<p>After lurking around this forum for some time I have realized how important it is to have international work experience in order to get into some of the elite IR MA programs. It seems like a lot of you have some great work experience. I am curious how did you find jobs abroad? I have done a fair amount of research and with the economy the way it is it seems like international orgs are not exactly handing out jobs to Americans when they could be giving them to someone who is actually a citizen of that country.</p>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated. Any good sites, tips, how long did it take you to find the job and get over there?</p>
<p>About me: BS in poly sci (3.6 gpa), I have worked for a non-profit org for the last year and a half since graduating. I have traveled abroad extensively, but have no international work experience.</p>
<p>Peace Corps is probably the best way to go. Some people I know, finances permitting, take “volunteer” positions abroad, where the host organization pays for your accommodation and meals, but you don’t actually get paid anything.</p>
<p>There are also some international fellowships out there - for instance, there’s the Alfa Fellowship Program if you’re interested in Russia/Eurasia.</p>
<p>What are these “volunteer” positions you peak of? I have tried to find international volunteer programs that do not require the 2 year commitment and have only found ones that make ME pay and the ticket price is not cheap. If you know of any that do not charge you to work (which is ridiculous) please let me know! I would be willing to fore go a salary.</p>
<p>First off, get ready to forgo salary for sure. Paid ID jobs are few and far between.
Secondly, never pay to work. As you said, it’s ridiculous. Get in touch with some people who have international work experience and ask them how they found their work and how the liked it. That’s the best way, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I’m assuming that teaching English abroad will do very little to boost one’s application. True? At least it is saying that the candidate has some international experience.</p>
<p>Several people that I know took ESL jobs overseas for a year or two and transitioned into local jobs with companies that could use their English-language skills. In each case, the person was abroad for two to four years. This is long enough to gain familiarity with the local language, culture, and business environment, but not so long that they lost contact with professors and former employers in the US. </p>
<p>I’ll tell you how DD is getting her experience, though I don’t know if she is aiming for an IR degree… She got a travel scholarship from her university for the year following UG graduation to study abroad in another country. She took one semester of grad coursework, then found a Non-profit in the area of her interest and volunteered there. She didn’t need to earn any money because she had enough scholarship funds to last about a year. The non-profit liked her work and asked her to stay on in a paid position, and she has cobbled together some other jobs (tutoring/ nannying) to help bring in a little extra money. Now finishing up her second year there, and it looks like she will stay another year… :(</p>
Now finishing up her second year there, and it looks like she will stay another year… :(</p>