The best preparation for a job search is getting as wide a variety of study, work, and volunteer experiences as possible during your time here at the UW.

The best place to start any job search – international or otherwise – is with UW-Madison Campus Resources. There is a lot of information posted online by the various programs, departments, and centers. There is even more available in the assorted campus career centers. Go there to browse their resource libraries and, more important, talk with a career advisor!

And while you should be cautious surfing the web, there is good, substantive information available online. Some of the best will help you explore your options, providing you with information you need to assess your readiness for the international job market, and giving you a broad view of what’s available. You’ll find similar information on our Best of the Web page.

The UW-Madison hosts an incredibly diverse array of international programs and organizations, both academic and extra-curricular. Most individuals participating in these programs welcome the opportunity to talk about their regions and fields of interest. Visit these programs to learn more about international events and opportunities on campus. And start to build your own international network.

There are many international activities on campus and in the community as well as in the wider southern Wisconsin area. You can network, learn more about a particular country, region, or field of interest, and even practice your foreign language skills by participating in these activities.

Getting a job – any job – isn’t as easy as finding a position and applying for it. It is often a long, drawn-out process with many bumps in the road, so it’s important that you manage your expectations with regards to what you can and cannot accomplish.

To assist, we’ve compiled annotated links to some of the bigger job sites on the web, as well as to many commercial sites. Most college and university career centers provide similar listings which you can browse (we’ve annotated these too, and provide direct links to pages of particular worth). For our own links to job posting sites broken down by world region and field of interest, visit our Just Jobs, Please! page.

While you’re researching job opportunities – be it for a summer, a semester, or post-graduation – don’t overlook the experiences to be had and skills & connections you can acquire through an internship, various volunteer activities, and other non-traditional employment and study options.

You’ll also want to make sure that your resume is in order. There are a number of sites and resume samples that will help you tailor your resume (not the least being our own Tailoring Your Resume for the International Marketplace) so that it’s suited to the international job market . We also have a number of general information links to help guide you through the many online resources about individual countries, customs, and proper protocol.

When you do go overseas for any extended period of time you need to keep in mind the fact that it can and often is a life-changing experience – and adjusting back to life in the United States (with school, family, friends, work) can pose a host of challenges. For those returning to the UW, University Health Services offers a Reentry Adjustment Group (information about halfway down the page) for “students who are adjusting to their return after living, working, or studying abroad.”

Good luck!