Session 9
Global & Cultural Experiences: Work, Internships & Volunteer Abroad
Many students combine study abroad with travel, work and volunteering
With a valid work permit, you can legally work in another country and earn a wage. Depending on your job description, you may need to demonstrate the ability to communicate proficiently in the language of the country. Usually, you will need to show proof of health insurance from your home country. Many young adults choose to volunteer or take unpaid internships, which are also valuable experiences. For these experiences, you would not need a work permit. While volunteer experiences may not pay you a salary, they may provide food and/or lodging in exchange for your help. All of these experiences are amazing opportunities and they look great on a résumé!
Below are images from two of my work abroad experiences. While college students, my husband and I did various paid internships which allowed us to improve our French to a level that we were not able to achieve while studying at a university. We both used an organization called CIEE (Council of International Education & Exchange) to obtain the work permits. Usually, the work permits are valid for 3 months at a time. First, I worked as a caretaker in a home for mentally and physically handicapped adults in France while my husband worked at two different businesses. Next, we used the remaining weeks of our permits by working the grape harvest in the Beaujolais region of France. These experiences allowed us to stay in France longer, travel more, meet new people, experience work environments and improve our language and cultural proficiency.
Below are images from two of my work abroad experiences. While college students, my husband and I did various paid internships which allowed us to improve our French to a level that we were not able to achieve while studying at a university. We both used an organization called CIEE (Council of International Education & Exchange) to obtain the work permits. Usually, the work permits are valid for 3 months at a time. First, I worked as a caretaker in a home for mentally and physically handicapped adults in France while my husband worked at two different businesses. Next, we used the remaining weeks of our permits by working the grape harvest in the Beaujolais region of France. These experiences allowed us to stay in France longer, travel more, meet new people, experience work environments and improve our language and cultural proficiency.
Volunteer and/or work abroad Opportunities
If you are a college student and 26 or under, you may qualify for a work permit through CIEE (Council of International Education Exchange). To read about working legally in other countries (in other words, having a work permit), read the information found through the link below. You should avoid any advice regarding working without a valid work permit. This is illegal and you could be taken advantage of by working for someone and not getting paid.
If you are a college student and 26 or under, you may qualify for a work permit through CIEE (Council of International Education Exchange). To read about working legally in other countries (in other words, having a work permit), read the information found through the link below. You should avoid any advice regarding working without a valid work permit. This is illegal and you could be taken advantage of by working for someone and not getting paid.
While there are opportunities to work and volunteer abroad, it is not a good idea to go abroad with the intention of working or volunteering without having made previous arrangements.
Students and recent college graduates may do an internship abroad. If the internship is paid, this would require a work permit. It is also possible to do volunteer work abroad and in some cases, your food and lodging are paid for.
Work or volunteer experience abroad looks great on a résumé and shows that you have global experience.
Students and recent college graduates may do an internship abroad. If the internship is paid, this would require a work permit. It is also possible to do volunteer work abroad and in some cases, your food and lodging are paid for.
Work or volunteer experience abroad looks great on a résumé and shows that you have global experience.
Work Abroad
Volunteer Opportunities