Work or Volunteer Abroad
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Students interested in working abroad must choose between short-term or long-term work opportunities. Short-term work usually means three months to a year abroad and frequently means vacation-type jobs, as opposed to professional jobs. Most of these opportunities are for students only and you must be a student at the time of application. Long-term work opportunities, however, require more research by you, the student, on the country where you wish to work. Methods for hiring employees will differ by country, and you need to be aware of these differences. To be able to work abroad for a longer period of time, you will need a visa from the country where you will be working. This will usually be provided by your employer; therefore, it is important to secure a position before going abroad. Most U.S. companies with international branches will expect you to work in the U.S. for some time before they will consider you for an international position.
UGA has a university-wide service where you can find jobs all over the world called Interstride. This should be the first place you look for international employment. Log in using your UGA email.
Learn more on the Career Center's website
SHORT-TERM
· BUNAC offers currently enrolled college students an opportunity to work in Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand for a short-term summer (4 months) or for a year. BUNAC will offer assistance in requesting a work visa for the respective country, orientation upon arrival, group flights, assistance with attaining a job, and support throughout the duration of your sojourn. *BUNAC does not guarantee placement in a specific job upon arrival.
Australian Work and Holiday Visa
· Travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months with this visa. You must have a passport issued by an eligible country (USA is an eligible country), be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of application, and have not previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday Visa.
· Cultural Vistas is a host company that will assist you with job opportunities in Germany. They offer assistance in work authorization, financial matters, health insurance, the application process, and support throughout the duration of your trip. You must have two years of university level studies, a university degree, or substantial work experience to be eligible to apply. *Cultural Vistas does not guarantee placement of a job.
· Primarily an online search engine that locates summer/seasonal job postings throughout the world. For jobs in countries where English is not the native language, familiarity with the native language is often required to sort through the job postings. The site offers minimal assistance in attaining work authorization. Eligibility and requirements vary by job posting.
ENLACE- Electronic Network for Latin American Careers and Employment
· Provides links to job databases and other employment resources in the following fields: government, higher education, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and think tanks. No assistance in attaining work authorization and no guaranteed job placement abroad. Eligibility varies by job opening.
LONG TERM
· Search engine for job postings around the world, primarily in Europe. No assistance is offered for attaining work authorizations, job placements, or accommodations. Eligibility varies by job posting.
· GoinGlobal features Country and City Career Guides for more than 80 locations, plus expert advice on work permit/visa regulations, resume/CV writing guidelines, employment trends, professional and social networking groups, interview and cultural advice. Access this resource through DawgLinks on the UGA Career Center's website.
International Staffing Consultants
· Search engine for job postings around the world. No assistance is offered with attaining work authorizations, job placements, or accommodations. Eligibility varies by the job posting. This site is a bit overwhelming and is more of an advertising hub. Some students may find it valuable, but it doesn’t cater to entry-level positions abroad.
Overseas Jobs
· Primarily an online search engine that locates job postings throughout the world. For jobs in countries where English is not the native language, familiarity with the native language is necessary in order to sort through job postings. Eligibility and requirements vary by job posting.
Renard International Hospitality Search Consultants
· The Renard International Hospitality Search Consultants assist professionals seeking careers in the field of hospitality. The international network includes placement in Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. There is no cost associated with creating a profile. Potential applicants also have the opportunity to search job postings. Eligibility and requirements vary by job posting. No assistance is provided regarding work authorization.
· Joining the Peace Corps is a life-defining leadership experience that will give you a unique opportunity to help countless individuals who want to build a better life for themselves, their children, and their communities. The type of work a volunteer does is ultimately determined by the needs of a host country; however, nearly all volunteers fall under one of the following categories: Education, Youth and Community Development, Health, Business and Information and Community Technology, Agriculture, Environment, HIV/AIDs, Food Security, Earth Day, Stomp out Malaria. Potential host sites include Asia, Central America, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Benefits include student loan assistance, training, living and housing allowance, a readjustment allowance, medical coverage, and travel expenses to and from the country of service.
· The Riley Guide is an online directory to over 1600 job and career resources worldwide. Users have the ability to narrow down searches by location or job title. Each resource listed is reviewed by the host site editors and is accompanied by a brief synopsis of the services offered. The site also provides guidance to navigating the resources provided, lists networking and support groups, and offers resume, interviews, and job searching advice.
Internships abroad can take on several forms. If you are interested in an internship for academic credit, you will most likely be looking for a study away program that offers internships in conjunction with an academic course. In most cases that means that you will not be paid, and that you will be paying for the program as you would for any other study away experience. To transfer credit from a study away internship to UGA, you will need a letter from the department that agrees to accept the credit. That letter should be attached to your Credit Approval Form (which can be found under the "Student Forms" section of this website) before you turn it into The Office of Global Engagement. Additional information on internships for academic credit can be found in the OGE Study Abroad Library (1324 South Lumpkin Street) or by searching for internships (under Field of Study) from the IIE Passport web site.
UGA Sponsored Internship Opportunities:
UGA has some sponsored internships run through UGA colleges or through trusted partners. These can be found on the Programs page.External Internship Providers
Connect 123
· Connect-123 develops and administers international internship and volunteer abroad programs in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, Sydney and Shanghai. In all countries, internship and volunteer work opportunities are hosted by local companies, nonprofit organizations, schools, research institutes, hospitals, and health care clinics.
· Cultural Vistas is a host company that will assist you with internship opportunities in Germany, Chile, Argentina, and Spain. Internships are available in a variety of fields including business/finance, engineering, tourism, information technology, media/communications, international relations, the nonprofit sector, Spanish studies and economics. All programs are usually 12 weeks long and you must apply at least three to four months prior to your desired program start date. Cultural Vistas will offer assistance in work authorization, financial matters, health insurance, the application process and support throughout the duration of your trip.
· Educational Programmes Abroad connects US students with internship opportunities in Europe. The internships are offered in London, Edinburgh, Germany, Brussels and Madrid. Internship fields include politics and government, law, research institutes, public affairs and public relations, museum and art galleries, health care policy and administration, business, marketing, education, fashion marketing and merchandising, advertising, and publishing. There is no compensation for internship work. Program fees apply to each program. You must be a Junior or Senior at the start of the program.
International Cooperative Education
· Once a student is awarded a position in the ICE program and the student pays the placement fee, ICE sets up an internship with a prospective employer, arranges for necessary work permits and coordinates housing with local host families, or with employer sponsored housing programs. ICE internships run between 8 to 12 weeks. Compensation varies by program. ICE internship fields include teaching, engineering, information technology, banking, retail sales, business, marketing, telecommunications, insurance, hotels, health science and computer science.The Center for Interim Programs
· The Center for Interim Programs offers assistance with planning and executing a gap year. The program caters to recent graduates or current students who are interested in taking time off to gain valuable work and travel experience. Program and consulting fees apply. Internships do not offer monetary compensation; however some placements provide housing and food in exchange for labor.The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF)
· The ASF's Internship and Training Program enables young Americans and Scandinavians to receive practical work or internship experience while living abroad. A smaller number of Americans also find assignments in Scandinavia, mostly in technological fields. ASF also provides a list of resources for short-term and long-term employment in Scandinavia.· Transitions Abroad offers a directory of resources for students seeking to intern, work, or study abroad. The site does not post specific internships listings but does offer a variety of tools and resources to connect with internships providers. Transitions Abroad also provides valuable information related to job permits, travel safety, and current and relevant articles on going abroad.
U.S. Department of State Internships
· The U.S. Department of State offers two programs for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students who are interested in working in a foreign affairs environment. Internships provide the opportunity to work in U.S. Embassies throughout the world. Internships do not offer compensation.
· Connect-123 develops and administers international internship and volunteer abroad programs in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, Sydney and Shanghai. In all countries, internship and volunteer work opportunities are hosted by local companies, nonprofit organizations, schools, research institutes, hospitals, and health care clinics.
Amigos: Amigos de las Americas
· Amigos de las Americas partners with international non-profits, local agencies and government ministries who share in the vision of engaging international and local students in their work to offer volunteer opportunities in Latin American countries. Volunteer opportunities through Amigos offer increased Spanish fluency, pre-departure training, international field experience, potential academic credit, and research opportunities. Program duration varies from 6 weeks to 9 months. Program fees apply.
· Amizade is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism, providing community service, encouraging collaboration, and improving cultural awareness in locations throughout the world. Volunteer sites include Bolivia, Brazil, Ghana, Jamaica, Tanzania, and Trinidad and Tobago. Volunteer opportunities are offered in an array of fields including health education and outreach, youth programs, agriculture, children with disabilities and environment and sustainability. Volunteer placement duration varies between two weeks and six months. Individual and group volunteer opportunities are offered. Program fees include a service placement, lodging, meals, cultural and recreational activities and health insurance.
Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers
· Conservation Volunteers welcomes people with a love of the outdoors and interest in the environment to get involved. All volunteer placements are in Australia. Young People Without Borders offers a 'start year', a 12-week volunteer opportunity in specific locations across Australia. Environmental projects include helping to plant forests, rehabilitating wildfire habitats, restoring wetlands, protecting endangered species and assisting with keeping the beaches free of marine debris. Set weekly program fees include meals and accommodations and transportation costs associated with traveling between project locations. Conservation Volunteers Australia also partners with Global Vision International to run volunteering programs in over 40 countries around the world. GVI volunteer programs run from one week to 2 years in the following locations: Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and Central America.
Center for Cultural Interchange
· The Center for Cultural Interchange offers volunteer placements in Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, and Vietnam. Fields include environmental conservation, working with children in orphanages, community development, environmental sustainability, wildlife conservation and working with children with disabilities. Program duration ranges between two and 12 weeks.
· Global Citizens Network partners with indigenous communities across the globe to create opportunities for individuals to gain understanding through cultural immersion. Participants live and work side-by-side with the members of their indigenous host community. Placement locations include Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Guatemala, Kenya, India, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania, and Thailand. Expeditions range from one, two or three weeks. Program fees apply.
· Global Service Corps offers students from all disciplines volunteer placements and opportunities in Cambodia, Thailand, and Tanzania. Programs can range from two weeks to six months or longer. Placement options include teaching English to monks, serving as a mentor to children in orphanages, and training local Tanzanians in sustainable agriculture or HIV/AIDS prevention. Students may also be able to earn college credit for select service-learning projects. Program fees apply.
Habitat for Humanity International
· As a volunteer with the Global Village team you will work alongside members of the host community to build or renovate homes in destinations throughout the world. As a volunteer engaging in the service project, you will have the opportunity to learn about poverty housing, development challenges and Habitat's ministry and mission to eradicate them. Project placements include Romania, India, Kenya, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Guatemala and Cambodia. Program duration ranges and fees apply.
· This volunteer program offers an alternative way to enjoy the exhilarating and beauty of the people and nature of Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. Service projects focus on orphans, orphanages, and underfunded schools. Services include accommodations with a local host family, assistance with in-country transportation, facilitation of visa extensions, and language and orientation programs. Program fees apply.
· Idealist is a directory site listing volunteer opportunities, jobs, and internships abroad. The site also offers helpful resources related to international volunteerism, including articles, do's and don'ts, transitioning into a career, and associated cost. Idealist does not assist with volunteer placement. Duration, fees, and locations vary by posting.
· i to i offers volunteer opportunities in Africa, Asia, Central and Latin America, and Australia. Placement fields include wildlife, community development, teaching, children and sports projects. Program duration varies between two and 12 weeks. Program fees apply and vary per program.
· Long term (1-12 months) and short term (2-4 weeks) volunteer projects are available. SCI offers project placements in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Volunteer fields include renovating historic buildings, planting trees in a reforestation project and working with children with disabilities. Application and program fees apply.
· United Nations Volunteers mobilizes close to 8,000 volunteers to work in Development Assistance projects and in Humanitarian and Peacekeeping Operations. Qualifications to apply include a university degree, two years of relevant working experience, at least 25 years of age when taking up an assignment, and good working knowledge in at least one of the three UNV working languages: English, French, and Spanish.
· Volunteer Abroad is a directory providing access to over 27,000 opportunities worldwide. Locations include Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, Easter Europe, Russia, the Middle East, South America, the Caribbean and Western Europe. The site also provides assistance in program matching. Volunteer Abroad does not guarantee placement or assistance with specific programs. Program fees may apply. Qualifications vary per placement.
· International Volunteer Projects offers over 3,000 volunteer opportunities in Europe, Africa, Asia, South and Central America, and the Middle East. Workcamps, Individual Service Adventures, and Group projects are available. Duration varies between two weeks and one year. Registration and program fees apply, which will cover accommodations and food during the project.