In other countries, as in the U.S., special authorization is needed to work. Holding a wage-earning job while on a student visa is usually considered illegal and can be grounds for expulsion. Unless you obtain special authorization from the country's government, a student visa authorizes only living and learning in the country, usually only for the period of your formal enrollment, plus perhaps some additional time for tourism. You are likely to be busy enough with your studies and the other demands and pleasures of being in a new place that you will not have time to do much else.
If you wish to add a work experience to your time away, this must be done either before your program begins or after it ends, and can only be done legally if you have a Work Permit. Work Permits are sometimes not available for work in certain countries, and may be difficult to obtain in others, since employers are usually forced to demonstrate that a potential employee from another country has skills and experience which are not possessed by the citizens of that country. Sometimes this is a very hard case to make.
The United States has entered into agreements with a limited
number of countries that allow the reciprocal exchange of students seeking
short-term paid employment. For all of these companies, you must apply for the Work Permit before you depart from the U.S. (It cannot be obtained overseas.) The application process is non- competitive. Opportunities for three to six month Work Permits exist for any time of the year in France, Germany, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Alliance Abroad - The Alliance Abroad Group have been offering work, teach and volunteer programs for over ten years.
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) - Can assist you in short-term training and work permits for the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
Association for International Practical Training (AIPT) guides American businesses in expanding their work force, non-American citizens in obtaining short-term experiential training in the US, and participants in finding internships outside of the US.
Backdoor Jobs - Short-term job opportunities to work, play, learn, help, create, experience, and grow.
BUNAC's Working Adventures Worldwide - Working adventures worldwide! BUNAC programs make it possible for young people all over the world to to spend extended time abroad and to intake a country better than a tourist ever will.
Careers in Latin America - This website, published by Hobsons, is intended for graduates and MBAs researching the career opportunities within Latin America, offering a great search engine and even some internship opportunities.
Global Career Center.comThe Global Career Center is an international career services center working with students and professionals from 147 countries in your international job search including jobs, work permit information and much more.
InterExchange - This private, non-profit organization offers Au Pair programs, work and travel programs, career training programs, and various positions for camps.
ResortJobs.com allows you to pick a catagory of work, pick a country, or perform a keyword search all leading you to a list of job opportunities and descriptions. You can also post your resume.
