Academic Solutions Blog » Getting a Job in International Education

Getting a Job in International Education

08.05.2009 | Author: admin | Posted in Helpful Tips

by Guest Blogger Penny Schouten

I recently received an e-mail from a school teacher in Florida asking me for advice on finding a job in international education. That same day I re-tweeted a link to an article about how to sell your study abroad experience in a job interview by Dan Klamm and received another request for advice on how to break into the field. Here’s my advice:

1. Build the skills and experience necessary for the job you want. If you want to work in study abroad, then you should have AT LEAST a semester spent abroad. Studying in non-traditional locations and non-English speaking locations make you more unique. Find people who have the job you want to see what qualifications they have, how do you match up? Technical skills are also sought after-database management, web design, social media, etc. Building skills is something you should continue to do throughout your career.

2. Check the NAFSA Job Registry. You can search by location or job. You can also post your résumé. Also check IIE’s International Education Job Board and Forum on Education Abroad.

3. Sign up for the NAFSA Academy. Although this has a fee, you get a foundation education in international education, as well as build a network of colleagues.

4. Network at regional and national NAFSA conferences. Make up business cards with your contact info on one side and a list of your skills/qualifications on the other.

5. Follow NAFSA, other field related organizations and professionals on Facebook and Twitter.

6. Check out Working World: Careers in International Education, Exchange & Development by Sherry Mueller & Mark Overmann. It’s available for Kindle if you’re in a hurry. (*Note: I haven’t read it, but the description sounds appropriate).

I was able to get into the field with the help of my NAFSA mentor (Ryan Lorenz) and because my technology skills made me stand out from my competition. I also paid (out of pocket) to attend the conferences and to take relevant workshops while I was still trying to get my first job. I looked at it as an investment in my career and it paid off. I am not a schmoozer, but networking at conferences helped make people aware of my job search. They would forward openings that might interest me. I’ve always found the international education community highly supportive, so if you are a newby, don’t be afraid to approach us!

What helped you break into the field? Please share to help the newer generations!

13 Responses

Randy Nichols August 5th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

Thanks for posting the article, was certainly a great read!
Sarah August 5th, 2009 at 7:42 pm

On the study abroad side, I’d say international experience is a must-have. I think it would be pretty rare to be able to find a job in study abroad without having studied abroad yourself, because you’d be competing with so many people who did it.

Having multiple international experiences helps too:
- studying abroad more than once as an undergrad
- getting an advanced degree abroad in addition to your undergraduate study abroad experience
- having been an international degree-seeking student who studied abroad in a third country
- working abroad at some point

I’d say niche skills are the other most valuable thing. In Penny’s and my case that’s technology, but it might be something like skills/experience in graphic design, database building, budgeting - something you bring to the office that sets you apart from all the other people who have the international experience.

If you can make it clear to the interviewers that you intend to approach international education as a career rather than a job, I think that will make you more attractive too - showing that you’re committed to the field. (NAFSA/Forum/etc. participation is another way of showing this).
Penny Schouten August 5th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

Thank you Sarah McNitt for this good resource: http://www.istc.umn.edu/educators/newcomers/jobSearch.html
Darren August 5th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

Working on a college admission staff and helping coordinate the int’l recruitment and travel is part of my resume and was a catalyst for my interest in working as an advisor to int’l students. While I once recruited the students to come to our university from abroad, I now advise them on a day-to-day basis.

A K-12 educator you reference could search for a teaching or administrative position at an international school abroad. Annual recruiting fairs in the NE and East Coast may be worth checking out as well as organizations such as NAFSA, OACAC, and COIS and ECIS; all have members who are K-12 int’l educators/administrators. An experience such as teaching overseas could prepare someone for a role as an int’l student advisor or give them the chops needed to work as a study abroad advisor.

K-12 teaching experience (especially 9-12) can be an attractive background for a college admission position. Enter that field, try to move into the int’l admission work and then on to another part of int’l education if you desire.
Pat Coates August 7th, 2009 at 4:44 am

The field of international education is a diverse, changing and exciting area to work. One must be flexible, have developed people skills and a love for connecting students and people with places they only have dreamed of going. Networking is an important asset in the study abroad field along with the ability to draw out of people what they truly are good at and desire to do.
Penny, it is fascinating to hear how many graduating seniors what to have a career in the international arena. Some are realistic about the positions they will obtain while others have the romantic idea that it is all travel.
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Kraig Walkup August 7th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

Great advice to a question I get asked on monthly basis by someone trying to “break into the business.”

Another good idea is for candidates to intern or volunteer at a study abroad or international office. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and add to your resume. This day in age, it’s hard for offices to turn away free or cheap labor and the first hand experience of working in an office setting is a win-win situation for all.
Anna Levinger August 7th, 2009 at 11:23 pm

I recently finished my undergraduate studies last year and looked for a job in the field of International Education. I luckily found a position with a third-party provider, which is a good alternative to a university study abroad office, either traveling as a field representative or working at the administrative headquarters. I now work with one of the programs that I used as an undergraduate when studying in Peru. Providers love to have alum on staff, so this is a great place to inquire about jobs.

For current students, I would recommend interning in your university’s Study Abroad Office, even if it an unpaid internship. As Penny mentioned, though you may have to pay for a NAFSA conference or do an unpaid internship, it does pay off in the end with valuable experience and strong connections.

I would also join the Secussa listserv to hear about jobs in the field as soon as they are posted. As others have posted, the more international experience, the better. These days, experiential learning (volunteering or interning abroad) seems a worthwhile alternative, especially for recent graduates not seeking credit.
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jessiev August 12th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

penny - great list. i’d say that most of my contacts and experiences in international education have come from my pursuing higher education. i worked in study abroad at MSU, during and after my MA. i was in an int’l ed phd program at U-MN, and found so many great int’l ed opportunities - from being the president of ISTC (see link above) to working with great international educators on the field. priceless.

i also can’t stress enough to students to get involved in NAFSA. whether it is conferences or listservs, there is SO MUCH out there from NAFSA - truly incredible. volunteering your time at conferences, etc. will pay you back in spades in terms of learning and making great contacts.

now, on my journey, i’ve taken all i’ve learned and started a website for global educators, http://www.WanderingEducators.com. it is so much fun! i’ve taken past experiences, contacts, and education and turned it into doing something i love.
Howard Henry August 14th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

I got involved in international education the same way that most men get involved in opera–it was my wife’s idea. Or, rather, her invitation to attend conferences with her.

I then began to contribute/volunteer my social work skills (alcohol and substance abuse and mental health treatment and prevention) both in her office and at conferences, nationally/internationally. Attending conferences and sessions and associating with all the usual international education suspects taught me much about the field, plus I had worked in England for three years after graduate school.

Had I ever wanted or needed a paid job in international education, I am sure I would have had good experience to offer. I possess a valuable skill set that has helped to recognize or prevent or address critical personal problems early on.

I still would have had to attend NAFSA professional training seminars to learn J, F and other regs if that had been called for in my job description. All my work is pro bono, but the company is great!

P.S. I also attend the opera, but Wagner is a bit too long. For her part, my wife has learned much about minor league baseball stadia.
Victoria B August 18th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

I manage human resources for our Inter Ed department and one thing that really makes a resume stand out to me is additional languages. Some of our positions require an additional language, but it is an definitely an asset for any of our roles. And yes, experience studying, living or working abroad is huge too!
Courses November 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

Great advice. Thank you for sharing.