for positions. Be realistic about what your
chances are at finding a highly paid position in London, Paris, or Madrid as a
recent graduate. Most potential employers will want to see employment
eligibility (work permit/visa) prior to considering you for a position.
