Global Work Experience

Thinking about what’s most important to you helps you to focus your search.

Use the resources in Making Career Choices if you’re not sure what you want to do.

For help with exploring your options, book a guidance appointment via MyCareer.

Thinking about what other people have done can help with your planning.

You can check profiles of alumni on LinkedIn to see where they are working now and their work history. Search by location, subject studied and career area to see if anyone is working in the country you're interested in.

Watch our quick tutorials to discover how to make the most of LinkedIn. Remember to update your profile if you’re using LinkedIn actively.

You can also contact the university’s Global Ambassadors team and speak to a student who has experience of living abroad.

Before you start planning your time abroad, check for government and university restrictions.

• Check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) travel advice for the country you’re interested in.
• Check the University travel advice from the Global Opportunities team.
• Speak to relevant members of staff if you’re planning on doing work experience as part of your studies. For overseas placement years, speak to the team managing your placement.

Research the visa process via the relevant UK based embassy for the country you’re interested in. Contact them directly and try to get instructions or information in writing.

Global Opportunities have listed the entry requirements for EU countries to give you an idea of what to expect. It’s essential you check this information directly with the embassy yourself. Visa and immigration information can change at any time, without much notice.

If you’re planning to go overseas, the earlier you start researching, the better.

It can help to consider:

• what are the language requirements?
• what opportunities are available in your sector?
• what is the recruitment process like there?
• what are employers there looking for in CVs and applications?
• do you know anyone already living there who could help you find work?
• what are the living and accommodation costs?
• what finances will you have access to? Eg are opportunities typically paid? Are there any funding options available?
• what sort of insurance do you need?

Start your research by using the support and information on offer via Global Opportunities. They offer advice about living abroad and information about funding options. For more information and to stay up to date with opportunities you can:

• sign up to their mailing list
• join their Teams group
• attend one of their drop-in sessions

The following resources can also help with your research:

GoinGlobal – country guides include information on job search resources, industry trends, CVs and applications, interviews, networking and living costs. Watch a brief video on how to get the most from GoinGlobal's country guides.

You can also find advice from:

• Prospects: working abroad
• British Council

There are two main ways to find work experience:

• applying for advertised opportunities
• seeking out hidden opportunities by networking and applying speculatively.

Use our resources below to get started with finding opportunities for overseas work experience

Use GoinGlobal to find worldwide opportunities. Their country guides have information on writing CVs for other countries.

For help with finding opportunities, you can book an information appointment via MyCareer.

You may also be interested in term-time study exchanges, short programmes and further study abroad.

Our International jobs pages include information about working overseas and resources for finding opportunities.

• EurActiv JobSite
• EURES – use ‘intern’ as a keyword in your search
• JOE+

• GlobalPlacement
• Blind Applying – international employers offer secret internships worldwide
• ihipo
• Intern Jobs
• StudentJob
• Projects Abroad – volunteer projects for gap years, electives and summer placements

Our Australia and USA sections below have specific work experience resources for those countries.

See Organised programmes if you are considering paying a for an overseas experience.

You can also search for opportunities in specific countries using our international jobs resources.

To find hidden internships, start by identifying companies you would like to work for.

Our guide to finding companies below can help. Then use the following steps to approach them speculatively about possible opportunities:

1. Identify a contact name to address your cover letter to. Call or email to find out who handles recruitment within the organisation. Or, find a key contact in the department you want to work in.
2. Send them a tailored CV and cover letter. Express your enthusiasm for the sector. Show that you have researched the company. Use GoinGlobal country guides to understand CV requirements for the country you’re interested in.
3. Follow up your speculative application with an email, or phone call, around a week later. This shows you are serious and motivated.
4. If your application was unsuccessful, ask for feedback or advice, and keep trying!

For more information read targetjobs’ guide to making a speculative application.

To get started, use the following resources to search for companies:

• Watch a 2-minute guide on how to use GoinGlobal’s employer directory effectively
• Use business directories and links to professional bodies on GoinGlobal's country guides.
• Find organisations by location on MyCareer. Select ‘search' then 'organisations’
• Search our International jobs resources to find companies by region
• Search for companies by location on LinkedIn. The Find Alumni tool shows you where Newcastle graduates are currently working.

For help with finding opportunities, book an information appointment via MyCareer.

You can search GoAbroad for examples of internship providers. If you are interested in using one, find out exactly what they are offering for their fee, eg:

• help to arrange a visa
• accommodation, food and flights
• an internship offer, or access to a database of opportunities
• support when you start the internship

It’s also important to check that they are a legitimate organisation:

• research beyond their website
• look for external reviews or testimonials
• explore related social media accounts

The placement schemes listed below are legitimate, non-profit organisations. They are either government funded or backed, or have an established relationship with Newcastle University:

• AIESEC – student organisation offering paid and voluntary international placements. Opportunities last from 6 weeks to 18 months, in 110 countries. There is an application fee to view available placements.
• RISE – summer internship programme for undergraduate science or engineering students to research in Germany
• IAESTE – global work placements, ranging from 8 to 52 weeks. Most opportunities are in engineering, science, computing and architecture. If you’re a UK citizen you can register your interest as someone from a non member country

The British Council bring together a range of short-term overseas work opportunities on their Study Work Create website.

Opportunities include:

• Generation UK–China – internships, research and teaching opportunities in China.
• English Language Assistants – paid 6-month or year-long opportunities through the British Council. Support English teaching in an overseas school. All countries except China require English and a second language
• Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) – paid work for a year in Japan. Work as an Assistant Language Teacher or a Coordinator for International Relations

The University's Global Opportunities team also organise and advertise short programmes overseas.

If your internship will be included as part of your course, speak to someone in your academic school. Your Degree Programme Director or Placement Officer may be able to sign the agreement for you.

If you need an agreement for your Careers Service Placement Year, please contact the team at [email protected].

You may have arranged an overseas internship independently, which will not be accredited or form part of your course.

If your employer requests a signed agreement, you can download and use one of the following documents:

• use our Student internship agreement [66KB] if you will be registered as a Newcastle University student for the duration of your internship
• use our Graduate internship agreement [66KB] if your internship will start within one year of graduating from Newcastle University

If you need either of these in an alternative format, or any other adjustments to access our resources, please contact us. You can also convert documents into alternative formats using SensusAccess.

How to use our internship agreement documents

• Fill in all the text boxes of the agreement, deleting any instruction text.
• Include the objectives/responsibilities you have been set for your internship. If you are unsure of your objectives, or any of your working conditions, contact the employer for more information.
• Complete, sign and save the document.
• Send the agreement to the employer to read and sign.
• Email a copy to [email protected]. Use “Internship Agreement Form” as the email subject header.
• The relevant member of staff will read, sign and return the agreement to you within 5 working days. 

For additional proof of your status as a student and your programme of study, use the Student Portal to download your official University documents.

For non-accredited internships, we’re unable to sign any documents supplied by the employer, due to insurance and liability. You can contact the above email address if you have any questions about the process.

If you want to experience living and working in the USA, but you’re not sure what type of work you want to do, the following may help:

• read our advice on making career choices which offers ideas on how to get started and explore your options
• speak to one of our careers consultants about your ideas and options

The BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Programme provides opportunities to travel and gain experience in the United States.

The programmes vary in length depending on the type of experience you’re looking for. Use their comparison chart to explore which programme is right for you and read information below on some of the more popular options.

To take part, you’ll need to apply for a J-1 visa. You can see information about visas below.

Summer work travel

The Summer Work Travel programme is for full-time students, including final year students. It allows:

• work for up to four months, between June to September
• a travel period of up to 30 days, before and after

Jobs can either be arranged in advance or on arrival. Arranging a job on arrival is only possible for nationals from countries with USA visa waiver arrangements, such as the UK.

If you haven’t arranged work in advance, you need to show evidence of funds to support yourself while looking for a job.

Summer camps

The Camp Counselor programme is for students to work in approved summer camps with American youths. It allows:

• work for up to four months
• a travel period of up to 30 days, before and after

This option is specifically for work as a camp counsellor. Any other support or casual positions in the camp would have to be applied to through the Summer Work Travel programme.

Intern – 3 weeks to 12 months

The Intern route is for full-time students and recent graduates (up to 1 year after graduation). It allows:

• full-time work in the USA for up to 12 months
• a travel period of up to 30 days, before and after

The internship must relate to your field of study in one of their eligible occupational categories. You can’t be in any casual or unskilled work.

The employer must complete an internship plan about the placement structure and the skills and experiences you will gain.

Trainee – 3 weeks to 18 months

The Trainee route is for graduates who already have one-year of related work experience. It allows:

• full-time work in the USA for up to 18 months
• a travel period of up to 30 days, before and after

As with the Intern programme, the work experience must be in a degree related area, and not in a casual or unskilled position.

Au Pair – 12 to 24 months

Working as an Au Pair is an option for 18-26 year olds who’re interested in:

• providing childcare
• living with a host family for 12 months

There’s an option to extend this for an additional 6, 9 or 12 months.

All the above programmes outlined above involve applying for a J-1 visa.

J-1 visas can only be applied for through a sponsor organisation, for a fee. These organisations check eligibility of both the candidate and the employer. The sponsor, not the employer, will be responsible for you during your time in the USA.

J-1 Visa Sponsors

You can find a list of sponsors by selecting the programme you’re interested in on BridgeUSA. It includes organisations such as CIEE, AIESEC, BUNAC. Some large employers have also gained sponsor status, including Disney, KPMG and Microsoft.

The CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) is one of the main sponsor organisations. The UK representatives for the CIEE are ISTPlus and Interexchange.

Look at what different sponsors offer, as prices and services vary. As well as sponsoring your visa, some might also support you with:

• accommodation
• flights
• access to a database of opportunities
• a guaranteed internship offer

When deciding which sponsor to use:

• research them on social media and other external websites
• look for testimonials and reviews to read about other people’s experiences of using them

Other options and further information

To explore other visa options, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

For answers to specific questions, contact the UK based U.S. Embassy and Consulates. If you're not a UK national, contact the USA embassy for your country.

GoinGlobal offer a helpful overview in their U.S. Country Guide. It’s important to check information is up-to-date as visa guidelines are always subject to change.

Where to look

Before you start your search for work experience, explore the relevant sponsor organisation for your J-1 programme. They are likely to advertise or arrange opportunities for candidates.

You can also search for opportunities on the following websites:

• GoinGlobal
• Indeed
• Glassdoor
• Idealist.org
• Global Placement
• Cool Works

When to apply

Applications for US based summer internships close between January and March. Start dates are often in May or June.

Semester and 12-month internships usually have deadlines three to six months in advance.

Making applications

GoinGlobal’s country guide for the USA includes example CVs and cover letters.

If there is a specific type of employer or sector you’d like to work in, you could try contacting them in advance.

Identifying organisations

Start by identifying potential employers you would like to work for. You can search for organisations using:

• GoinGlobal’s employer directory to search for employers. Watch their 2-minute guide on how to use it effectively.
• business directories and links to professional bodies on GoinGlobal’s USA country guide
• British-American Business Council - business networks between the USA and the UK. Search individual networks for member directories, e.g. BABA Washington Member Listing
• Glassdoor – sign up to search for companies in the USA
• YP The Real Yellow Pages - US directory, useful for speculative applications
• LinkedIn – watch our 3 minute guide to Researching companies

Contacting organisations

Then use the following steps to approach them speculatively about possible opportunities:

1. Identify a contact name to address your cover letter to. Call or email to find out who handles recruitment within the organisation. Or, find a key contact in the department you want to work in.
2. Send them a tailored CV and cover letter, which may be referred to as a resume. Express your enthusiasm for the sector. Show that you have researched the company. See GoinGlobal's USA country guide for example resumes and covering letters.
3. Follow up your speculative application with a phone call, or email, around a week later. This shows you are serious and motivated.
4. If your application was unsuccessful, ask for feedback to help you improve, and keep trying! For more information read target jobs guide to making a speculative application.

Living in the USA

GoinGlobal offers a country guide for the USA. It includes advice about accommodation, living costs as well as cultural information and tips.

Finance

Securing paid work could help you to maintain yourself financially while abroad. In the USA it’s common for internships to be unpaid.

You may need to think about how to fund visa, travel and accommodation. Our Funding your masters degree has an ‘other funding options’ section which can apply to non-study options.

Finding a contact who lives and works in the USA can help you get up-to-date information and advice. Your contact may not be able to provide an opportunity, but they could:

• tell you about the job market
• offer ideas about how to impress with your application and interview

Start with who you already know – friends, family, neighbours, lecturers, colleagues or contacts on LinkedIn and other social media. Talk to them about what you’re looking for and see where the conversation leads. They might have connections based in the USA.

You could also use the Find Alumni tool on LinkedIn to look up Newcastle graduates working in the USA. Our 3 minute video guide to making connections on LinkedIn can help you get started.

Use the following resources and guides to find out more about looking for opportunities, living and working in the USA:

• GoinGlobal's Country Career Guide for the USA. See their resources on finding opportunities, making applications, making contacts and living conditions.
• US Department of State: BridgeUSA
• Travel.state.gov: Study and Exchange visas – exchange visitor programme and visa FAQs
• CIEE: work exchanges blog – tips and advice about exchanges in the USA from one of the visa sponsors
• IST Plus - advice on attending an embassy interview
• International Arts and Artists: Explore Fields – case studies from students who have completed creative exchanges
• More information about finding jobs overseas is available on our International jobs page.
• You may also be interested in opportunities to study abroad.

If you want to experience living and working in Australia, but you’re not sure what type of work you want to do, the following may help:

• read our advice on making career choices which offers ideas on how to get started and explore your options
• speak to one of our careers consultants about your ideas and options

If you’re planning on taking some time out to travel in Australia, you might also be interested in arranging casual work to support yourself while you are there.

You can start by looking at the following resources which advertise opportunities:

• Backpacker job board
• Student Job Board
• Seek
• Indeed
• Jora
• Adzuna
• Workforce Australia
• GoinGlobal – search for jobs. The Australia country guide includes job seeking resources

A speculative approach is also helpful for arranging casual work. You could try taking copies of your CV/resume to customer-facing businesses in your area, for example:

• restaurants
• bars
• shops
• outback pubs
• camp grounds

These roles tend to start quite quickly after recruitment, so you could arrange them after you arrive in Australia.

See InsiderGuides for further ideas about finding casual work in Australia.

Summer internships and placement years for university students are not common in Australia. Employers tend to offer work integrated learning opportunities through university programmes.

It is possible to find some advertised opportunities. Contacting companies directly might increase your chances of arranging work experience.

Search terms

The terms ‘internship’ and ‘placement’ aren’t commonly used by Australian employers. Try searching for work experience or look for opportunities with fixed term contracts.

You may see the term ‘vacation programmes’. These are three months of paid work over the Australian summer break, November – March. They are usually advertised and recruited in July or August.

For internships, avoid using the term ‘summer’ as part of your search. The academic year in Australia runs differently to the UK. UK summer breaks tend to run between June – September, whereas the summer break in Australia is typically November – March.

Advertised opportunities

The following resources advertise short term / student work opportunities in Australia. Opportunities:

• Prosple – search for internship opportunities. You can search based on whether they accept applications from international students. Check the dates the programmes run, as they may take place between January – March, rather than UK summertime.
• GoinGlobal – global internship listings. Watch a brief (3:08) training video on how to get the most from GoinGlobal internship search.
• Globalplacement.com
• Intern Jobs – worldwide internship opportunities
• Top intern programs – Australia's Top Intern Programs as voted by Participating Interns
• jobrapido

During your search, you may come across organisations offering to arrange experience for you, for a fee. Read our advice on using placement providers above.

How to find hidden opportunities

As internships and placements aren’t common in Australia, you may need to be creative in your search for opportunities.

Contacting employers directly about opportunities is known as making a speculative application. This is a very common way to find work and work experience in the UK, Australia and all over the world.

Start by identifying companies you would like to work for. Our guide to finding employers below can help. Then use the following steps to approach them speculatively about possible opportunities:

1. Identify a contact name to address your cover letter to. Call or email to find out who handles recruitment within the organisation. Or, find a key contact in the department you want to work in.
2. Send them a tailored CV and cover letter, which may be referred to as a resume. Express your enthusiasm for the sector. Show that you have researched the company.
3. Follow up your speculative application with a phone call, or email, around a week later. This shows you are serious and motivated.
4. If your application was unsuccessful, ask for feedback to help you improve, and keep trying!

For more information read target jobs guide to making a speculative application.

Finding employers

To get started, use business directories and links to professional bodies on GoinGlobal's Australia country guide. You might want to watch a 2-minute guide on how to use the employer directory effectively.

You could also try:

• Australia's Top 100 Graduate Employers - voted for by 16,000 Australian university students
• Australian British Chamber of Commerce - directory of members
• Australian Yellow Pages - useful for speculative applications
• LinkedIn – watch our 3 minute guide to Researching companies

Visit GoinGlobal’s country guide for Australia. It includes example CVs and cover letters.

The University of Newcastle Australia offers tips and advice on how to apply for a job, including sample resumes.

When planning to work in Australia, you’ll need to find out which visa you will need, and how long it will take to process.

Use the Australian Government’s Explore Visa Options tool to find the appropriate visa for you.

For short term work experience, you may be eligible for the Working Holiday Maker programme. This allows people aged between 18-30 to visit Australia for up to 12 months and undertake any type of short-term work. You can only stay with the same employer for 6 months. It can take up to 3 months to process a visa.

For internships

You don’t need to have a job arranged to apply for the working holiday visa, or to arrive in Australia.

You can choose whether you want to research and apply for work in advance or look for work when you arrive.

You might increase your chances of finding an internship if you start researching, applying and contacting employers in advance.

For placement years

The Working Holiday visa usually allows you to work with the same employer in the same location for up to 6 months.

To complete a placement year, you usually need to either:

• spend a minimum of 9 months with one employer
• or complete two placements which last at least 4.5 months each

You need to check the terms and conditions of this visa as you may need to arrange two placements.

Further information

For the most up to date information and eligibility requirements, visit the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website. For answers to specific questions, contact the UK based Australian High Commission.

GoinGlobal offer a helpful overview in their Australia Country Guide. It’s important to check information is up-to-date as visa guidelines are always subject to change.

Living in Australia

GoinGlobal offers a country guide for Australia. It includes advice about accommodation, living costs as well as cultural information and tips.

Finance

Securing paid work could help you to maintain yourself financially while abroad. Unless you are volunteering for a charity or non-profit organisation, the Australian Fair Work Act (2009) states that all workers need to be paid.

You may need to think about how to fund visa, travel and accommodation. Our Funding your masters degree has an ‘other funding options’ section which can apply to non-study options.

Finding a contact who lives and works in Australia can help you get up-to-date information and advice. Your contact may not be able to provide an opportunity, but they could:

• tell you about the job market
• offer ideas about how to impress with your application and interview

Start with who you already know – friends, family, neighbours, lecturers, colleagues or contacts on LinkedIn and other social media. Talk to them about what you’re looking for and see where the conversation leads. They might have connections based in Australia.

You could also use the Find Alumni tool on LinkedIn to look up Newcastle graduates working in Australia. Our 3 minute video guide to making connections on LinkedIn can help you get started.

You can also use the following resources and guides to find out more about looking for opportunities, living and working in Australia:

• GoinGlobal's Country Career Guide for Australia. See their resources on finding opportunities, making applications, making contacts and living conditions.
• Prospects: Work in Australia
• target jobs: Working in Australia
• our Australasia page includes jobsites and company directories specific to Australia

More information about finding jobs overseas is available on our International jobs page.

You may also be interested in opportunities to study abroad.