Overview

Introduction
Types of Short-Term Paid Work Abroad
- BUNAC Work Permit Program
- Other Work Permit Programs for Students and Alumni
Other Sources of Finding Short-Term Paid Work Abroad

Introduction

Working abroad can be a very rewarding experience, but you can't just take a plane to any country and start looking for a paid job. Working is illegal without a work permit, which cannot be acquired without a job offer. Plus, very few employers will offer you a job if you don't already having a work permit. The good news is that there are a number of organizations which can help you cut the red tape and acquire a legal work permit, or place you into a job.

In this section we'll look at short-term options, from a few months up to six months or a bit more, most of which are paid either in wages or in-kind (room and board). These programs are hard to beat if you're looking for an inexpensive way to experience total cultural immersion, or to simply earn your way through an adventure abroad.

If you have a year or two to commit, you may wish to consider other options such as teaching English abroad (with certification or without certification), or volunteering with organizations such as the Peace Corps. Or, if you want an internship for career experience, and could use academic credit towards a degree, consider a study abroad program with an internship or volunteer component, or a not-for-credit internship. For more information, consult our handouts on these topics and resources available at the U-M International Center.

But if you're looking for an inexpensive way to experience total cultural immersion, or to simply earn your way through an adventure abroad, here's a good place to start.

Types of Short-Term Paid Work Abroad

There are two main types of options among work-abroad programs:

The BUNAC Work Abroad program enables you to get a work permit in advance, then look for a job on-site, assisted by overseas offices. We'll refer to this option as a work permit program.
The other option is to be placed into an overseas job; this service is offered by a number of U.S.-based work placement programs. See Placement Programs for more information. The emphasis in either case is on “exchange,” since your participation in most of these programs enables someone from abroad to have the equivalent experience in the U.S. for true “educational exchange.”

The BUNAC Work Abroad Program

Around 50 U-M students and recent graduates (and 6,000 U.S. students nationwide) work abroad each year in the programs administered by The British Universities North America Club (BUNAC) Work Abroad Program, making this type of option the single most popular one for working abroad. It is one of the few work abroad opportunities which does not require applying far in advance. The application process is non-competitive.

BUNAC can get you a work permit--otherwise virtually impossible for Americans to obtain--for Britain, Australia, Canada, Ireland, or New Zealand. Without a work permit, you could only work illegally, seriously limiting your options. The program charges a fee. Some programs are available year-round, others only in the summer, depending on the country. The programs allow you to work for a specific maximum duration, depending on the country: Britain (6 months), Ireland (4 months), Canada (5 months), Australia (4 months), New Zealand (12 months).

Another organization, France-based CEI, offers a Work Abroad program in France.

To be eligible for most programs, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student (BUNAC's Australia and New Zealand programs are open to non-students). Student status requires taking at least eight credit hours in the U.S. You must be a U.S. citizen (or permanent resident for some of the countries). For Britain, student status as defined by the program continues for one semester after you leave school. Spring and summer graduates have until the following December 31 to enter the country in which they will work. December graduates have until June 30.

Even though BUNAC can get you the work permit, you must find the job and a place to stay in a foreign country. The following information will assist you.

For applications, contact the International Center or

BUNAC USA	Programs in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada and volunteering in South Africa, Peru, and Cambodia. Program fees vary.
Work & Travel Ireland	There is a program fee that includes a work permit for 4 months for the Republic of Ireland, as well as the first night's housing and comprehensive orientation.
CEI - Club des 4 vents	Up to four-month internships or short-term work in France. Can also include French lessons if needed. Company can provide placement for a fee or you can find your own. Fees vary with services provided. Must be 18 or older; higher education students preferred. CEI previously provided CIEE's Work in France Program.

Note: CIEE has discontinuied their outbound programs for Work and Volunteering Abroad. CIEE will continue to offer Teach Abroad programs.

What to Bring and Other Considerations

Friendless, homeless, and jobless. It might seem like a nerve-racking disadvantage to arrive “friendless, homeless and jobless” (as the program representatives say) in a foreign country, even with a BUNAC work permit. But it's also potentially a great advantage. You can have the face-to-face interview essential for getting a job (just as in the U.S.) And it gives you control. You can get a feel for the work environment, the boss, etc., then decide whether you want to work there. BUNAC also makes it fairly easy to change employers.

Most BUNAC participants (around 80%) find their job on the spot, with no previous contacts. This is easy to do if you are flexible about the kind of work you'll accept. The overseas program offices have listings of job openings and apartments. Britain's BUNAC and Ireland's USIT provide very effective support. BUNAC indicates that for those who come to Britain without a job, most find a job in 3 - 6 days. In most of the other countries the search may take a bit longer. The job-search time is between 7 to 15 days on average.

Student status and work after graduation. The programs in Britain, Ireland and Canada require student status. For the Work in Britain program, for example, if you graduate in May or during the summer, you must enter the country in which you intend to work by December 31 at the latest. If you graduate in December, you have until June 30 to enter the country. The permit is then good for the specified time. The BUNAC programs in Australia and New Zealand do not require student status, but have an upper age limit of 30.

Arrival time. For summer jobs, arrive as soon as you can after the term is over. Since U-M gets out earlier than many U.S. universities, this gives you an edge in the job search. In mid-June, July and August you'll face more competition. Arrival earlier in the week gives you more time to attend the orientation and look for jobs. Those going outside the peak season, for example in September or January, have reported lots of jobs and few seekers.

Money. BUNAC requires that you take at least $1500 with you (or $2000 for Britain and Australia). You will need this much to tide yourself over in the time between arriving and the first paycheck, which may be several weeks after you land the job. In the meantime, you will have to pay for room, board, and transportation with your own funds. You will also need change to make dozens of telephone calls a day, until you land a job.

How much you can earn depends on the local wage level. Your chances of eventually covering your expenses, including airfare, are good in Britain, Ireland and Canada. Australia and New Zealand involve high airfare costs which you will not be able to recover in a short time.

Accommodations. If the overseas program office for your country offers a room-reservation service for your first few days stay, take advantage of it. BUNAC offers a choice of hostels in London. You will be too tired to want to search out a cheap room and will likely spend far more than you intended.

Otherwise, reserve a Youth Hostel in advance. See the U-M International Center's Accommodations page or contact the Hostelling International.

For advice on finding long-term accommodations, see your Participant's Handbook. It's advisable to look for your apartment after you get your job to minimize commuting time. Some jobs, such as work in pubs or au pair (childcare) work, include housing.

Health Insurance. BUNAC's work in Britain program includes minimal coverage by the state health insurance plan once you are employed. All the programs require that you have health insurance, either your own or insurance purchased through the program. BUNAC offers excellent and reasonably-priced policies. The International Student ID (ISIC) card, available for $22 from the U-M International Center, provides travel discounts and minimal health insurance, and we recommend that everyone get one for all destinations.

References. Participants tell us that employers, landlords, and banks ask for written references. Take along references from previous employers (best) and/or professors. A reference from a landlord may help secure an apartment. Finally, if you intend to open a bank account abroad--much more difficult than in the U.S.--you'll need a letter from your U.S. bank attesting to your good record as a bank customer.

Bring your resume. Computers may not always be available for your use overseas, though cybercafes are becoming widespread.

Appearance. For interviews, a suitcoat and tie or businesslike dress is essential, except for strictly manual-labor jobs. Other countries tend to stress formal appearance in interviews even more than is the case in the U.S.

Length of time you wish to work. If you intend to work only for a month, you may find employers reluctant to hire you. For such a short period of time, it probably makes more sense to do a workcamp (see next section). Another consideration here is taxes; in several countries, earnings are tax-free until you exceed a certain income or length of stay.

Job listings. The overseas program offices usually provide some job search assistance such as job postings. Britain's BUNAC is outstanding in this respect. Participants in some countries may also be able to use official state and university placement services. Private agencies, especially temp agencies, can also be very useful. For other specific tips, see the recommended books and always check the Participant's Handbook which gives a good indication as to the types of job listings you can expect to find on site.

Creating your own leads. Aside from pounding the pavement, which can be surprisingly effective, each Participant's Handbook lists numerous local sources of job leads, including newspapers (many of which are available on the Internet) if you're interested in a preview.

Study and work. If you are going on a study abroad program, you may be able to combine study with a BUNAC permit, allowing work before, during, or after the program. This is a good base from which to look for a job or internship, though you should not expect to be able to earn enough to cover the expenses of study abroad.

In Britain, you can work before or during study abroad (i.e., during the first six months when you are in the country). Participants in U.S.-sponsored study abroad programs may now apply to do the BUNAC program following their term of study abroad. American students studying in Britain for more than 6 months are officially allowed to work part-time during the term and full-time during vacations, and thus would not need to use the BUNAC program. Those studying for only one semester may still need the BUNAC permit to work legally. See the British Government's web site on working while studying abroad.

Note: Australia and Canada do not permit study for those who enter the country with BUNAC work permits.

Special varieties of work abroad. These include au pair work, i.e. doing housework and childcare in a live-in situation (jobs often reserved for women), teaching English as a foreign language, various types of agricultural work, and especially a great variety of volunteer work for which you may be compensated with room and board. Some of the programs listed in Placement Programs offer placements into these types of jobs. The book Work Your Way Around the World listed in Resources gives suggestions for finding a variety of casual jobs on-site.

Getting a work permit overseas. This is impossible, for all practical purposes, unless you already have a job offer. Get a work permit before you leave! BUNAC will allow participants in U.S.-sponsored study abroad programs to apply while abroad, but ask them for details.

British quirks. For Britain, you should not enter the country as a tourist (i.e. without showing your work papers at the border) and stay several weeks (a day or two is acceptable), reenter the country. If the border officials do indeed accept the BUNAC work papers, they might backdate the work permit to your first trip to Britain on the assumption that you previously entered the country to look for a job.

Work more than once in the same country. For Britain, BUNAC limits each participant to two work periods of up to 6 months each; the two work abroad visits must take place in different calendar years.

Work in two countries. Two specific pairings are offered by BUNAC:

Work in Britain can be paired in succession with Work in Ireland at a lower cost than each separately.
Australia (4 months maximum) can be done first, followed by New Zealand (12 months maximum). But only if you apply for both originally. Contact the BUNAC USA office for details.

Stay longer or work in other countries. You may stay longer than the work visa period as a non-working tourist or student without much difficulty, though you do have to have your visa status changed. If you wish to stay longer to work, BUNAC cannot extend your permit, but organizations listed below in the section “Other Work Permit Programs” may be able to assist with a different permit, if you already have a job.

Student reports on the BUNAC Work in Britain program:

Student Report: A Veteran's Tale of the BUNAC Work in Britain Program
Student Report: Working Class Woman

Arranging a Job from the U.S.

According to BUNAC, only around 20% of their participants (depending on the country) plan ahead and arrange for a job or an interview in advance. This strategy is not necessary and not even desirable for ordinary jobs such as pub and temp work. But it's a good strategy for getting a career-related internship. Internships are also available through special organizations such as AIESEC or IAESEC as well as universities, but these are competitive, have early deadlines, or require paying tuition in the case of “academic” credit-granting internships. See International Internships for more information about internship programs.

However, rather than paying for someone else to place them, many U-M participants have used their own initiative, combined with a work permit from BUNAC, to find a career-related job such as: financial analyst for brokerage firms; social worker; paralegal; and researcher for a major news magazine.

Start early for this approach, at least several months in advance. You can write or email firms to request an interview upon your arrival, telling them when you will arrive, how long you wish to work, and indicating what type of work you seek. Try to be neither too general nor overly specific in your work objective. Send a resume (one page in length) listing the following information:

Education, including high school.
If you list GPA, explain it: i.e. 4 = best, 1 = lowest passing grade
Work experience, including summer, campus, or volunteer jobs
Computer skills or organizational talents (e.g. extra-curricular leadership roles)
Interests and hobbies.

Include a cover letter clearly stating that you will arrive with a valid student exchange work permit arranged by BUNAC. See the Participant's Handbooks for suggested phrasing and for sample resumes (in foreign languages where applicable).

E-mail addresses and fax numbers can be found by web searches or by using hard-copy directories (available in U-M and other major libraries) of businesses and international organizations. The best companies to start with are those listed in the Participant's Handbooks, especially the Handbook for the BUNAC Work in Britain program. More and more students are finding companies through the Internet and lining up interviews using e-mail. This is now clearly the most cost-effective method.

Promptly answer even tentatively interested responses. Even if you have been unable to arrange for an interview or job in advance, contact the company again by phone just before or after you arrive and try again. Chances are good that your persistence will be rewarded.

Other Work Permit Programs for Students & Alumni

Association for International Practical Training

Can get a permit for dozens of countries. In some cases student status is necessary, while in other cases one must be a university graduate. Maximum length of time is up to 18 months, depending on the country. You'll need to check directly with AIPT to see what's possible in a given country.

The catch with AIPT is that, unlike the BUNAC program, you must already have a job offer. If you are already working overseas, you will usually have to return to the U.S. in order to obtain the new work permit. Note that BUNAC participants will usually be required to return to the U.S., perhaps for as long as 90 days, before returning overseas with a new permit through AIPT.

Also, AIPT can often assist students who are non-U.S. citizens with work permits in other countries. For example, a U-M student from Albania was able to work in England using a work permit from AIPT, whereas BUNAC is only available to U.S. citizens, or in some cases permanent residents of the U.S..

American-Scandanavian Foundation and CDS also offer work permit and placement programs in the Scandinavian countries and Germany and Switzerland, respectively.

Other Sources of Finding Short-Term Paid Work Abroad

Personal & job connections. Mention your plans for overseas work to friends, relatives, professors, supervisors from summer jobs, and anyone else. You might be surprised to find that they know someone with overseas connections. If you find someone who works for an organization with overseas operations, see if they will forward your resume to the overseas branch, or supply a name of a contact whom you could write to request an interview. An internship in the U.S. may sometimes lead to an internship with the same organization overseas, or with a different organization of a similar kind.

Professors. Particularly for those in professional programs, professors may have the best contacts for work in a specific field. Your professors may also be able to refer you to others with international contacts. It can't hurt to ask!

The World Wide Web. U-M International Center's web site contains the most complete set of links anywhere on the web for finding jobs worldwide. Also, try Google searches for combinations such as “summer jobs England” or “internship France”.

“Placement Programs for Short-Term Work Abroad”

Last reviewed: 7/07