Guide To International Job Search

Career Center and Other Resources

The Career Center receives information about all of these types of opportunities daily. Refer to the internship notebooks, the fellowship notebooks, and summer job notebooks. Also, ask the Career Center staff and faculty whose work is related to your field of interest, about any opportunities they are aware of that are international. International resources available in the Career Center that will be helpful for you with your international search can be found in Appendix A. Tutt Library is also an excellent resource for finding information about international companies and organizations.

The Job Search

For detailed information about searching for jobs, refer to the Job Search packet. This will provide you with the general information you will need for any kind of job search. All the information included is pertinent to the international job search.

Like most searches, you will need to develop a resume that is targeted to a specific career. When developing your resume, it is helpful to highlight your international experience. When developing your resume, you will want to consider what types of skills you have gained from previous international experiences. These may include the ability to:

Qualities you may want to highlight on a resume or in an interview that reflect your international experience include: selfreliance, high energy level, appreciation of diversity, multi-cultural perspective, perseverance, flexibility, tolerance, openmindedness, assertiveness, inquisitiveness, self-confidence, self knowledge, independence.

The Career Center offers a number of other informational packets for writing resumes, job-related letters, and interviewing. The Career Center staff will be able to help you with all of these issues. Keep in mind that resumes and cover letters should emphasize all international experiences, including courses with an international component and foreign language proficiency. If you are sending your resume and cover letter abroad, you may want to include information on citizenship, dependents and other pertinent information necessary for governmental purposes. Also, find out how resumes and cover letters are done in that particular country.

Research the Country

It is extremely important to research the culture and social conditions in the location of your potential employment. (Especially when applying with a foreign owned company abroad.) Read the literature from the location. You should come to understand the economic and socio-political environment. Analyze what you learn and how it will affect you. In researching a country or conducting a job search, you may wish to contact Colorado College alumni/ae living abroad. Check the Career Center's Career Referral Network for the names of alumni volunteers who live abroad.

Working Abroad

Before making a final commitment to a job overseas be sure to consider the following factors:

1. Visa Restrictions- For a list of entry requirements by country, see http://travel·state·gov/foreignentryreas·html or visit the OLP.
2. Contracts - What about housing life-style considerations, etc.?
3. Salary - Learn about the details of: currency, exchange rate, and standard of living.
4. Taxes - What are the details? Consult an accountant.
5. Housing - Is housing included? Are there any housing allowances?
6. Transportation - Do they provide for the transport of your belongings? Do they provide an automobile?
7. Benefits - Health, life insurance, and retirement etc.

Once you have decided on a career focus that is international, we recommend that you establish a plan of action on how you are going to achieve your goals of working internationally. This plan may include study abroad, travel abroad, volunteer and fellowship opportunities, internships, summer work abroad, and work in the U.S. that is international in focus. We encourage you to stop by the Career Center and let us help you achieve your international career goals.