Clarify Your International Goals and Plans

Print this page and answer the questions to the best of your ability. Research the questions you can't yet answer. These questions will help you clarify your goals and develop your plans. When I think about going abroad:

• Do I want to go now or a year from now?
• What's more important to me: a prestigious career or a less-glamorous immediate experience?
• Am I willing to volunteer, or do I only want a paid job?
• Am I considering going to just one country, one of several countries, or anywhere so long as it's overseas?
• Have I been overseas before, and if I haven't, am I ready to handle the many changes?
• What do I hope to gain by working abroad?
• How much will my international adventure cost? Can I afford it?
• Do I know the cost of living in the countries I'm considering?
• What skills have I acquired?
• Do I know a second language? How well do I speak/write the language?
• Have I developed other skills in demand overseas?
• Do I know and/or have experience in a particular field of employment?
• Do I want or need more education before I go?
• Do the jobs I'm interested in require a master's degree or teacher certification?
• Do I need to get more experience in my career field before I try to find a job overseas?
• Am I willing to learn the job-seeking skills necessary to find employment?
• Can I develop the skill of marketing myself to international employers?
• Are my interests congruent with an international career?
• Do I enjoy reading and learning about international current events?
• Do I like to travel and enjoy new experiences?
• Am I interested in people from other cultures?
• Do I have the right personality characteristics and attitude?
  • Do I have a generally positive attitude?
  • Am I excited about the prospect of an international experience?
  • Do I thrive on change?
  • Am I adaptable and flexible?
  • Am I sensitive to cultural differences and able to adapt to them?
  • Am I patient and persevering?
  • Do I have a good sense of humor?
  • Am I adventurous?
    
    

Content for this page provided by:
Dr. Kate Brooks, Director, Liberal Arts Career Services, University of Texas at Austin