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Guide to Spotting Scams

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Conducting an international job search presents both unique challenges and rewards. It can take significant time and effort to research and locate employment opportunities outside the United States.

The Pomerantz Career Center makes no guarantee about positions listed and are not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or other aspects of employment. It is the responsibility of each individual job seeker to research the validity of the organization(s) to which he/she is applying and verify the specific information for each posting. Job seekers should exercise due diligence and use common sense and caution when applying for or accepting any position.

Guide to Spotting International Employment Scams

International Employment Overview International Employment Strategies Resources for Planning Your Search

Worldwide Opportunities Regional Opportunities

The international job search sites listed on this page are organized into worldwide and regional categories. These listings are not comprehensive.

International Employment Overview

There are three key considerations for you to keep in mind as you begin your search:

  1. Know the requirements for visa and work permits. These requirements differ from country to country, and obtaining a visa or work permit can be a lengthy process. GoinGlobal, Electronic Embassy and Overseas Jobs have links for foreign embassies' websites, where a country's visa and work permit requirements are usually listed.
  2. Know how the job search differs abroad. Job search etiquette and the format of a resume, a CV, or an interview differ depending on the country and region. 
  3. Be aware of the following: Review Department of State Travel Information and their Travel Advisories, locate the nearest U.S. Embassy, and research health risks for the geographic region through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

International Employment Strategies

  1. Gain experience before you graduate to boost your competitiveness as an applicant for international opportunities.
  2. Work abroad immediately short-term to uncover opportunities in-country and potentially transition to work more related to your field.
  3. Work, intern, or volunteer abroad for a finite period of time through a placement program or fellowship. If you are accepted into the program, there are often benefits in addition to the direct placement, such as training and ongoing support. Be sure to evaluate any placement program for legitimacy and transparency.
  4. Work abroad long-term in a country if you can secure the necessary visa. This can be very challenging, and it is country and occupation specific.
  5. Work for a U.S. or foreign company in the U.S. and eventually work for them abroad.
    • If asked in an application, interview, or on the job, be sure to indicate your interest in a work abroad assignment.
    • These opportunities are not commonly provided to employees early in their career with a company, unless explicitly stated as part of the job responsibilities upon hire.
    • A couple of local examples of companies who offer international assignments to employees are John Deere and Rockwell Collins.
  6.  
  7. With any of the above strategies, it may help to inform yourself via GoinGlobal, or related resources in the section below, and to connect with expat communities (even UI alumni clubs!) abroad.

As with any individual contact or portion of your search, exercise due diligence and use common sense and caution when engaging with people and companies you are unfamiliar with.

Resources for Planning Your Search

The following resources contain useful information to support your international job search.

  • Connecting Study Abroad to Your Career
    Helpful articles, resources, and advice compiled by UI Study Abroad
  • IS:2500 Working Internationally
    Consider enrolling in this 1 semester hour course via MyUI. Information on international job sectors; presentations by experts in the field; advice on what is required to work internationally.
  • GoinGlobal
    Access thousands of visa petitions from U.S. employers seeking to hire international talent. GoinGlobal provides constantly updated access to 400,000+ H1B visa petitions available through the U.S. Department of Labor. Local career guides, corporate profiles, and more than 16M job and internship opportunities are also available from this award-winning service. 
  • International Business: Cultural/Business Etiquette
  • UI Pomerantz Business Library Guide on Cultural and Business Etiquette
  • CountryWatch
    Up-to-date news and information on each of the recognized countries of the world.
  • Electronic Embassy
    List of embassies’ websites and their locations in Washington D.C.
  • Overseas Jobs: Visa/Work Permit Process by Country
    Introductory information on work permits and visas.
  • Europa World Plus
    Reference covering political and economic information in more than 250 countries and territories.
  • U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs - Students Abroad
    Information for students planning to go abroad
     

Worldwide Opportunities

  • BUNAC
    BUNAC offers a range of summer camp, work abroad and volunteer abroad programs. BUNAC destinations include Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Britain, China, Ecuador, South Africa and many more.
  • Council for International Education Exchange
    CIEE offers teaching positions with programs in Chile, China, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • Dave's ESL Cafe
    Teaching positions for TESOL, TEFL, and TESL around the world. Lesson plan ideas and forums.
  • Go Abroad
    Information on work abroad, study abroad, volunteer, teach, intern, TEFL, and language abroad programs.
  • GoinGlobal
    MyGoinGlobal allow users to customize their career resource experience, including bookmarking and saving favorite career guides, job and internship listings, employer profiles, and H1B records. MyGoinGlobal users also receive instant notification of new job opportunities matching their search criteria.
  • International Partnership For Service Learning and Leadership
    IPSL partnerships around the world collaborate to offer short-term and semester-length programs that unite study abroad with volunteer service opportunities in the host community.
  • Peace Corps
    Volunteers serve 27 months, supporting initiatives in education, youth and community development, health, business and information and communications technology, agriculture, and the environment.
  • teflSearch
    Find TEFL/ESL jobs

 

Regional Opportunities

Antarctica
Asia
Australia & New Zealand
Canada
Central and South America
Europe
Middle East