| For most people, the choice to live and work or | | | | the fees. A little research on your part will land you an |
| volunteer abroad means a large change in what they | | | | excellent volunteer position with no money out of |
| new at home. Quitting a current job, taking a leave of | | | | pocket. Asking other expatriates where and how they |
| absence, moving away from friends and family, or | | | | began volunteering is a great way to start. Getting |
| simply being brave enough to choose a path less | | | | some contact information from a person at an |
| traveled. For many the choice is temporary; a different | | | | organization that needs a volunteer is also a great |
| experience in a different country for a few months | | | | way to go. A little ingenuity on your part will go a long |
| and for some, even a few years. It goes without | | | | way in taking the time to find the organizations for |
| saying that for most people, the choice to leave turned | | | | yourself, rather than paying a company to do it for |
| out to be the experience of a lifetime. Languages | | | | you. |
| learned, friendships gained and lifetime memories | | | | Expatriates usually love the experience to get to know |
| made. And while the experiences gained from living | | | | locals while performing a service which really matters |
| abroad are some of the most personally rewarding, | | | | and for a shorter stay abroad volunteering offers |
| gaining experience that transfers into something | | | | some structure that is great for a resume with plenty |
| valuable when you return home is priceless. | | | | of time remaining for travel and fun living abroad. |
| THE RETURN HOME | | | | WORKING |
| For anyone returning home, having something to show | | | | Working abroad is perhaps the best scenario for |
| for your time abroad is extremely helpful. It aids in the | | | | someone who is living in a foreign country. It allows |
| process of procuring a new job or when looking for an | | | | your time abroad to be used doing something |
| interview. Having more than just a gap between jobs | | | | productive as well as providing spending money for |
| shows potential employers that while you decided to | | | | travel and living expenses. Getting the most out of |
| end a previous profession you remained dedicated to | | | | your work abroad experience means finding a job that |
| something productive during your time off. This does | | | | not only meets your needs in terms of expenses but |
| several things for your resume besides building | | | | also gives you something to work from when you |
| character in the eyes of your potential employer. It | | | | return. Having any kind of work experience in a foreign |
| diversifies your work experience - an incredible | | | | country sets you apart from your peers however, if |
| advantage when looking for a new job. It naturally sets | | | | your work experience is in a field related to your work |
| you apart from your peers who have been | | | | interests at home you're at an even greater |
| experiencing more traditional work and internships. If | | | | advantage. For many young expatriates however, a |
| you lived in a non-English speaking country, and | | | | job is simply a means of earning money so they can |
| obtained bilingual skills this is an incredible asset for your | | | | remain abroad. And while teaching English for instance |
| resume and one that companies and employers are | | | | isn't exactly the most ideal job description for some, it |
| eager to employ. This excellent skill not only makes | | | | can be used to show diversity in work experience and |
| you a candidate for more jobs but it sets you even | | | | used to outline other advantageous skills that were |
| further apart from your peers. For companies who | | | | acquired during your time abroad. |
| have branches abroad, your newly acquired bilingual | | | | Teaching English abroad is one of the most popular |
| skills may transfer into other travel and work | | | | jobs for expatriates and takes many forms. For those |
| opportunities. | | | | with previous teaching degrees and experiences, the |
| It's easy then to turn your experience in a foreign | | | | job may be more formal, teaching English to |
| country into one that works for you. Using it to | | | | classrooms in schools and universities. Expatriates |
| enhance your resume and as a forum to build new | | | | without teaching experience or degrees are usually |
| skills for your return turns your decision to leave a | | | | paired up with older students who desire to learn |
| good job at home into an opportunity to return to an | | | | English in the context of their profession. This is where |
| even better one! | | | | business, science and other backgrounds besides |
| VOLUNTEERING | | | | teaching are advantageous. For instance someone |
| Choosing to volunteer overseas is a great choice for | | | | with a background in business is often paired up with a |
| numerous reasons. Besides the obvious resume boost, | | | | working professional who needs to learn English for |
| it gives you the opportunity to complete something you | | | | business. These relationships often lead to a deeper |
| might not otherwise have had the time for. For | | | | knowledge of the profession and can often segue to |
| graduate school admissions, volunteer work is highly | | | | other jobs and relationships. While some jobs don't |
| respected and your time spent doing so may turn into | | | | directly relate as clearly to a professional interest, the |
| something incredibly valuable for your future. In | | | | simple act of working in a foreign country means |
| non-English speaking countries, volunteering is a great | | | | setting yourself apart from others in the work field. It is |
| way to learn the language without having to pay for | | | | truly a unique experience; one that certainly requires |
| classes. In many volunteering opportunities volunteers | | | | you work hard and one that conversely should work |
| end up teaching English to young kids who live in at-risk | | | | hard for you. |
| environments while also speaking the local language. | | | | Too many people look at an experience abroad as a |
| Most volunteer jobs abroad are non-paying and there | | | | departure from a work or educational path that will |
| are several organizations that connect volunteers with | | | | slow you down. And while the decision to leave a |
| organizations in need. However, this usually comes at a | | | | secure line of work for something unknown is often |
| cost to the volunteer, so don't get roped into paying | | | | risky or scary, it rarely turns out to be a mistake. In |
| too much for the service. There are hundreds of online | | | | fact, nearly every person returning from an experience |
| programs that can assign you volunteer opportunities. | | | | abroad will tell you it was one of the best decisions of |
| While a majority of these profits go to the | | | | their life. With a little forethought and inventiveness, |
| organizations in need and solidify your place as a | | | | your life abroad can become one of the largest |
| volunteer, many volunteers living abroad cannot afford | | | | stepping-stones of your education or career. |