So you're graduating, but feeling a little burned out and maybe a bit restless at the prospect of "settling down." Why not travel for a couple of months or maybe even a year? Don't the old folks always say, "I wish I could have done that when I was younger?" Well, you're still young. You can always go to grad school or get a job later!
If you've got the money or are willing to live cheaply, go ahead and travel. Figure out where you want to go, make sure you have a valid passport and a backpack and then sayonara! But if you want to go in style (perhaps afford some food) and that trust fund hasn't quite materialized, then maybe you want to think about your options a bit more.
- When you come back, you have to know that your traveling will result in tacking on an extra 6-months to your job search. Economy bad anyway? Fine, but I had to tell you.
- If you want to work in a foreign land, you need to have a work permit to work there. Think of it logically: why would Starbucks in Paris want to hire you over that sophomore at the Sorbonne?
- You will probably not be able to use your degree in the types of over seas work available for expatriates.
- Check out the resources on this page. They will help you plan and think about your choices.
Helpful Links
Just Landed
A database by country with all of the important details (healthcare, visas, currency, etc.)
Mission Teach
Teach overseas in a Christian School. No teacher’s certification necessary. Search by country.
Assoc. of Christian Schools International
This association actually recruits on campus during the Fall.
Sekolah Pelita Harapan
Christian K -12 Christian schools in Indonesia. They actively recruit Wheaton students.
BUNAC (British Universities North America Club)
Work & Volunteer Programs for recent college graduates.
Escape Artist
Everything from job listings to real estate
4International Careers & Jobs
An enormous database of jobs; search by country
Transitions Abroad
Excellent articles on working, volunteering, and living overseas
Dave’s ESL Cafe
An excellent resource for those interested in teaching abroad
GlobalVolunteers.org
Worldwide volunteering programs
GoAbroad.com
Extensive resource for jobs, with sister-sites for volunteering, interning, studying, and teaching abroad