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We are citizens of a rich and diverse international community. There are 195 countries spanning six continents, yet, in 2022, only 37% of Americans have a valid passport, and 38% have never had a passport. Furthermore, while numbers are difficult to approximate, out of a nation of 258 million adults, the U.S. State Department estimates only 10 million non-military Americans live and work overseas – or 3.8%.
So, if you're one of those people who dream about an international job, you're special. Truly. Being immersed in a different country and culture can be a rewarding experience. If you have the desire and drive, you can be one of the few Americans whose professional background includes stints around the world. Since very few people go this route, you may think it would be easy, but getting that ticket overseas can be tricky. Each of our world's 195 countries has its laws governing work visas. Here are some factors to consider in order to smooth your path to an international work assignment.
1. Dual citizenship. You may qualify for – and can leverage – dual citizenship to attain your professional goals. Instead of going through the laborious process of getting an employer-specific work visa, you can relocate to your second nation and make that your home base. Once you are in the job market, you are the same as the other nationals. Take a look at your ancestry and see if one of your parents or grandparents came from a country that’s eager to expand its citizenship to descendants. And if your second citizenship is in the European Union, you can work in any member country (your attorney can advise you on this).
2. Languages. There are two language tracks. You can find jobs overseas teaching English to foreigners in international schools or the American children of expatriates (many of whom work for the U.S. government. If your priority is to get overseas and your secondary goal is the actual job, teaching English is a tried-and-true path. The second track is to master more than one language. For example, let's say you know Spanish. That can open doors in Spain and a lot of South America. Companies, governments, and NGOs love people who know more than one language.
3. Work for the U.S. government. According to federaljobs.net, "there are 45,301 federal employees stationed overseas in over 11 countries, 7 states, and in 2 the U.S. Territories." Once again, dual citizenship and/or language skills will accelerate your chances of scoring a choice assignment for Uncle Sam. As you can imagine, the process of getting a government job "over there" is akin to getting your arm caught in a threshing machine. Do your research to break through the red, white, and blue tape. Federaljobs.net is a good place to start.
4. Become a U.S. soldier. Another U.S. government job is to be a soldier. Every branch of the U.S. armed forces has members around the world. In 2021, there were approximately 170,000 active American troops stationed overseas. Some are on ships that are constantly on the move. There is synergy between the U.S. military and regular U.S. government jobs as well. "Approximately 25 percent of, or one of every four, current Federal employees is a veteran." You see where this is going. If you work overseas for the U.S. military and want to stay there after your military career is over, the U.S. government has opportunities for you to do that. For example, you can work for a government contractor or join a foreign service. Members of the U.S. military train in diplomacy, and many veterans move on to be diplomats.
5. Join the Peace Corps. If you're an idealist whose idea of a plum international assignment is doing "good works, you may consider The Peace Corps. President John F. Kennedy started the Peace Corps in 1961. "The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation." You may have less control of where you go and what you do, but the Peace Corps is a remarkable way to see and impact the world.
6. Work for a global conglomerate. If you work for a global company, chances are it employs Americans abroad to further its business interests. While every company selects and relocates employees overseas in different ways, chances are the lucky few are the "best and brightest." It is not cheap to move workers overseas or repatriate them when and if the time comes. If a company makes that kind of investment, it mitigates the risks by employing its top performers with specialized skills (once again, languages and dual citizenship can help you). Workers headed overseas go through additional layers of scrutiny during background checks – by the company and the government of the foreign country that issues employer-specific work visas. If you want to work in the EU, for example, you need to have a squeaky clean professional and personal background. Talk with your manager about your goal to work overseas to get the ball rolling.
7. Work for a cruise line. Don't laugh. You want to go overseas, right? Cruise ships literally go over the seas. Port hopping and accommodating the needs of the ship's passengers is a different experience than immersing yourself in a foreign country and working side by side with the locals. However, you will travel the world. Just like "land-based jobs," cruise ship employees require special work visas called C1, D, or C1/D combo visas. Like any company with overseas operations, cruise lines are adept at guiding applicants through the visa process when hired.
Philip Roufail contributed to this article.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
