International Jobs and Internships

Opportunities exist for Armstrong students to work, intern, and study abroad, either during their time as a student or upon graduation. The information below is intended to help you explore the world of international work and understand how working and/or living outside of the United States can enhance your career path.
Our world is becoming increasingly more interconnected, with the U.S. economy tied to the global marketplace. Thus, geographic awareness, global competency, and cultural sensitivity are more and more valued in today’s job market. Students who work or study abroad gain many valuable skills related to employment. Some of these skills that employers have identified as important include:

• Interacting with people who hold different interests, values, or perspectives
• Understanding cultural differences in the workplace
• Adopting to situations of change
• Gaining new knowledge from experiences
• Undertaking of tasks that are unfamiliar/risky
• Identifying new solutions to problems
• Applying information in new or broader contexts

The information below will assist you in beginning to explore opportunities abroad. If you would like to discuss your international work plans, please call Career Services at 912.344.2563 to set up an appointment. If you are interested in a study abroad experience, please contact International Education.

Work Abroad Resources

GoingGlobal International Edition

Going Global career and employment resources include more than 10,000 pages of constantly-updated content on topics such as:  job search sources, work permit/visa regulations, resume writing guidelines and examples, employment trends, salary ranges, networking groups, cultural/interviewing advice for countries throughout the world! Free to Armstrong students and alumni.  Must access the site from an on campus computer the first time to register.

International Internships

There are various ways to seek out internships overseas. One is to start with U.S. based companies who have international operations and see if they offer internships in their overseas offices. There are also many organizations that find students internships abroad and arrange travel and living arrangements. These organizations do charge for their services. Career Services strongly urges students to carefully consider the cost being charged and to understand fully what it covers. Costs vary widely, based on the company you choose, the field of study, and the location.

Peace Corps

The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship. Since that time, 200,000+ Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation.

During 2012, Armstrong had five alumni volunteering abroad in five different countries on behalf of the Peace Corps. They are working on a variety of projects related to Community Development, Youth Development, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and Non-Governmental Organization Development. For more information on the Peace Corps, including work assignments, benefits, locations, and the application process, please view the New Recruitment PowerPoint.

Riley Guide

The Riley Guide is a comprehensive job search resource. Their international page has links to job banks throughout the world, as well as information on living overseas, travel guides, and expenses.

Teaching English Abroad

There are many companies throughout the USA and world that offer recently graduated college students the opportunity to live abroad and teach English as a Second Language. While some of these programs and organizations are legitimate, Career Services strongly urges students to review these opportunities very carefully. Remember that you will be working in a country of which you are not a citizen, and for an employer who is typically not based in the United States. The laws and regulations that govern employment and fair labor practices in the USA often do not apply. If you want to teach abroad, Career Services encourages you to explore opportunities through education consortiums or the Office of Overseas Schools.

U.S. State Department

The State Department employs U.S. citizens to represent the U.S. and its interests in countries around the world. The most common career path is as a Foreign Service Officer, where you could be issuing visas, observing elections in host countries, or reporting on issues such as HIV/AIDS. Foreign Service Officers work in one of five career tracks: Consular Affairs, Economic Affairs, Management Affairs, Political Affairs, and Public Diplomacy. In addition to hiring full-time college graduates, the State Department also has a robust internship program for students still enrolled in school. For more information, visit the State Department Careers website.

Resources for International Students

GoingGlobal USA Edition

The GoingGlobal USA site provides job search resources for major cities throughout the USA. International students can view a list of companies that apply for the highest number of H1-B Visas each year. Beginning your job search with these companies may allow for greater success, as they frequently work with and hire international employees. Free to Armstrong students and alumni.  Must access the site from an on campus computer the first time to register.