Search From Far Away

Spending a semester abroad is probably the greatest thing I have done in my life (so far). It's also one of the most expensive. I spend $100 a week, on meals, going out and other miscellaneous things. And this figure does not include weekend traveling (train, hostel, food) and other excursions. I'm going to be low on cash at the end of this adventure, so like many students spending a semester abroad, I need to come home to at least one, if not two, jobs. Obviously, job hunting from a different continent is a little difficult. You'll have to employ a few creative strategies to get the job of your dreams (or at least one that will pay for that weekend jaunt to the coast of Italy.) Making Contact You're living in a foreign country, which makes calling, faxing, and interviewing a bit of a challenge. Not only are calls and faxes expensive, but there's also the time difference which can make contacting companies difficult. But you're a college student; you can deal with strange hours. If a phone call is a must, either stay up really late or get up really early. No one will know if you're in your PJs. Interviews are a bigger problem, but not all jobs and internships require facetoface interviews. Explain the situation and see if you can get away with a phone interview. Send head shots if they want to make sure you won't scare away customers. When it comes to communicating, you have a tremendous advantage over students studying abroad just a few years ago: The Internet. You may have heard of this nowubiquitous tool. Use email to get in touch with prospective employers. Not only can you write and send the message whenever you want, you can also edit and spellcheck to make sure you come across as articulate and enthusiastic. Just refrain from common vernacular mistakes like overuse of exclamation points, please!!! You can also use the Internet to search for summer positions. From Student.Com's Jobs section you can link to a variety of search engines and online resources. Plan Ahead When I found out I would be abroad for the semester, I knew that it would be hard to find a summer internship. So I started researching before I left, and sent out resumes to companies that I was interested in working for, with an email address of where I could be reached while away. You can never start too early, and at least it gets the ball rolling. This way you can let possible employers know you are interested in an internship, and let them know you will be abroad but that you will be ready to work when you get back. The only drawback is that many companies don't start thinking about hiring interns in December. If you're already abroad, it's too late to use this strategy. But those of you planning a semester away next year might want to think about getting a job before you get on the plane. Continuity Counts If you had a great (or tolerable) job last summer and you didn't permanently piss anyone off before you left, contact your former employer to see if they'll take you back. They know you and your work, so no interview is necessary. Plus, recurring experience with a company can look good on your resume. Sara Holmes, who is spending the semester in Paris, already has her summer internship. She will start as soon as she returns to the States. Sarah, who attends George Washington University, worked for a division of the Student and Academic Support Services in the Office of Parent Services last year. Her employer knows she's studying abroad, and a position is waiting for her. Her employer doesn't need to hire an unknown entity, and she doesn't need to struggle through a new list of leads. If you have the option of setting up an internship or job with a former employer, it's a sure and easy way to know exactly what to expect for the summer. Your School is There for You If you flipped burgers last summer and want something with a little more prestige this year, don't forget to keep in touch with your University in the U.S. and any of the clubs and organizations you are involved with there. "I am constantly receiving emails from the Economics department and other groups about possible internship opportunities at home and abroad, career fairs, and links to other resources for summer work," says Max Tortelot, a junior Economics major at U.C. Berkeley. Alana Steingold is conducting her summer job search from Paris.