|
Continuing from " Volunteering Abroad or Working Abroad?" - Part 2 - by Chris Smith
To give (young) people the chance to experience (professional) life abroad, many governments have created bilateral agreements for internship or young professional experiences, giving out limited and short-term visas for this purpose. To qualify for such a visa you need to go through certified organizations who can apply for the visa on your behalf. You have to pay a fee to the organization. On the upside, they usually also include a whole range of services and guarantee you a job. One of the most interesting possibilities of organized work abroad experiences is to obtain your ESL certification and teach abroad. Depending on what your goals are, certain jobs can be more or less suitable. For example, the type of job an agency can find for you may not be in your own profession which is a disadvantage if you want to use your international experience to find a position back home. If you are out to get to know a new culture and/or learn a language, your contact with the local people would be more important than the actual tasks you’re performing. Find a program that suits your personal goals.
The distinction between 'work abroad' and 'volunteer abroad' is not always very clear. There are many jobs that only pay room and board, or give you a small stipend, and there are also volunteer positions that offer the very same kind of compensation. So if your focus is more on the experience than on the financial side of things, both options are worthwhile to explore. As volunteer experiences do not always require you to apply for a special visa, you have a wider range of options and countries to choose from, and you can arrange it quicker and at a lower cost.
To be continued...
|
