There are many exciting possibilities for getting international experience. If you want an international
job, have a focused goal while still being flexible.
Internships Abroad
More related to your field of study or career path
Usually unpaid, although some may be paid
Requires specific skills or knowledge
Temporary Work Abroad
Most common in non-career related work (usually in the service sector)
More likely a paid position
Does not require specific skills often necessary for internships
Here are some places to begin exploring work and internship abroad options. Please research these
organizations carefully; also note restrictions such as not being allowed study and work simultaneously.
The Career Exploration Center in Jester also has excellent resources which you should review.
AIESEC
www.aiesec.org
AIESEC provides employment opportunities abroad for students. Through their international traineeship
exchanges, they offer practical learning experiences in more than 80 countries around the world.
BUNAC
www.bunac.org
The British Universities North American Club will grant you a work visa which will allow you to search
for work in a specific country, with or without a job offer. BUNAC has programs of varying lengths in
countries such as Australia, Britain, Ireland, and New Zealand.
CIEE
www.ciee.org
This program offers opportunities to teach in locations such as Chile, China, Spain, and Thailand, and
Spain, France, and Germany.
CDS International
www.cdsintl.org/
CDS administers programs ranging in duration from three to 18 months, that include an internship
component, and some have academic or language training elements as well. The variety of program
formats enables you to choose the one that best fits your skills and requirements. Primary country
destinations are Germany, Argentina, Spain, Switzerland and Russia.
Cultural Embrace
www.culturalembrace.com
Cultural Embrace offers work, volunteer, internship, and teach abroad opportunities in several countries.
Dickinson College’s International Career Page
www.dickinson.edu/career/international/
This website is a good place to start in order to obtain general and specific information about working
EUSA - European Study Abroad
www.eusa-edu.com/
EUSA and the UT Center for Global Educational Opportunities provide summer internship possibilities in
London in virtually all professional fields. Students get credit for their required BBA internship class,
plus 3 hours upper-division non-business elective. Contact the UT Study Abroad Office for more info.
InterExchange
www.interexchange.org
InterExchange is a work-placement program that places you in a position and assists you with acquiring
the work visa. Positions are available in a number of countries, including Australia, France, Germany,
Spain and the UK.
International Cooperative Education (ICE) www.icemenlo.com
ICE places students in work/internship positions throughout Europe, Asia, and South America. Positions
are available in retail sales, supermarkets, hotels/restaurants, agriculture, offices, hospitals, banks,
computer science, engineering, marketing, recreation, and teaching.
The Peace Corps
www.peacecorps.gov
If the idea of working in a typical business environment while abroad does not interest you, perhaps
volunteer work or social service is an option for your time abroad. The Peace Corps sends individuals to
work in emerging and essential areas such as teaching, information technology and business development
in over 100 countries worldwide. UT’s International Office has a Peace Corps recruiter, see
www.utexas.edu/international/peacecorps.
SCI-IVS
http://www.sci-ivs.org/new/index.php?faq#howmuch
Civil Service International puts together summer Workcamps both overseas and in the U.S.
Uniworld Database
www.uniworldbp.com; http://www.uniworldbp.com/search.php
The Uniworld Database publishes contact directories for multinational businesses, to find U.S. firms
operating overseas and foreign firms operating in the U.S. The entire directory can be purchased or you
can buy only the results of a specific search.
U.S. Department of State
http://careers.state.gov/student/index.html
The U.S. Department of State has various summer internship opportunities available, for all backgrounds
and majors. Overseas posting is possible! The application is on-line; U.S. citizenship is required.
UT College of Liberal Arts Career Services www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/international_jobs/
Lots of valuable information and extremely helpful advice for an international job search.
Questions to Ask Yourself
-
- What type of work or internship would you be willing to do?
Which countries have the best opportunities to acquire a work permit?
- Do you want to have job placement prior to leaving the US,
or are you open to searching once you arrive in the country?
If you have questions regarding the process of working or interning abroad, please visit a
BBA International Programs Coordinator AND the BBA Career Services Center.
How Can International Experience Help in My Career Search?
International experience can help set student apart from peers. Employers are looking for people with
interpersonal communication skills & flexibility, who can quickly learn in whatever situation they are
placed. These are the skills students gain while studying abroad! Here is some advice from students who
studied abroad.
“When employers see a study abroad experience, I think it shows them that you adapt to new
environments quickly, be it relocation or your worksite, and can 'hit the ground running,' instead of
training for long periods of time (e.g. adjusting to the industry, understanding the channels of
communication). Leverage this experience by explaining to future employers that you do not need
constant direction and handle ambiguity well.” Dana, University of New South Wales, Australia
“I chose to highlight my abroad experience by listing it as a separate heading on my resume. This has
caused almost every employer to ask about it during my interviews. It's been a fantastic tool for me,
because most employers have asked the same, general questions about my experiences, ‘How was it?’ and
‘What was the most valuable thing you gained?’ This has allowed me to prepare answers for questions in
advance, in which I usually try to highlight two things: the ability my abroad experiences gave me in
resolving difficult and foreign problems, and the perspective they gave me on life in the U.S. and on my
own individual situation.” Stephen, WU-Wien, Austria