There are various reasons that force foreigners to look for employment while still at the university. Some work part-time to cover the cost of expensive training. Others seek to find promising internships to gain experience and stay in the country after graduation. Still others are looking for new experiences and acquaintances. In this article, we will figure out whether it is worth combining work with study abroad. We will talk about a simple part-time job as a waiter in a local cafe, and about serious positions that foreign students get at layboard.in.
Benefits of Working Abroad with a Degree
- Practice of a foreign language. Regardless of your position, you often interact with local buyers and other employees. This allows you to improve your spoken language and learn professional vocabulary.
- New acquaintances. This is especially useful if you work on campus. Finding someone to talk to and being the first to start a conversation can be difficult, but while you work, you get to know colleagues and visitors. Some professions even make you feel like a part of a foreign family. For example, this often happens with dog sitters, nannies and tutors.
- Partial reimbursement of expenses. As a rule, studying abroad is expensive. But even a part-time job in a cafe sometimes covers the cost of living and allows you to save money for travel and pocket expenses. For example, a student waiter earns about $5,760 for nine months of work in the US.
- It’s easier to stay in the country. It is easier to get a work visa and immigrate if you find a job while still a student. Not all countries allow students to stay after graduation, so you should take care of employment in advance.
- More professional opportunities. Often students who get a job as interns in a company then get a place there. This gives an advantage in the labor market in the future – other things being equal, the employer gives preference to candidates with experience. Especially if you worked in a well-known foreign company.
Features of part-time work in different countries
- Great Britain. Students work part-time during their studies and full-time during vacations. It is impossible to become an entrepreneur and a professional athlete. At the same time, the work permit is issued not only by the state, but also by the university itself. Universities limit the allowable time depending on the course of study. Some of them allow you to work only inside the campus, and most doctoral students are completely prohibited from finding a job.
- Foreign students apply for a work permit. It is not required if you are applying for an on-campus position. For illegal professional activities, violators are deported to their homeland.
- You cannot work on an A/2 student visa. But many informally care for the elderly, take out the trash or pack groceries. The only way to earn while studying is to get an internship. To get a more serious position, after graduation, you should apply for a B / 1 visa. It is not easy to get it – it is issued upon request from the employer. The competition for official employment is quite high, so companies select the best students by GPA and overall rating.
- Undergraduate students start working after their first year of study. This requirement can be avoided when obtaining a residence permit.
- If you are taking a job as a teaching or research assistant, you are not subject to work time restrictions. At the same time, even unpaid internships are regulated, and it is impossible to be a freelancer or self-employed. Undergraduate students work in their spare time from lectures with the consent of the Federal Employment Agency.
- With a regular X1 visa, you will not be able to officially get a job in a company. To work, you will need permission from the immigration services and the university in the form of certified letters.
- Most companies require fluency in Czech. There are no restrictions on working hours, but first you need to get a work permit. It must be renewed every two years.
Who do foreign students work
Usually, for the first two years, a student works part-time in low-skilled positions – he works in cafes, bars, supermarkets or shopping centers. But in senior years, there is a need to practice in the field in which he receives education. The best way to do this is to get an internship. In this section, we will tell you what foreigners work at different levels of education and why it is important to start practicing while still studying. You can find out more on the website https://layboard.in/vacancies/jobs-in-uae/jobs-in-dubai.
Part-time work not in the specialty
Low-skilled positions are hired for several reasons. Firstly, official practice is usually taken only after two years of undergraduate studies, and you may need the money right now. Secondly, in some countries (Israel, India) foreigners are even forbidden to work officially. Below we describe the most popular options.
Foreign language tutor
You can teach your native language freelance or at a language school. This is convenient – usually lessons are held via Skype or Zoom. It is worth remembering that official work often requires additional documents. If you choose to become self-employed, make sure you are legally allowed to do so. Some countries (USA, Germany, China) seriously monitor students’ extracurricular activities, and in case of violation they can be immediately deported.
Сall center operator
Although applicants are required to have a high knowledge of the local language, this is an attractive option for international students. It is suitable for those who are stress-resistant and able to communicate with strangers. In this position, you memorize a lot of information about the company’s products and services – combined with the information load at the university, the work can be very exhausting. Also be prepared for night shifts.
At the same time, you work in comfortable offices and are not forced to spend hours on your feet. Most likely, the level of your salary will be higher than that of other students. Of the pleasant bonuses, companies often arrange trainings where you improve your knowledge of English and the national language.
Waiter or bartender
The easiest way to find a part-time job abroad is to get a job in the service sector. Usually previous professional experience is not critical. If you can convince an HR professional that they have strong communication skills, then it won’t be hard to get hired. Often employers request a high level of national language proficiency, but on university campuses the requirements are more relaxed.
The biggest disadvantage is the inflexible work schedule. As a rule, students work in the evenings and do not have time to relax at all after an intensive daytime study. Night shifts can seriously harm both academic performance and overall health.
Babysitter with children
To get a job, you definitely need to take several courses in child care and development. Experts recommend starting with volunteering to build a decent resume. But it is best to get relevant experience in your home country.
In some countries (Italy, USA, Germany) there are even special agencies for foreign babysitters. Getting this position is more difficult than most others. But if you succeed, you practice the language, learn how to cook national dishes and make new acquaintances. Some employers even offer students to live in their own home, which greatly reduces the cost of living in another country.
Dogsitter
A typical list of duties is to walk and feed the dog. But be prepared that the owners often ask to stay at home with their pet or even teach basic training commands. Dogsitters go outside even in the worst weather, and if the animal is large enough, then they pay more attention to it – they run, play and train.
Work seems pleasant, but it is not without stress. It is always necessary to be on the alert – if the dog is injured, if it fights with other dogs, if it frightens passers-by. The owners are very kind to their pet, so even minor mistakes can cost you your dismissal.
Work for foreign students at the university
The most popular part-time job is to work on campus or at the university itself. This is an attractive option for foreigners for several reasons, the main one being the lack of alternatives. In some countries, including the US, you are generally only allowed to work after a year of undergraduate studies. But exceptions are made for universities – even first-year students work in them. You can become a cashier, a waiter, an editor of a university newspaper, or a salesperson. Most often, students get jobs in gyms, libraries and bookstores.
Some choose to work as teaching assistants. This is especially important if you are going to devote yourself to an academic career – you get experience in teaching and conducting research projects. Basically, undergraduates and doctoral students apply for this position.
But not everything is so simple. Many people want to earn money on campus, which creates competition between foreign and local candidates. To increase the chances of success, it is worth preparing for the interview in advance and responsibly approaching the resume.
