Where to Begin

Step One: Assessing Your Options

Step Two: Developing a Strategy

Step One: Assessing Your Options

Your Goals

Before you begin your international job search, it's important to clarify what you're looking for. Do you want:

• career-related work?
• work that is not career-specific, but is located in a particular country?
• a working vacation through several countries?

Are you pursuing:

• short-term employment?
• an international career?

Your answers to these questions, and your level of skill and experience, will determine which international job search strategies will work best for you.

Your Skills and Experience

Now that you've thought about your goals, take stock of your skills and experience. Do you have:

• foreign language skills?
• technical skills or education?
• business experience or education?
• significant experience in your field?

Make a list of what you have to offer an employer. If you are having trouble identifying your skills, you may want to explore career counseling and testing resources available through the Cornell Career Services or Agriculture and Life Sciences Career Development Office, or call to make an appointment with a counselor.

The Market

While the job market may be good in the States, in many other countries it's still very tough. A country's economic situation is likely to be reflected in the rules governing travel and work permits for foreign nationals. The ease with which you can obtain a work permit will directly affect your job search strategy.

Find out what the employment situation is like in the country you're targeting. Check the "International" section of the Cornell Career Services library for books specifically dedicated to the topic. These books are often divided into sections by geographic region, and offer a quick overview of the employment situation in a given country. Additional resources include international newspapers and US Dept. of State Country Commerical Guides. Get a sense of the overall employment picture in the country that interests you, then look for information on the marketability of your specific skills. For information on specific industries, you may want to check with the appropriate Chamber of Commerce. Consult the CCS library's International Work Survey notebook, a collection of tips from students who have worked abroad; check the alumni listing at your college career office for Cornellians currently working outside the US. If there's a professional society, newsgroup, or discussion group dedicated to your field, join up! Ask your colleagues what the job situation is like for your field in the country you're targeting.

Step Two: Developing a Strategy

By now you have a clear sense of what you want, what you have to offer, and what the employment situation looks like in the place(s) you're targeting. Two main challenges lie ahead: getting a job AND getting a work permit. Which comes first?

If your skills and experience make you a strong candidate in the market you're targeting, and employers need your skills enough to sponsor your application for a work permit, then getting the job comes first. You will use the same basic job search strategies you would use if you were looking for work in the US. However, expect the international job search to take more time; building a network may pose particular challenges, especially if you are new to your field.

If work permits are difficult to obtain in the place(s) that interest you, or if you lack experience, your best bet for employment may be a youth organization, or an internship program. These programs pave the way for you by providing a work permit and/or job up front, and may provide other support services for you once you arrive.

You might also decide to beef up your experience or language skills by volunteering abroad.