Moving Abroad After Graduation Provides Challenges And Rewards For Recent Alums
As if transitioning from college to the work force weren't enough of an adjustment, every year some graduates choose to move abroad to start their careers-or delay them.
For those who didn't get a chance to study abroad while in school or for those who just want an adventure and international experience, working or volunteering abroad after graduation is a good way to experience something new, career counselors say.
Though the UC Berkeley Career Center does not keep statistics on the number of students who move abroad after graduation, Suzanne Helbig, marketing coordinator and career counselor at the career center, said many UC Berkeley students consider destinations all over the world.
Jobs in nearly all career fields exist abroad, although opportunities may be different or limited depending on what region you consider, said Jennifer Sugiyama, who coordinates the center's annual International Career Symposium.
"What opportunities are in X region-that can vary," she said. "But internationally, it traverses the entire spectrum."
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With today's global economy, aside from traditional volunteer opportunities with programs like the Peace Corps and overseas jobs with the U.S. Department of State, openings exist in many industries, both commercial and non-profit.
However, even with the wealth of opportunities, competition for possitions overseas can be tough, warns Helbig.
"Many people want to work abroad, so you may need to put in a few years in the U.S. with an organization that operates abroad before getting that coveted overseas job," she said in an e-mail.
Most who do choose to venture overseas to find work do so only on a temporary basis.
"I think it isn't easy to know in advance that you want to commit to a decade because you don't know until you test it out," Sugiyama said. "There are a lot of variables: political climate, the state of the economy."
It is also common for graduates to work abroad simply for the sake of spending time overseas, rather than for the purpose of career advancement.
"There's really such a variety � there's plenty of jobs available that are just seasonal staff jobs. You can find something to further your major and career if you want to, but you don't have to," said Damon Mastandrea, the marketing and web director for InterExchange Inc., a company that places people in temporary jobs or volunteer positions abroad for fees ranging from $600 to $3,000.
Regardless of how long one spends working abroad or whether it is with an American company or a foreign one, the adjustment will be more difficult than moving into the workforce stateside, Sugiyama cautioned.
"Wherever you go, no matter how much you read or what you think you know there's always something you don't know, so you have to be prepared for the unexpected," Sugiyama said. "Being as knowledgeable about a culture as possible is key. (Another) key consideration is how you do something rather than what you're doing."
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