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home | study, work, & travel | work abroad | options | short-term paid work abroad overview Short-Term Paid Work Abroad Overview
IntroductionWorking abroad can be a very rewarding experience, but you can't just take a plane to any country and start looking for a paid job. Working is illegal without a work permit, which cannot be acquired without a job offer. Plus, very few employers will offer you a job if you don't already having a work permit. The good news is that there are a number of organizations which can help you cut the red tape and acquire a legal work permit, or place you into a job. In this section we'll look at short-term options, from a few months up to six months or a bit more, most of which are paid either in wages or in-kind (room and board). These programs are hard to beat if you're looking for an inexpensive way to experience total cultural immersion, or to simply earn your way through an adventure abroad. If you have a year or two to commit, you may wish to consider other options such as teaching English abroad (with certification or without certification), or volunteering with organizations such as the Peace Corps. Or, if you want an internship for career experience, and could use academic credit towards a degree, consider a study abroad program with an internship or volunteer component, or a not-for-credit internship. For more information, consult our handouts on these topics and resources available at the U-M International Center. But if you're looking for an inexpensive way to experience total cultural immersion, or to simply earn your way through an adventure abroad, here's a good place to start. A note about Health Insurance. Many programs require health insurance or offer their own policies for purchase. We strongly recommend that U-M students purchase the University of Michigan Travel Abroad Insurance Policy which offers outstanding coverage at a bargain price. Policy details can be found at: http://www.uhs.umich.edu/tai/. Types of Short-Term Paid Work AbroadThere are two main types of options among work-abroad programs:
The BUNAC Work Abroad ProgramMany U-M students and recent graduates (and 6,000 U.S. students nationwide) work abroad each year in the programs administered by The British Universities North America Club (BUNAC) Work Abroad Program, making this type of option the single most popular one for working abroad. It is one of the few work abroad opportunities which does not require applying far in advance. The application process is non-competitive. BUNAC can get you a work permit (otherwise virtually impossible for Americans to obtain) for Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, or New Zealand. Without a work permit, you could only work illegally, seriously limiting your options. The program charges a fee. Some programs are available year-round, others only in the summer, depending on the country. The programs allow you to work for a specific maximum duration, depending on the country: Ireland (4 months), Canada (6 months), Australia (12 months), New Zealand (12 months), and France (3 months). To be eligible for most programs, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student (BUNAC's Australia and New Zealand programs are open to non-students). Student status requires taking at least eight credit hours in the U.S. You must be a U.S. citizen (or permanent resident for some of the countries). Student status as defined by the program continues for one semester after you leave school. Spring and summer graduates have until the following December 31 to enter the country in which they will work. December graduates have until June 30. To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student (except for the BUNAC Australia and New Zealand programs, which are available to non-students) taking at least eight credit hours in the U.S., and be a U.S. citizen (or permanent resident for some of the countries). Student status as defined by the program continues for one semester after you leave school. Spring and summer graduates have until the following December 31st to enter the country in which they will work. December graduates have until June 30th. The permit is then good for the specified time. The BUNAC programs in Australia and New Zealand do not require student status, but have an upper age limit of 30 and 35, respectively. Other organizations similar to BUNAC include France-based CEI, which offers a Work Abroad program in France, and Work & Travel Ireland, which offers similar services in Ireland. A 12-month Working Holiday Visa Program is also available for U.S. citizens interested in working in Ireland. See below for contact information. Although BUNAC, CEI, Work & Travel Ireland, and the U.S.-Ireland Working Holiday Visa Program can get you the work permit, you must find the job and a place to stay. For application information and program details:
What to Bring and Other ConsiderationsFriendless, homeless, and jobless. It might seem like a nerve-racking disadvantage to arrive “friendless, homeless and jobless” (as the program representatives say) in a foreign country, even with a BUNAC work permit. But it's also potentially a great advantage. You can have the face-to-face interview essential for getting a job (just as in the U.S.) And it gives you control. You can get a feel for the work environment, the boss, etc., then decide whether you want to work there. BUNAC also makes it fairly easy to change employers. Most BUNAC participants (around 80%) find their job on the spot, with no previous contacts. This is easy to do if you are flexible about the kind of work you'll accept. The overseas program offices have listings of job openings and apartments. BUNAC and Ireland's USIT provide very effective support. Most participants are able to secure employment within a few weeks, however this depends on the type of work you are hoping to pursue. Arrival time. For summer jobs, arrive as soon as you can after the term is over. Since U-M gets out earlier than many U.S. universities, this gives you an edge in the job search. In mid-June, July and August you'll face more competition. Arrival earlier in the week gives you more time to attend the orientation and look for jobs. Those going outside the peak season, for example in September or January, have reported lots of jobs and few seekers. Money. BUNAC requires that you take at least €1500 with you for France, $2,000 for Australia and New Zealand, and €2000 for Ireland. You will need this for the time between arriving and the first paycheck, which may be several weeks after you get the job. In the meantime, you will have to pay for room, board, and transportation with your own funds. You will also need change to make dozens of telephone calls a day, until you get a job. How much you can earn depends on the local wage level. Your chances of eventually covering your expenses, including airfare, are good in France, Ireland and Canada. Australia and New Zealand involve high airfare costs which you will not be able to recover in a short time. Accommodations. If the overseas program office for your country offers a room-reservation service for your first few days stay, take advantage of it. You will be too tired to want to search out a cheap room and will likely spend far more than you intended. Otherwise, reserve a Youth Hostel in advance. See the U-M International Center's Accommodations page for more information about finding hostels abroad. For advice on finding long-term accommodations, see your Participant's Handbook. It's advisable to look for your apartment after you get your job to minimize commuting time. Some jobs, such as work in pubs or au pair (childcare) work, include housing. Health Insurance. All the programs require that you have health insurance, either your own or insurance purchased through the program. While BUNAC offers their own policies for purchase, U-M students are encouraged to consider the University of Michigan Travel Abroad Insurance Policy which offers excellent coverage for a reasonable price (only $1/day). Policy details can be found at www.uhs.umich.edu/tai/. References. Participants tell us that employers, landlords, and banks ask for written references. Take along references from previous employers (best) and/or professors. A reference from a landlord may help secure an apartment. Finally, if you intend to open a bank account abroad (much more difficult than in the U.S.), you'll need a letter from your U.S. bank attesting to your good record as a bank customer. Bring your resume. Computers may not always be available for your use overseas, though cybercafes are becoming widespread. Appearance. For interviews, a suitcoat and tie or businesslike dress is essential, except for strictly manual-labor jobs. Other countries tend to stress formal appearance in interviews even more than is the case in the U.S. Length of time you wish to work. If you intend to work only for a month, you may find employers reluctant to hire you. For such a short period of time, it probably makes more sense to do a workcamp (see next section). Another consideration here is taxes; in several countries, earnings are tax-free until you exceed a certain income or length of stay. Job listings. The overseas program offices usually provide some job search assistance such as job postings. Participants in some countries may also be able to use official state and university placement services. Private agencies, especially temp agencies, can also be very useful. For other specific tips, see the recommended books and always check the Participant's Handbook which gives a good indication as to the types of job listings you can expect to find on site. Study and work. If you are going on a study abroad program, you may be able to combine study with a work permit program, allowing work before, during, or after the program. This is a good base from which to look for a job or internship, though you should not expect to be able to earn enough to cover the expenses of study abroad. Contact your program for details. Note: Australia and Canada do not permit study for those who enter the country with BUNAC work permits. Special varieties of work abroad. These include au pair work, i.e. doing housework and childcare in a live-in situation (jobs often reserved for women), teaching English as a foreign language, various types of agricultural work, and especially a great variety of volunteer work for which you may be compensated with room and board. Some of the programs listed in Placement Programs offer placements into these types of jobs. The book Work Your Way Around the World listed in Resources gives suggestions for finding a variety of casual jobs on-site. Getting a work permit overseas. This is impossible, for all practical purposes, unless you already have a job offer. Get a work permit before you leave! Some programs will allow participants in U.S.-sponsored study abroad programs to apply while abroad, but ask them for details. Work in two countries. One specific pairing is offered by BUNAC:
Stay longer or work in other countries. You may stay longer than the work visa period as a non-working tourist or student without much difficulty, though you do have to have your visa status changed. If you wish to stay longer to work, the organizations listed below in the section “Other Work Permit Programs” may be able to assist with a different permit, if you already have a job. Arranging a Job from the U.S.According to BUNAC, only around 20% of their participants (depending on the country) plan ahead and arrange for a job or an interview in advance. This strategy is not necessary and not even desirable for ordinary jobs such as pub and temp work. But it's a good strategy for getting a career-related internship. Internships are also available through special organizations such as AIESEC or IAESTE as well as universities, but these are competitive, have early deadlines, or require paying tuition in the case of “academic” credit-granting internships. See International Internships for more information about internship programs. However, rather than paying for someone else to place them, many U-M participants have used their own initiative, combined with a work permit from BUNAC, to find a career-related job such as: financial analyst for brokerage firms; social worker; paralegal; and researcher for a major news magazine. Start early for this approach, at least several months in advance. You can write or email firms to request an interview upon your arrival, telling them when you will arrive, how long you wish to work, and indicating what type of work you seek. Try to be neither too general nor overly specific in your work objective. Send a resume (one page in length) listing the following information:
Include a cover letter clearly stating that you will arrive with a valid student exchange work permit arranged by BUNAC. See the Participant's Handbooks for suggested phrasing and for sample resumes (in foreign languages where applicable). E-mail addresses and fax numbers can be found by web searches or by using hard-copy directories (available in U-M and other major libraries) of businesses and international organizations. The best companies to start with are those listed in the Participant's Handbooks. More and more students are finding companies through the Internet and lining up interviews using e-mail. This is now clearly the most cost-effective method. Promptly answer even tentatively interested responses. Even if you have been unable to arrange for an interview or job in advance, contact the company again by phone just before or after you arrive and try again. Chances are good that your persistence will be rewarded. Two excellent resources for researching job and internship opportunities abroad include the online web guide the Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas and Goinglobal.
Other Work Permit Programs for Students & AlumniThe following programs are alternatives to the work permit programs described in the BUNAC Work Abroad section above. They include Work and Travel Ireland, the U.S.-Ireland Working Holiday Visa, and CEI - Club des 4 vents.
Other Sources of Finding Short-Term Paid Work AbroadPersonal & job connections. Mention your plans for overseas work to friends, relatives, professors, supervisors from summer jobs, and anyone else. You might be surprised to find that they know someone with overseas connections. If you find someone who works for an organization with overseas operations, see if they will forward your resume to the overseas branch, or supply a name of a contact whom you could write to request an interview. An internship in the U.S. may sometimes lead to an internship with the same organization overseas, or with a different organization of a similar kind. Professors. Particularly for those in professional programs, professors may have the best contacts for work in a specific field. Your professors may also be able to refer you to others with international contacts. It can't hurt to ask! The Internet. U-M International Center's web site contains the most complete set of links anywhere on the web for finding jobs worldwide. Also, try Google searches for combinations such as “summer jobs Australia” or “internship France”. NEXT: “Placement Programs for Short-Term Work Abroad” Last reviewed: 12/09 |
