For those that worked abroad, what did you do?

[invincible49]

Hello,

 

I'm currently working in a think- tank as a researcher in India, but in a few years I was looking to get some hands on experience abroad. 

Wanted to know what others did and how did you find it?

 

Where did you work?

 

Also, what organizations were you involved with?

 

PS: Being an India, the Peace Corps is not option for me.

[jujubea]

Some things to look into:

 

You could see about interning with State Department there in India or elsewhere.

I think Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS, through DHS) and the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) might also have overseas internships.

The CIA has both undergraduate and graduate internships/scholarships, although I don't know if they're overseas, and it sounds like you're not in school.

Beware many USG positions require you to be in the US to apply though.

 

Outside of USG, there's always English teaching, which can give some seriously valuable experiences especially if you can do it in an area or type of area that your later studies may focus on; good for your own language skills; branching into teaching about culture and culture shock, or other specialties that may be somehow related to / or allow you to learn more about your planned studies.

 

If you have overseas experience already, you could just apply to the Foreign Service directly. That's what I did, without a master's, and worked out just fine. You don't have to be in the US to begin that process, and they administer the FSOT through Consulates and Embassies abroad. (To be clear, you also don't need to have overseas experience to apply, but it will help your application significantly).

 

What do you plan/hope to do post-graduation? That might help people give more tailored answers.

Edited April 20, 2015 by jujubea

[pavlik]

Some things to look into:

 

You could see about interning with State Department there in India or elsewhere.

I think Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS, through DHS) and the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) might also have overseas internships.

The CIA has both undergraduate and graduate internships/scholarships, although I don't know if they're overseas, and it sounds like you're not in school.

Beware many USG positions require you to be in the US to apply though.

 

Outside of USG, there's always English teaching, which can give some seriously valuable experiences especially if you can do it in an area or type of area that your later studies may focus on; good for your own language skills; branching into teaching about culture and culture shock, or other specialties that may be somehow related to / or allow you to learn more about your planned studies.

 

If you have overseas experience already, you could just apply to the Foreign Service directly. That's what I did, without a master's, and worked out just fine. You don't have to be in the US to begin that process, and they administer the FSOT through Consulates and Embassies abroad. (To be clear, you also don't need to have overseas experience to apply, but it will help your application significantly).

 

What do you plan/hope to do post-graduation? That might help people give more tailored answers.

 

None of those options may be relevant for a non-American citizen, which it sounds like OP is. If OP is an American citizen, then living abroad wouldn't disqualify him/her from Peace Corps.

 

If you have a college degree and are fluent in English, you can probably get a job teaching abroad, either TEFL or another subject if you have other expertise. There are also opportunities with NGOs for things like disaster relief, election monitoring, etc.

[jujubea]

Ah, I see. I misunderstood, my apologies!

[ZebraFinch]

Maybe the Fulbright program?

[invincible49]

What do you plan/hope to do post-graduation? That might help people give more tailored answers.

Yes. I am an Indian citizen. 

 

After graduating I'm keen on working with international development organizations like the UN or the World Bank etc

 

Maybe the Fulbright program?

 

I will look into the Fulbright program. Have you done it? If you haven't, do you know how it has been for people who actually did it?

 

 

None of those options may be relevant for a non-American citizen, which it sounds like OP is. If OP is an American citizen, then living abroad wouldn't disqualify him/her from Peace Corps.

 

If you have a college degree and are fluent in English, you can probably get a job teaching abroad, either TEFL or another subject if you have other expertise. There are also opportunities with NGOs for things like disaster relief, election monitoring, etc.

 

Yes, I'm not an american citizen. 

 

I do have a degree and fluent in English, but not very keen on working with the education sector.

 

Disaster Relief and Monitoring however seem incredibly interesting! Any recommendations?

[pavlik]

Yes. I am an Indian citizen. 

 

After graduating I'm keen on working with international development organizations like the UN or the World Bank etc

 

 

I will look into the Fulbright program. Have you done it? If you haven't, do you know how it has been for people who actually did it?

 

 

 

Yes, I'm not an american citizen. 

 

I do have a degree and fluent in English, but not very keen on working with the education sector.

 

Disaster Relief and Monitoring however seem incredibly interesting! Any recommendations?

 

Not really anything specific, as the only few people I know involved with that did so through their school. My advice would be to start with what you can at a local level, and see where that goes. Some relevant experience always counts for a lot.

[invincible49]

Not really anything specific, as the only few people I know involved with that did so through their school. My advice would be to start with what you can at a local level, and see where that goes. Some relevant experience always counts for a lot.

 

Yeah I suppose that's true.

 

But I'm beginning to wonder how much my work as a researcher will take me places.

[jujubea]

Have you looked into interning or researching with the OECD?

Even though they are ostensibly an "economic" organization, they also have both monitoring missions and crisis-response type offices.

Are there any areas of the world in particular you'd like to specialize in?

[otherss]

If you're thinking about going the international route anyway, why not look at being a UN Volunteer through their volunteer program. It'll help get your foot in the door and you have the option to go to several different countries to serve. http://www.unv.org/