Jobs Abroad

Jobs Abroad: The Key Employers

"The employment resources in this section represent a broad spectrum of opportunities; while most are short-term or summer jobs, some are for a minimum of a year. Whereas some jobs are paid, many others involve volunteer work. Paid work is available, for example, in the field of English language teaching, for native speakers of English with a university degree or TEFL qualification (or both). The other fields of employment that sometimes rely on transient labor are the tourist industry and agriculture. In Europe and Australasia there are positions as au pairs, which will allow live-in child carers to learn a language and earn their keep by living with a family and helping to care for the children.

The distinction between paid and volunteer work is often blurred when considering work abroad. Internships arranged in companies in Europe, for instance, seldom pay a salary, and the agencies that mediate such job placements normally charge substantial fees. Similarly, many people are willing to subsidize themselves in order to join interesting volunteer projects abroad, a number of which are included here.

U.S. citizens may need special visas or work permits to work, volunteer, or intern legally in other countries. The officially recognized work exchanges programs listed in this resource section may be able to help."

--Susan Griffith is the author of classic and constantly updated books, including Work Your Way Around the World, Teaching English Abroad, Taking a Gap Year, Gap Years for Grown Ups, and The Au Pair & Nanny's Guide to Working Abroad.

Featured Short-Term and Summer Jobs Abroad