Executive Summary for International Jobs, Where They Are and How to Find Them

Executive Summary for International Jobs, Where they Are and How to Find Them

International Jobs, Where they are and how to get them focuses on identifying and overcoming challenges to obtaining international employment, job search strategies, and resources for consideration of employment opportunities in a variety of fields including Government Organizations and Non Government Organizations.

Challenges to obtaining international employment:

• Nationals receive priority for job markets.
• Work permits are difficult to obtain, job must be found before work permit can be issued in many cases.
• Employers must prove that a job opening cannot be filled satisfactorily by a native of the country and that foreign applicant’s skill is superior to local competition.

Strategies to break down barriers to entry:

• Internships-to initiate exposure to the region and gain network contacts prior to official employment.
• Teaching- through language schools, companies and universities. Work permits will be covered by language contracting company.
• Student Entry- Obtain student visa to gain entry and exposure to potential opportunities. Student visa can also allow for short term work authorization varying in length of time based on the country.

Strategies for targeting job search:

• Online job searches
• Target an American Organization with operations abroad in region of interest.
• Target a foreign company with a U.S. based operation.
• Connect with college alumni who are living in or working in region of interest.
• Target government agencies that have an international scope and presence.

Opportunities and Resources with Government Agencies:  Agencies with a strong global focus.

• Department of State, US Information Agency, Agency for International Development, Department of Commerce
• Intelligence Agencies
• Broad Spectrum Agencies with international presence such as the EPA, Department of Labor, Department of Agriculture, Department of Treasury, Department of Energy.
• Apply for the Presidential Management Internship Program
• Humanitarian Assistance Programs- USAID
• Foreign Service Jobs
• National Security Agency
• Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)- assists American companies investing in developing nations and emerging markets.
• Peace Corps

Opportunities and Resources with Non Government Agencies:

• United Nations and affiliated organizations- UN has a limited number of internships and employment opportunities.

• UN Secretariat, Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO)