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A Few Opening Words

Any particular career path is rarely a straight one. Especially when you are starting out, it’s worthwhile considering all your options; securing an international job is a goal, the ways of getting there are numerous. One of the keys to a successful search is Managing Your Expectations; knowing what’s possible, what’s probable, what can be accomplished on the web and where you are going to need help, and getting a better grasp on what businesses and organizations are looking for and how they operate. Much of this you will discover as you work through the process; the link above is meant to give you something of a headstart on the learning curve.

While it is tempting to search for jobs exclusively online (no need to get dressed, brush your teeth, find a parking spot or make the bus, etc), by far the best place to start any job search - international or otherwise - is at any of the various Campus Career Centers. Go there to browse their resource libraries and, more important, talk with a career advisor!

And if our saying so won’t convince, take a look at the article from the New York Times (15 January 2006): More Jobs Being Found Online, but That Doesn’t Mean It’s Easy.


General Postings Sites

There are a lot of sites on the web that provide users access to job listings and/or allow you to post your resume for review by potential employers. Many of these sites also provide career development resources, tips pages, information on securing necessary visas and work permits, and much else.

Please Note: Go Global! cannot attest to the quality of any of the following links. Where possible we have attempted to review and annotate the links. Please keep in mind that while many sites provide complete or limited free access, many others charge for access. Review sites and access policies carefully.

Warning: The International Herald Tribune recently posted notice of a new scam run by credit card thieves through various job posting sites. Always be careful with regard to what personal and financial information you provide over the Internet.

Our list of The Big Job Sites links to some of the major internationally-oriented job sites (and those sites with substantial international content). These are among the most frequently linked to sites on the web - and for good reason - and provide a considerable amount of additional career development resources.

There are many other commercial web sites - much more limited for the most part - that post international offerings. Because of the wildly varying quality of these sites, it is worthwhile to browse each site before posting your resume and/or investing too much time in a search of any particular site.

Not all work has to be “career-oriented” to be valuable. There are many opportunities for short-term work abroad - or, “travel with a purpose”. A great resource right here on campus for investigating those opportunities is the Wisconsin Union Travel Center. Clicking on the link will send you to the Center's work and volunteer abroad pages.


Area of Professional Interest

Below is a partial list of the many websites geared to finding jobs in particular fields. All have some international component while many list internationally opportunities exclusively. We will be adding links and new categories as we discover additional resources.

 

Regional Listings

There are many job listing sites that focus on a particular world region. Most of the sites linked to off of the pages below provide information about living and working in the countries and regions covered as well as career tools and resources.

Technical note: Clicking on the above links will open a single pop-up window that should display on top of this page (and refresh with each subsequent listing clicked on). Firefox users may find that it does not. In that case, you can fix this by going to Tools > Options > Content tab > click Advanced > you will see a menu that says Allow Scripts to: and check ‘Raise and Lower windows’.

Please feel free to email us with your specific request if you are looking for sites or assistance in finding employment in an region or area not included above.


...And Finally

It’s slow and laborious but keep in mind that newspapers and phone books from many countries are now available online. One of the best of these is the jobs page of the London Guardian. Keep in mind that many such sites and directories are not always kept current. They are, however, information sources that you may want to consult in your job search to familiarize yourself with the employment situation in a particular country or region.

Keep In Touch

When you do get a job, let us know. We want to be able to share your experience - what worked, what didn’t, what you learned and what you wish you had known - with your colleagues following you into the international workplace.