INTERNATIONAL CAREERS PAGE |
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Each year, the interest in seeking international post-graduation and summer opportunities has grown among Duke students. Some seek jobs in the U.S. which allow them to develop their international interests, while others seek jobs overseas. Some seek language and cultural experiences only, while others seek to develop career-related skills in an international setting. Some seek an interim work experience abroad before attending graduate school or entering the U.S. job market, while others seek a long-term overseas assignment as part of an international career. The process of searching for an international job is difficult and frustrating. The information herein is designed to help you maximize your time and minimize your frustration throughout the search process by suggesting programs, resources and strategies that have been helpful to earlier classes of Duke students seeking international opportunities.
With the exception of jobs with employers like the U.S. Government and various international (nonprofit) organizations and agencies, qualifying for overseas opportunities is extremely difficult for U.S. citizens attending or recently graduating from undergraduate institutions. There are several reasons for this difficulty, and they apply equally to paid and volunteer positions as well as post-graduation and summer opportunities abroad. Most governments have very strict employment regulations against hiring citizens from other countries. Overseas opportunities are generally sought by citizens from many countries resulting in applicant pools becoming larger, more global and, therefore, more competitive. Without substantial work experience or advanced training, U.S. undergraduates tend to aim for entry-level opportunities which are likely to be filled by qualified job-seeking citizens of the host country. Gaining official permission to work in a foreign country may depend on the marketability of your skills vis-a-vis the demands for those skills in that country's job market. Regarding the hiring of U.S. citizens, U.S. companies overseas are subject to the same hiring restrictions as host country employers. Citizens of other countries are likely to confront similar problems and restrictions when searching for opportunities outside their countries of passport.
U.S. citizens applying for international opportunities in this country are bound only by the limitations of their skills, training, and experience. Depending on their visa status, non-U.S. citizens are generally restricted from employment in the U.S. Visa issues and questions about authorization to work in the U.S. should be directed to the International Office (681-8472).
Traditional paths to overseas career opportunities include earning an advanced degree (e.g., Law, Business, International Affairs) and/or working your way up within an organization and positioning yourself for an international assignment. Success in the international job market, however, depends mostly on the critical skill(s) you develop and the relationship of those skills to the job market where you are applying. More information on preparing for international careers is available in the CDC library.
Many opportunities exist for U.S. citizens interested in teaching English in Asia or Eastern Europe for one or two years. For most of these opportunities, host country governments facilitate the process of receiving a temporary work permit. Visit the J.O.B. room and the CDC library for more information. For opportunities teaching in American/International schools overseas or with the U.S. Department of Defense Overseas Dependent Schools, contact Ms. Donna Harner, Career Specialist, at the CDC and see her page on International Teaching.
Several programs exist to provide you with a temporary (three to six months) work permit in certain countries of Europe, the U.K., Latin America and the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. While these programs do not provide jobs, they do offer the opportunity to legally apply for jobs in participating countries. Most students participating in these programs have little difficulty finding jobs once they have arrived at their foreign destination. Applications and information about these programs can be found in the CDC library or by calling the Council on International Educational Exchange (212-661-1414) or the BUNAC-Work in Britain Programme (212-316-5312).
Local, regional and national events related to international careers and job opportunities will be publicized in the Spectrum and the International Newsgroup as well as on the CDC web site and the CDC International Bulletin Board located on the CDC stairwell landing between the first and second floors.
For links to additional region and country information, you should explore some of the International Resources on the Internet.
For information about graduate programs in international business, contact Dean Martina Bryant, 03 Allen Bldg., 684-2075. For information about other international graduate programs, contact Dean Mary Nijhout, 04 Allen Bldg., 684-6536.