Research: Becoming an expert on your field of interest

Here's some great news about being a liberal arts major: you possess one of the most valuable skills in the job search-Researching!

If you don't know what you want to do, or where you want to work, research can help you clarify and narrow your goals. If you know what you would like to do and where you'd like to do it, research it to see how to proceed if your idea is feasible.

Through good research you will be able to:

• Learn more about potential employers
• Compile a list of companies to target.
• Identify typical entry level positions and decide where you fit.

• Prepare for the job search process
• Write a targeted cover letter and resume.
• Look at the fit between you and the job market.
• Lay the groundwork for effective networking.
• Know key information to bring up in an interview

• Learn more about the geographic location you're interested in.
• Find out the countries where you could use your language skills
• Learn the requirements for working in your country of choice
• Learn the employment situation in your country of choice

Research resources:

WEBSITES

By far and away, the most valuable information is located on the web.

• Look up specific company names for employment information.
• Look up information by the name of the country.
• When using job search engines try the keyword for the language you know, such as "French" rather than "France"-you will find more opportunities.

Here are some comprehensive sites to start your research into international employment:

Monster.com http://entrylevel.monster.com/

Includes hundreds of entry-level positions overseas. Also includes company profiles.

Yahoo.com http://www.yahoo.com/docs/family/more.html

Provides links to companies and employment opportunities in countries around the world. Click on the country name, click on Business & Economy, click on jobs, and then to 'Job Search Services.'

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/

One of the richest resources for finding an overseas job - an outstanding guide to both short and long-term jobs abroad, study and work abroad articles, resources, and web link.

http://www.economist.com/countries/

International country briefings filled with news, country profiles, forecast, statistics and more.

http://www.overseasjobsexpress.com/Home.htm

Overseas Jobs Express is a bi-weekly newspaper for international job-hunters.

University of Michigan http://www.umich.edu/~icenter/overseas

Bill Nolting's comprehensive and excellent guide to work abroad.

University of Minnesota www.istc.umn.edu

International study and travel site.

Argus Clearinghouse, www.clearinghouse.net.

Links to hundreds of sites organized by categories.

The Galaxy, http://galaxy.einet.net/galaxy.html

Meta-list of websites organized by topics.

The Riley Guide: Resources for International Job Opportunities, www.dbm.com/jobguide/internat.html

Region-by-region lists of websites for career jobs.

WWW Virtual Library, www.vlib.org/Overview.html

The "International Affairs" section is excellent, with links to organizations, universities, documents, news, and even some job listings.

The WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources, http://www.vlib.org/InternationalAffairs.html

While not designed as an employment site, this website has the most comprehensive set of links for international relations.

Goabroad.com, http://www.goabroad.com

Excellent website with information on study, work, volunteering, and teaching abroad.

University of California-Irvine, www.cie.uci.edu/~cie/iop

Comprehensive working abroad website

Newspapers:

Read foreign newspapers and periodicals. If possible, subscribe to a newspaper which will keep you informed of the economic, social and political conditions in your country of choice and provide clues to job opportunities.

Read the classified ads as well as the news and business sections about your country of choice. The University of Texas library carries most major foreign newspapers. You can also check them out online:

• American
• Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/public/us
• The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com
• Global
• The International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com
• London Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk
• Le Figaro (Paris) http://www.lefigaro.fr
• Die Welt (Hamburg) http://www.welt.de
• Messaggero (Milan) http://ilmessaggero.caltanet.it/
• Tico Times www.ticotimes.net
• Central America's leading English-language newspaper, published in Costa Rica.
• The Miami Herald (Miami, Florida) http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/
• La Nacion (Argentina) http://www.lanacion.com.ar
• El Comercio (Peru) http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/online/
• O'Globo http://oglobo.globo.com
• Folha De Sao Paulo (Brazil) http://www.folha.uol.com.br/folha/

Magazines, Newsletters and Periodicals:

• Transitions Abroad
• International Career Employment Opportunities - Biweekly publication listing hundreds of job and internship openings, available at Liberal Arts Career Services at UT/Austin.
• Foreign Telephone Directories can be helpful; particularly the yellow pages

Books and Guides:

• One of the best ways to locate books on international employment is through the search feature on Amazon.com. Type in "international employment" or "international jobs" and you will see the latest publications in this area.

• Be sure to note when and where the book is published. IF it is a British text, for example, the information may be more applicable to EC citizens than Americans. If the book is more than 5 years old, the information may not be as useful.

• Check out the various Hoover's Guides, Vault, and WetFeet publications.

• University libraries can be a great resource for international job seekers. Ask for help from a librarian-books aren't always in a "logical" location. You might find more helpful information in the reference section of the library than in the main stacks.

• Many foreign countries have Chambers of Commerce offices in New York City and publish guides to working in their countries and/or lists of businesses which have American/Foreign affiliations.

Suggested web resources for more books related to international employment:

http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/resource_library/category/?area=International Visit our collection of international books in the Resource Room of Liberal Arts Career Services, GEB 1.308.

http://content.monster.com/bookstore/booklist/index.asp?abroad The Monster Bookstore links to such titles as: Careers in International Affairs, Insider's Guide to Relocation, International Jobs: Where They Are, Jobs for People Who Love to Travel, and Work Your Way Around the World.

http://www.booksmatter.com/b1854582860.htm Live Work in Belgium and the Netherlands. (Also available: Live Work in France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal).

http://enotalone.com/books/0803913060.html Although the study was done in the early 70's the information is still relevant and interesting. Geert Hofstede, studied 53 countries and regions resulting in his 1980 work, Cultures Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values.

International Resources in the Liberal Arts Career Services office at the University of Texas/Austin:

• Access Nippon Business Handbook: Multimedia in Japan
• Alternative Travel Directory: The Complete Guide, 7th Edition
• American Jobs Abroad
• Careers in International Affairs
• Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries, Vol.1
• Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries, Vol.2
• Directory of American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries, Vol.3
• Directory of Foreign Firms Operating in the U.S., The
• Global 200 Executive Recruiters, The
• How to Get a Job in Europe, 5th edition
• How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas
• International Business Etiquette: Asia & the Pacific Rim
• International Business Etiquette: Europe
• International Job Finder: Where the Jobs Are: Worldwide
• International Jobs Directory
• Japan: Exploring Your Options
• Kennedy's International Directory of Executive Recruiters
• Overseas Summer Jobs 2000
• Returning to Indonesia
• Teaching English Abroad: Talk Your Way Around the World
• Texas Subsidiaries of Companies from France
• The Ugly American
• Viet Nam Career Guide
• Work Abroad: The Complete Guide to Finding a Job Overseas
• International Educator
• International Career Employment Weekly
• Transitions Abroad Magazine

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