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First off: NO, I don't want a dumbass teaching job in Korea or anywhere else, I am looking for a real, substantial job that will give me good experience and look nice on a grad school application. The first questions I should answer is, why overseas and where? I believe that's a good segway into the life of Xeris right now.
So I'm almost done with UCSD, one quarter to go, which I'll be spending in Washington D.C. I've gotten an internship with the Institute for Policy Studies, working on foreign policy issues relating to Green Energy. For those that are aware of me, my main specialization is on Middle Eastern affairs, so obviously this isn't my forte... but I'm excited at the challenge and the prospect of becoming immersed in something new and different.
Anyways, after that... what? Although I could just apply to grad schools, I've been vacillating for awhile between a PhD and a JD... and I think I've decided on doing a joint PhD/JD program. However, I really want to take some time off before I do that (about 2 years). Then I though, wtf do I do for 2 years before my grad programs? Work, obviously. The next question is, where should I work? And that's where my desire to go abroad comes in.
While an undergrad I didn't get the chance to study abroad, but I really want to sort of experience different cultures. I've spent 3 months in France, and some time in Iran when I was too young to even remember, and aside from that I really have no experience living anywhere else besides the United States. So, I'd love to be able to find a job overseas that will allow me to experience life somewhere else, and also give me valuable job experience, and some sort of respectable salary.
The second motivation for wanting to work is of course, money. As most of TL, I'm a poor college student. Frankly, I'm tired of basically continually living off between $1000 and $2000. I want to actually build up some money of my own because living off such a small amount of money is stressful. I work a little, doing stuff like OL, Tutoring, etc... and I don't have many expenses. Honestly my biggest expenses are traveling to LAN's once or twice per year, other than that I never buy clothes (maybe about $100-$200 per year max), and only buy food aside from that. So basically the money I make from working over the year covers my meager expenses, but I never really make more, so I'm always balancing between said numbers, which again, stresses me out because I don't feel like I have financial freedom to live the way I want. So... I want to have a job that actually earns me money, and for the additional reason of funding grad school.
Summary: two main reasons for working for ~2 years: financial, and experience (professional and cultural).
Next thing is where do I want to go... I guess my two main destinations would be France or China. Yes, seems random but I have good reasons.
France: I speak French (it's not fluent but it's at least good enough that when I'm in France I don't need to speak English), I have some family and friends there, so I'll have a place to stay, and I love the food and culture there. I've also been there several times and really want to become fluent in French. The main con is that Paris is a really expensive city (although my costs would be minimized by the fact that I'll have a place to stay).
China: My best friend is Chinese, and my current gf is Chinese (I actually met her on my trip to France last week, go figure), so I'll have a place to live there too. Also China is ridiculously cheap (my gf's apartment has 2 bedrooms and about 1000 sq ft for only 350 euros per month). Also I really am interested in Chinese culture, history, and of course, food. The main con is that I don't speak Chinese aside from a few basic words and phrases, and I don't know nearly as many people there (just 2 actually).
So I'd really like to find a job in one of those places, but my question for TL is... how would I go about doing this? I'll have a degree magna cum laude in Political Science (IR specialization) from UCSD, am in Phi Beta Kappa, and have a little knowledge of International Law as well.
The two questions are:
1) What kind of job (realistically) could I expect to find overseas ?
and...
2) How in the world would I go about looking for one?
*PS, another benefit of being in China is that their economy as opposed to most of the world, is still growing, so presumably it'll be easier to find a job, no?
Thanks for listening TL!
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Don't have any advice, but GL!
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Hmm.
if you could be more specific about the kind of jobs you expect, I could help.
My friends with Political Science degrees usually get a thesis payed by the government or city they live in. That thesis (its usually 2 to 3 years AFTER the degree iirc) allow them to work on various political campaigns and experiment their theory on a real try.
I could get you in touch with people in France working on political campaigns BUT is that really what you'd like ?
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Hmm I guess I'm looking for something like a company in France or China that does international work, so I could provide research on different laws of other countries, customs or w/e of different countries, honestly I really don't know what someone with a Political Science degree "does" , if that makes sense...
I'm not really interested in working directly in politics, like on campaigns or other stuff like that, I'm more interested in relations between governments, trade, etc.
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If you can sweat it, you should try applying for financial services position in Hong Kong or London. Just prep up on interview skills and retelling your life story (which you did a good job of in the OP).
They pay pretty well, but the hours are long and job content kinda sucks.
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I don't see any straight forward way for you to get a job in China with your major. If you were engineering or business grad it would be so much easier. Chinese economy is doing better than the rest but the job market is bleak as hell. Remember that we have a lot more grads finishing each year competing against the same number of jobs. There are also significant percentage of positions that are off limits to foreigners (especially anything to do with politics.)
But yeah my suggestion is that you either try to get a junior role in a western embassy or sign up on international student program at one of Beijing's universities. Once your Chinese improved then go on and look for a better job while teaching English on the side to feed yourself.
Do you speak persian? if you do, then try to get a role in united nations.
just my 2cents.
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There's a pretty cool NYT article somewhere about US graduates getting jobs in China despite the language barrier and their lack of job experience. I have no idea how to go about doing it; in fact I'm trying to do this myself - but finding a job because you speak fluent English should be quite easy to market yourself.
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Korea is fun. Good jobs, good women, great culture and great food.
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ur gf already lives in china? e-dating?!
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I met her in France but she lives in China. I don't know why I always get myself into long distance relationships, but that's another blog story O_O!
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You're gonna be poorer than a dirt farmer with the kind of jobs you'll find overseas, since you don't plan on using the only marketable skill you have (teaching english).
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On September 02 2009 07:37 d3_crescentia wrote:
There's a pretty cool NYT article somewhere about US graduates getting jobs in China despite the language barrier and their lack of job experience. I have no idea how to go about doing it; in fact I'm trying to do this myself - but finding a job because you speak fluent English should be quite easy to market yourself.
Yea I've heard of this, and my gf was telling me a lot about friends she's made who are working in China that are foreigners.. but ya a lot of them are business people or economics people. O_O!
I figure I have to have some appeal being a writer, with some knowledge of IR/law, and a fluent english speaker?
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Belgium9950 Posts
You can try applying for work at the European Union / NATO. Very good pay with nice amount of vacation, certainly in the line of your degree. Makes usage of the language knowledge. Lots of little benefits.
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Calgary25998 Posts
It's a fine plan, you just need to look at your reasoning a little bit. Building up money by working overseas makes no sense, unless you are working in terrible conditions that bring a premium pay rate with them.
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Calgary25998 Posts
Secondly, you are a dumbass for looking down on English teacher jobs. Seriously.
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Belgium9950 Posts
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On September 02 2009 07:59 Chill wrote:
Secondly, you are a dumbass for looking down on English teacher jobs. Seriously.
Well, English teaching isn't going to give me any professional experience, which defeats the purpose. If I only wanted money sure that's a great thing because it's a small amount of work for good money... but I want an actual job that I can put on my resume that will make me look more attractive to grad schools.
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On September 02 2009 07:58 Chill wrote:
It's a fine plan, you just need to look at your reasoning a little bit. Building up money by working overseas makes no sense, unless you are working in terrible conditions that bring a premium pay rate with them.
What do you mean? For example, if I live in China I'll be spending about 1/5th the amount of money on food, and about 1/10th on housing (I'll basically pay $200 per month for a nice apartment already furnished and everything)... so if I'm making let's say 40k/year at a job, I'll be able to save a LOT more of it in China than I would in the states... simply because my expenses are lower.
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On September 02 2009 08:14 Xeris wrote:Show nested quote +On September 02 2009 07:58 Chill wrote:
It's a fine plan, you just need to look at your reasoning a little bit. Building up money by working overseas makes no sense, unless you are working in terrible conditions that bring a premium pay rate with them. What do you mean? For example, if I live in China I'll be spending about 1/5th the amount of money on food, and about 1/10th on housing (I'll basically pay $200 per month for a nice apartment already furnished and everything)... so if I'm making let's say 40k/year at a job, I'll be able to save a LOT more of it in China than I would in the states... simply because my expenses are lower.
Chinese won't pay you 40k USD a year; they might pay you 40k Yuan which is like $5500 USD.
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I have job for you, Requires bombs and promotion after your first job.
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EPT
