How do I identify these opportunities?

There exist a number of different opportunities for students and graduates to find work abroad. Most commonly, these may form part of a project in which Cambrian is involved, be communicated to Cambrian through our various partners and contacts in Canada and abroad, or be regular job postings offered to students and graduates at community colleges. Please note the majority of opportunities will be identified individually by students and graduates doing research and approaching organizations, companies and agencies abroad.

An overview of the four most common types of opportunities are given here, but many more exist. Specific details such as length, wage, etc. will be different depending on the individual opportunity.

• Posted Opportunities

  All opportunities developed by or communicated to Cambrian International or to the Career Services area are posted in Career Services as part of the regular posting procedures. The information is also communicated to all staff or to appropriate program Deans and/or faculty.

  In most cases, there is a deadline associated with the opportunity and students or graduates must apply with covering letter, application form, rsum and reference letters. In some cases, the applicants may be short-listed by Cambrian International at the request of the employer or depending on the particular opportunity.

• Government Funded Programs or Projects

More and more, national aid programs and special funds require a youth employment or international experience component to be included in proposals submitted by Canadian organizations and institutions interested in accessing these funds.

For specific information, contact or visit the websites of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), both departments of the federal government.

Also find out if Canada has any trade or exchange agreements with these countries. What kind of aid is this country eligible for? This will identify if there are any special development projects or funds planned for or in execution in these countries.

You should also contact the Canadian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission office for these countries. A list of these contacts can be found on the DFAIT website. It may also be a good idea to contact that country's Embassy, Consulate or High Commission office in Canada. Ask about special programs for Canadian youths or student exchange programs.

If Cambrian International is advised of these opportunities for students, it will post the position with Career Services and forward the information to all staff for posting and/or distribution to students in eligible areas.

An advantage to participating in these programs is that visas and other required documents are usually facilitated and obtained by the coordinators of the project. Another is the country and cultural orientation session usually associated with this type of opportunity.

• International Organizations

  A number of international organizations have special programs for Canadian youth and students wishing to study, volunteer or work abroad. Some of these programs require that participants pay a registration fee. In most of these programs, participants accompany other Canadians to specific locations, are sponsored by the organization and hosted by an organization or government agency in the other country. Examples of sponsoring and coordinating organizations include: The Students Working Abroad Program (information on SWAP is available locally at Travel Cuts, at Laurentian University); World University Service of Canada; Up With People; etc. A more extensive list of organizations can be found on the CIDA and DFAIT websites and in federal government publications such as Youth Link.

  Visas and other required documents are usually facilitated by the coordinating and hosting organizations.

  Please note: Do not pay any fee to any organization before thoroughly research it and being assured of its authenticity. Make sure to speak with former participants of the project and find out all you can about the expectations, finances, tasks, etc.

• Employers with International Branches/Affiliates

  Many of the larger Canadian companies have international branches that you might approach for short- or long-term opportunities abroad. This type of opportunity may be of special interest to those wanting to do a placement abroad as part of their program of study.

  Research companies in your field and write to those with international connections. Try to limit the number of companies you write to - remember that it will be important for you to follow up on all your correspondence, therefore the number should be a manageable one.

  Canadian companies which are used to placing workers abroad may be able to facilitate the process of obtaining a work visa for you.

Tap into your network!

Do you have family abroad? Friends? Business associates? Do you know someone who knows someone abroad? Are you a member of some association with chapters in other countries?

Don't discount any leads that you may have with your own or someone else's contacts.

What about doing my placement abroad?

If a work placement is a component of your program, you may certainly consider doing this placement abroad. However, you should remember the following:

• All work placements must be discussed with, reviewed and approved by your placement supervisor and/or program Dean.
• Your experience abroad must be directly related to your program and must meet all of the objectives set out by this placement component of your program of study.
• Many placements are non-paid work terms. While this may be an advantage for obtaining a visa, you should consider the travel and living expenses associated with working abroad. Can you afford it? Consider asking your potential employer abroad if room and board could be included.

How much will this cost?

When considering the cost of your international experience or when requesting information from sponsoring agents, consider the following possible costs associated with gaining international experience. Some or all of these items might be covered by the employer or through the project. Find out who will be assuming these costs. Please note: This is not an exhaustive list.

Some suggestions :

• clearly identify the goal and purpose of the project, trip, position, etc.
• identify the desired outcomes (What do you want/expect out of it? What does the employer or association expect out of your participation?)
• detail your responsibilities and accountabilities and those of your sponsor
• identify time frames (When are you expected to achieve your goals and outcomes? When do you start? Finish?)
• identify the communication methods (will you have access to e-mail? a telephone? How would someone from home reach you in case of an emergency?)
• identify your contacts (in and out of country, in nearby country - including nearest Canadian Embassy)
• anticipate problems and identify process to deal with conflicts/issues (i.e., identify worse case scenarios)
• identify ownership of materials/processes developed (e.g., copyright, intellectual property, etc.)

Are you ready to work?

Securing international opportunities is similar to securing employment in Canada: you have to want it and you have to work for it. Don't expect the golden opportunity to drop in your lap without having to put any effort into finding it. Those that do are extremely rare.

You also need to remember that you'll be competing against some of the brightest and the best from a number of countries. How are you planning to stand out? What advantage do you have over all the others? Do you have the job skills and tools to make you shine? What is your plan of action?