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  Work Abroad International Careers and Jobs Key International Career Resources
Work Abroad

Key International Career Resources

Looking for international work, with an international organization, whether abroad or in the U.S. can be daunting. Fortunately, some excellent books, organizations, and web sites can provide real help. International Careers resources offer help in continuing your career abroad or in planning for a “global” lifetime.

Key to Resources Compiled and Edited by William Nolting
must-have resources
of broad interest
specialized interest
  After Latin American Studies: A Guide to Graduate Study and Employment for Latin Americanists (Monograph #10) by Shirley A. Kregar and Jorge Nallim. Available free online at: www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/publications/after_LAS.pdf. A good resource for anyone with career or scholarly interests in this region, but few listings for overseas opportunities.
Best Resumes and CVs for International Jobs: Your Passport to the Global Job Market by Ron Krannich and Wendy S. Enelow. 2002. 222 pp. $24.95 from Impact Publications. Useful guide includes over 100 examples (in English) of professionally produced international resumes and CVs for a variety of occupations and experience levels.
  The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas (formerly The Canadian Guide to Working and Living Overseas) by Transitions Abroad international careers editor Jean-Marc Hachey. 2004 (4th ed). 1085 pp (includes CD-ROM with an additional 500 pages; online version available). $49.95 US or $59.95 CDN from Intercultural Systems / Systemes interculturels (ISSI) Inc.; Tel. 416-925-0479, www.WorkingOverseas.com. This is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date guides available for work abroad and international careers. No other guide reviews as many resources or provides as much in-depth advice. Topics range from resumes and job search to specific regions and types of work. Profiles mainly organizations based in Canada and the U.S.—not any U.S. government agencies, though.
Building an Import/Export Business by Kenneth D. Weiss. 2003 (3rd ed). 320 pp. $19.95 from John Wiley & Sons. Detailed guide to entering the import/export business.
Careers for Foreign Language Aficionados and Other Multilingual Types by Ned Seelye and Laurence Day. 2001 (2nd ed). 192 pp. $12.95 from VGM Career Horizons. Mainstream and offbeat jobs for those who want to use a foreign language. One of the better books on this topic. Includes profiles of various career fields.
Careers in International Affairs edited by Maria Pinto Carland and Lisa A. Gihring. 2003 (7th ed.). 371 pp. $24.95 from Georgetown Univ. Press,www.press.georgetown.edu, 800-246-9606. This revised and expanded classic provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of international career fields. Provides survey-based specifics on major organizations in all international sectors (U.S. government is a special strength of this book) and insightful first-hand essays by practitioners. Highly recommended as the best book to start with for U.S. citizens interested in an international career.
Careers in International Business by Edward J. Halloran. 2003 (2nd ed). 192 pp. $14.95 from VGM Career Horizons. Overview of education for international business and different opportunities from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
Careers in International Law edited by Mark W. Janis and Salli A. Schwartz. 2001. 205 pp. $64.95 ($34.95 for students) from American Bar Association, ABA Publication Orders, P.O. Box 10892, Chicago, IL 60611; 800-285-2221; www.abanet.org. Essays on how to plan for a career in international law by lawyers in the field. Web site lists ABA-approved study abroad programs.
The Directory of Jobs and Careers Abroad by Deborah Penrith. Crimson Publishing (U.K.). Features country-by-country (50) coverage of everything from professional fields to short-term and volunteer possibilities. British publication, but usually includes relevant U.S. organizations.
The Directory of Websites for International Jobs by Ronald and Caryl Krannich. 2002. 147 pp. $19.95 from Impact Publications. Identifies more than 1,400 web sites for launching a global job search. The authors, renowned for their extensive career publications, also cover strategies for organizing an effective online job search.
The Global Citizen: A Guide to Creating an International Life and Career by Elizabeth Kruempelmann. Interesting book covers a broad spectrum of overseas options, from getting started (“Uncovering Your Global Passion”) to examples of work abroad programs, to advice for professionals living abroad. For more information, see www.the-global-citizen.com.
Global Health Directory: U.S. Based Agencies Working in International Health. Global Health Council: 202-833-5900, www.globalhealth.org. Directory is available free online. Lists organizations in international health fields by specialty and location. Includes a listing of those organizations that offer volunteer opportunities abroad. Also published by GHC is Finding Work in Global Health by Garth Osborn and Patrician Ohmans, 2005, available for $19.50 (less for members). A practical guide on how to prepare for a career in international health. GHC additionally offers a Career Network and job bulletin free online.
Great Jobs for Foreign Language Majors by Julie DeGalan and Stephen Lambert. 2001. 260 pp. VGM Career Horizons. $14.95. Covers careers in all sectors that use foreign languages either directly or as an auxiliary skill. Also discusses career strategies.
Health Professionals Abroad by Tim Ryder & Ian Collier. 2000. 256 pp. Available for $17.95 from Vacation Work or Amazon.com. Provides an overview (from a British perspective) of working abroad in all areas of healthcare, from volunteer to career. Professions include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and others.
How to Get a Job in Europe: The Insider’s Guide by Cheryl Matherly and Robert Sanborn. 5th ed. 2003. 494pp. $22.95 plus $3 shipping from Planning Communications, jobfindersonline.com. Names and addresses of over 2,000 companies in 39 countries, suggestions on how to conduct an international job hunt, and listings of work abroad programs. Improved over previous editions; this is now the most helpful book for U.S. citizens interested in working in Europe.
Impact Press Catalog. Free from Impact Publications, see www.impactpublications.com (click on “international”). Catalog of hard-to-find books on international jobs and careers that can be ordered from Impact (see Key Publishers).
Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America edited by Shawn Dorman. 2003. 135 pp. American Foreign Service Association. $12.95 plus s/h from AFSA, Attn: Inside a U.S. Embassy, 3030 Malmo Drive, Arlington Heights, IL 60005; 847-364-1222; www.afsa.org. Offers in-depth, firsthand descriptions of what U.S. diplomats do.
Intercultural Press Catalog. Updated quarterly. Free from Intercultural Press, www.interculturalpress.com. Catalog of practical books on cross-cultural issues, moving abroad, dealing with culture shock, and other issues related to working and/or studying abroad.
International Jobs: Where They Are and How to Get Them by Nina Segal and Eric Kocher. 2003 (6th ed.). 336 pp. Basic Books. $19.95. Updated edition of a classic overview of international career fields and how to prepare for them. Written by authors associated with Columbia Univ.’s School of Int’l & Public Affairs (SIPA). Organizational profiles list background desired for employees and whether internships are available. Firsthand accounts (“A Day in the Life”) throughout provide additional insight. A clearly-written introduction to international careers.
Jobs for Travel Lovers: Opportunities at Home and Abroad by Ronald and Caryl Krannich. 2006 (5th edition). 326 pp. $19.95 from Impact Publications. The latest information for those who want to work the world before settling down, including but going far beyond the travel industry, with chapters on government, education, teaching abroad, non-governmental organizations, and business.
Journey to Become a Diplomat (with a Guide to Careers in World Affairs) by George Cunningham. 2005. $19.95 from Foreign Policy Association: www.fpa.org, 800-477-5836. First section of this book recounts one man’s travels in Africa and how this shaped his future as a diplomat. The second section focuses on the major organizations that offer employment in diplomacy and international affairs. Click on “Bookstore” for this publication, and on “Job Board” for free online listings of internships and jobs in international affairs.
Kennedy’s International Directory of Executive Recruiters. 2004. $229. from Kennedy Information 800-531-0007, 603-585-6544, fax 603-585-9555; bookstore@kennedyinfo.com, www.kennedyinfo.com. Identify recruiters around the globe with this comprehensive source profiling 2,515 firms in 80 countries. For those with considerable professional experience only.
Live and Work in …(series). Crimson Publishing (U.K.). Titles in this British series are available for most West European countries as well as Australia/New Zealand; China; Japan; Saudi & the Gulf.
NAFSA’s Guide to Education Abroad by Joseph Brockington, William Hoffa, and Patricia Martin, eds. 3rd ed., 2005. 700+ pp. $100 ($75 for members) from NAFSA, www.nafsa.org. An indispensable manual for those working in the profession of study abroad advising and administration, published by the largest association in this field.
Opportunities in Foreign Language Careers by Wilga Rivers. 2004. 196 pp. $13.95 paperback from VGM Career Horizons. Harvard professor emerita discusses the use of languages as an auxiliary skill; also covers teaching languages and working as a translator or interpreter.
People with Disabilities by Michelle Scheib. 2005. 80 pages. Available as a free download from Mobility International USA, www.miusa.org. MIUSA, P.O. Box 10767, Eugene, OR 97440; 541-343-1284, fax 541-343-6812; info@miusa.org.
Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens Abroad. (Publication 54). Free from Forms Distribution Center, P.O. Box 25866, Richmond, VA 23260. Available online at the U.S. Department of Treasury/IRS web site, www.irs.gov/publications/p54/index.html.
U.S. Department of State. Application for the Foreign Service Officer Exam. This is the primary way to apply for a career position in U.S. diplomacy (U.S. citizens only). Register online for the free exam at www.careers.state.gov. To prepare, order Study Guide online.
U.S. Department of State’s Travel Resources, www.travel.state.gov. Essential official information for all travelers, on everything from country-by-country health and safety assessments to passports for U.S. citizens and visas for visitors to the U.S. Go to usembassy.state.gov for links to every U.S. embassy and consulate worldwide.
Work Abroad: the Complete Guide to Finding a Job Overseas edited by Clay Hubbs with Susan Griffith and William Nolting. 2002. 192 pp. from Transitions Abroad Publishing. Comprehensive book with informative articles and hundreds of contacts and web sites essential for success in the international workplace. Includes chapters on international careers, internships, volunteering and short-term jobs abroad, and teaching abroad.
Work Worldwide: International Career Strategies for the Adventurous Job Seeker by Nancy Mueller. 2000. 231 pp. $14.95. Avalon Travel Publishing. An in-depth look from an American perspective at strategies for finding international jobs. Covers topics such as researching, networking, resumes and job applications, interviewing, working abroad, and readjustment upon returning home.
Working with Animals: The U.K., Europe, and Worldwide by Victoria Pybus. Available from Crimson Publishing. Opportunities for individuals to work with animals in zoos, nature preserves, and in the wild.
Working with the Environment by Tim Ryder and Elizabeth Roberts. Crimson Publishing. This book surveys international environmental work possibilities, from volunteer to career. Intended for a British audience, it provides in-depth coverage of Great Britain and Ireland, but also includes organizations (including U.S.-based ones) offering placements worldwide.