Career Resources
Planning and Preparation
General Information
Tips for Living Abroad
Curriculum Vitae and International Resumes
Opportunities
Employment
Internships
Volunteering
Short-term opportunities
Opportunities in Iowa
General Information
On behalf of the International Studies program office, we'd like to offer a few tips to help you navigate these resources as you search for jobs and career-building opportunities.
- As you're perusing different websites, pick out job titles that sound interesting to you and thoroughly read the descriptions. Write down job responsibilities, titles, and organizations that appeal to you, and use that information to expand your search.
- Once you've found some interesting job opportunities, look more closely at the job responsibilities and skills or qualifications the employer wants. What skills do you already have that would help you get this job? What steps could you take now to develop some of the skills you don't have?
- Look for people who are in higher-level positions of interest to you and research how they got there. Read their biographies or try to get in touch with them to see how they got started and what their career progression was like.
- Don't forget to keep working on your resume. Read the curriculum vitae (CV) materials and consider writing one if you think you may need it in your job search.
International Studies Career Information Sheet
Information on Moving and Living Abroad
Working Abroad: Finding international internships and entry-level jobs
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2006/fall/art01.pdf
Useful in-depth article on researching, preparing for, and finding international jobs, as well as information on the role of international work in overall career planning.
Transitions Abroad
www.transitionsabroad.com
Wealth of information on working, studying, traveling, and living abroad.
Career Journal - Working Abroad: Country Profiles
www.careerjournaleurope.com/myc/workabroad/countries
Tips from the Wall Street Journal on business and social customs in 26 countries.
Intern Abroad
www.internabroad.com
Focuses on internship opportunities, but also a wealth of information on travel, volunteer, and study abroad as well as common travel issues such as insurance, cell phones, airfare, hostels, scholarships, etc.
Going Global
www.goinglobal.com
Articles, country information, and general resources on studying and living abroad.
EscapeArtist
www.escapeartist.com
Information on living abroad, international real estate, overseas job opportunities, etc.
Overseas Digest
www.overseasdigest.com
Information on practical questions while living overseas, such as buying property, income and taxes, cell phones and communication, health insurance, etc.
Expat Exchange
www.expatexchange.com
Resources for US citizens living abroad, organized by country.
Info on International Cellphones
http://www.frommers.com/articles/3655.html
Curriculum Vitae and International Resumes
Resumes & Cover Letters: The Riley Guide
http://www.rileyguide.com/letters.html
Sample Curriculum Vitae
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/cvsamples/Sample_Curriculum_Vitae.htm
CV vs. Resume
http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/curriculumvitae/a/curriculumvitae.htm
Employment Sites
Working Abroad: Finding international internships and entry-level jobs
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2006/fall/art01.pdf
Useful in-depth article on researching, preparing for, and finding international jobs, as well as information on the role of international work in overall career planning.
Idealist
www.idealist.org
Volunteer, intern, or short- or long-term employment opportunities with nonprofits and community organizations around the world.
The Riley Guide
http://www.rileyguide.com/internat.html
An in-depth index of international job opportunities, sorted by country or region, plus a wealth of advice on job hunting, resumes, networking, living abroad, etc.
International Career Employment Center
http://www.internationaljobs.org/hotjobs.html
International job openings listed by employers. Most are highly specialized mid- or high-level positions, which are an excellent introduction to the types of opportunities available on the international market. Entry-level positions and internships are also listed.
The Development Executive Group
www.devex.com
Information and job listings for professional positions in international development, global health, and foreign assistance.
OneWorld U.S.
http://us.oneworld.net/section/us/jobs
OneWorld is a network that links together news, information, and job opportunities in regions around the world. Opportunities are available working on development issues, poverty, environmental issues, etc.
US State Department
www.state.gov
Variety of opportunities working abroad representing the United States.
JobMonkey
http://www.jobmonkey.com
Information and job postings for unique positions in industries like Alaskan fishing, tourism and resort jobs, entertainment, outdoor activities, teaching abroad, etc.
OverseasJobs
http://www.overseasjobs.com/
Search for positions by region or industry, post your resume, and collect and save job information.
Internship Opportunities
Peace Corps
www.peacecorps.gov
US government supports long-term (2+ years) volunteer opportunities in communities in need worldwide.
Intern Abroad
www.internabroad.com
Detailed intern abroad search with opportunities in countries around the world plus information on travel, study abroad, volunteer opportunities, etc.
Global Service Corps
http://www.globalservicecorps.org/
Internship opportunities in international health, sustainable agriculture, teaching English, and Buddhist immersion in Tanzania and Thailand.
Idealist
www.idealist.org
Volunteer, intern, or short- or long-term employment opportunities with nonprofits and community organizations around the world.
Humanity in Action
www.humanityinaction.org
Educational programs and internship opportunities for US and European students interested in human rights.
International Cooperative Education
www.icemenlo.com
Organization arranges paid and unpaid internship positions for US students to gain practical work experience abroad. Search by job interest, region, or language.
Mobility International USA
www.miusa.org
International exchange and leadership programs to empower people with disabilities around the world to achieve their human rights.
CDS International
www.cdsintl.org
International fellowship, exchange, and internship opportunities.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Match
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
Designed to match volunteers with nonprofit organizations that need assistance. Search by area of interest and zip code and find opportunities right here in Iowa City or throughout the state, country, or world.
Idealist
www.idealist.org
Volunteer, intern, or short- or long-term employment opportunities with nonprofits and community organizations around the world.
BUNAC
www.bunac.org
Opportunities for US students and recent graduates to work and travel abroad in countries like Britain, South Africa, Cambodia, and Australia.
United Planet
www.unitedplanet.org
A nonprofit organization supporting programs in over 150 countries worldwide that seek to promote international understanding, communication, and partnerships through a variety of community focused initiatives. They also offer a limited number of long-term paid positions.
Volunteers for Peace
www.vfp.org
A nonprofit organization that arranges volunteer placement in service projects in the US and over 100 countries.
Global Volunteer Network
www.volunteer.org.nz
Offering volunteer opportunities that support local community organizations in developing countries to help strengthen and support work initiated by those communities.
Short-term Opportunities
Global Service Corps
http://www.globalservicecorps.org/
Volunteer opportunities in education, health, agriculture, and development for two- to six-weeks in Tanzania and Thailand.
BUNAC
www.bunac.org
Opportunities for US students and recent graduates to work and travel abroad in countries like Britain, South Africa, Cambodia, and Australia.
Cross-Cultural Solutions
www.crossculturalsolutions.org
International volunteer service opportunities that have been compared to a short-term version of a Peace Corps experience.
InterExchange
www.workingabroad.org
Volunteer, academic, travel, and employment opportunities, including work and travel options in Australia and France.
Opportunities in Iowa
Iowa Department of Economic Development (Statewide)
www.iowalifechanging.com
Working to strengthen Iowa's presence in the international marketplace. Iowa Life Changing Careers page is available at www.smartcareermove.com.
Iowa Council for International Understanding (Des Moines)
www.iciu.org
ICIU's mission is to build cultural respect at home and abroad one person at a time. Major program work includes student leadership programs, international visitor leadership program, international fellows program, translation services, hosting international visitors, the Kosovo Project (with the US State Department), and many others. They have employment, intern, and volunteer opportunities.
Iowa Resource for International Service (Ames)
www.iris-center.org/index.htm
Non-profit, non-religious organization dedicated to promoting international education, development, and peace through rural initiatives. IRIS brings international visitors to Iowa and facilitates international relationships and travel opportunities for Iowans. They have opportunities for employment, volunteers, and student interns.
Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center (University of Iowa)
http://nonprofit.law.uiowa.edu/
The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center is a University of Iowa interdisciplinary collaboration to make more accessible educational and service programs focused on strengthening the operational capacity of Iowa nonprofit organizations. Many of the organizations in the directory provide excellent career, volunteer, and intern opportunities.
The Stanley Foundation (Muscatine)
www.stanleyfoundation.org
A nonpartisan, private operating foundation focuses primarily on peace and security issues and promoting principled multilateralism. The Stanley Foundation conducts programming which focuses on various areas of foreign policy, including the United Nations and global institutions, US and Asian security, US and Middle East security, and nonproliferation and arms control.
Volunteer Match (Statewide)
www.volunteermatch.org
Matches volunteers with nonprofit organizations that need assistance. Search by interest and zip code to find opportunities in Iowa City or throughout the state.