Having international experience, gaining language skills and realizing personal strengths through experience abroad is invaluable. Work abroad offers the opportunity for full cultural immersion. If living and working in a foreign locale is your goal, there are a number of steps you can take to make your experience more rewarding, easier and legal.

• Research your host country. Do you need language preparation before attempting to work? How easy is it to find living accommodations? What kind of transportation is available? What's the weather like? Find out what you should take with you—and what you should leave at home! The more you find out beforehand, the easier the initial transition will be. See Travel & Living Abroad from the U.S. State Department.

• Find a job. Explore these Web sites for a world of job and volunteer opportunities.
  BUNAC
  (CIEE)
  Cross-Cultural Solutions
  ESL Job Center
  GoAbroad.com
  InterExchange
  Monster's Global Gateway
  Overseas Jobs
  Peace Corps
  Student Work Exchange
  Transitions Abroad

• Get a work permit. As anyone who has done it would tell you, trying to get a work permit without the help of an organization is extremely challenging. You may apply for a work permit if you already have a job offer, but most employers won't offer a job without a work permit already in hand! The best bet is to go through an organization that specializes in finding work and volunteer opportunities abroad. (See links above.)

• Locate contacts. Find out from friends, faculty and parents whether they know people there; get their names, addresses and phone numbers. Our office can find out whether there are alumnae/i there. Make a note of the local U.S. Embassy contact information.

• Health care. Take care of yourself before you go: Have a full physical; be sure your dental care is up to date. Update all vaccinations. Explore the Centers for Disease Control Traveler's Health site.

• Stay up to date. Be sure your passport is up to date and will not expire while you're abroad. Be sure you will be covered by health and personal property insurance while you're overseas. Keep an updated résumé on hand. Once you've found a job, keep in touch with your job contact, as opportunities may change.