Castle on the Rhine River, Germany
International Summer Jobs
by Mary A. Schumacher
Students and others: Do you want to spend your summer vacation practicing a foreign language, living in a different culture, and learning job skills? If yes, then a summer job abroad is for you, and now is the time to start looking.
The term "summer job" can be quite ubiquitous. It can mean a summer wiping down tables at a pub but it could also mean an internship with a company that will take you toward your career goals. And yes, people do find work "on the black" (illegally) but a better, safer way is to obtain a work visa.
Students and recent grads can get work permits and visas through an international exchange program such as BUNAC or Council Exchanges. Anyone can apply for a job on a cruise, and cruise lines will often help get employees the necessary work permits, but probably not for just a short-term job. There are also plenty of summer camp jobs around the world, for people of all ages.
When you apply for an international summer job, here are some items to find out before you go.
- Housing - will the job provide you with a place to stay? If yes, must you pay for it?
- Compensation - will you get paid? How much? In what currency?
- Hours of work - will you be so overworked that you can't experience your host country?
- Conditions of work - will you be isolated in a room, or with other foreign workers, so that you don't get much chance to practice your host country's language?
A summer job is an excellent way to gain some international experience, no matter what you do. Even if you spend your summer months doing menial labor, if you make the effort, you will gain invaluable language skills and cultural understanding. These assets can only benefit your future international career.
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