Working outside the UK

Working overseas gives you the chance to experience different cultures while gaining valuable skills and experience.

You may choose to work in your chosen field, or do casual work as a means to fund travelling. You may work outside your chosen profession (for example, as an English language teacher). There are many options to explore.

Have a question? Get in touch

Where can I work?

Embassy Finder is a searchable list of the world’s embassies, most of which have details about working in their countries.
Expertise in Labour Mobility (ELM) offers feedback on CVs, applications and mock interviews tailored to your country of choice. Fees are payable.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office includes an A-Z directory of locations worldwide including advice on local social, political and health issues of interest to travellers.
Just Landed has practical information from British expats on relocating to another country, searchable by destination.
TargetJobs: A graduate's guide to working abroad has advice on destination and career choices, exchange programmes, visas and work permits, and more.

Country profiles

TargetJobs country profiles includes job seeking resources, advice on visa requirements and more.
Working abroad by Prospects is a directory of country profiles.

Advice for international students

TargetJobs - tips for international students include tips for international students looking for opportunities outside the UK after studying here.

Where to find vacancies

Europe

EU Blue Card – Live and work in the European Union
The EU Blue Card is a work permit issued by 25 out of 28 EU Member States to highly-qualified non-EU citizens.
EU Careers has permanent, temporary and contractual opportunities with the European Union.

The European Job Mobility Portal (EURES) has jobs and learning opportunities throughout Europe.
Europe Language Jobs has opportunities for multilinguals.

Worldwide

Paid

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) has work, internship, training opportunities in the USA.
Entrypark connects international employers with European graduates.
Expat Network has overseas jobs and company and country profiles.
Globalplacement.com has international internships, placements and graduate opportunities.
GradLinkUK helps international students research and access career opportunities while studying in the UK.
Graduateland has jobs, internships and graduate programmes worldwide.
The International Exchange Programme UK (IEPUK) has worldwide placements in the environmental and land-based sector. Fees payable.
Intern China has opportunities to gain an insight into the Chinese working environment. Fees payable.

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) has work experience in over 80 countries for students of Science, Engineering and related areas.
Jobaroo has Australian jobs, visa information and other advice.
Lockin China helps Chinese students who study abroad to find career opportunities in China.
Mandarin Consulting Ltd recruits bilingual Chinese students to international companies in the UK and China.

Paid/ voluntary

AIESEC facilitates international exchange of students and recent graduates either in paid traineeships or as volunteers.
Médecins Sans Frontières is an international humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency medical aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.
Prospects - Graduate jobs includes vacancies in Europe and worldwide.
Our vacancy service advertises paid and voluntary opportunities worldwide.

Taking a gap year

After graduation, you may want to take time out for a gap year to travel and experience different cultures and countries. This may include exchange programmes, volunteering, or simply finding temporary work in your chosen destination(s).

These sites offer resources and support to help you plan your gap year:

Mind the Gap Year includes a directory of opportunities, safe travel advice and more.
Prospects: Gap year has advice on whether to take a gap year, and available options.
Year Out Group has advice on gap year options, planning, case studies and more.