The main obstacle to working abroad is obtaining a work visa. Most countries will not issue a work visa unless you have already secured a job in the country. The best option for short-term work abroad is to go through a student work-exchange program. For a fee ranging from $250 to $500, these programs will obtain a short-term work visa on your behalf. These programs were not designed to launch participants into an international career, rather to provide a way for young people to essentially "break even" while traveling in a foreign country.

Teaching English is another option if you'd like to work abroad for a longer period of time. The best way to enter the field is to take a certified TEFL or TESOL course. Courses can be taken locally, or in the country you'd like to teach in.

The quality of TEFL/TESOL courses varies greatly. A good TEFL/TESOL course should be at least 100 hours long, and monitored by an external professional organization. Most course are four weeks long, and costs range from $1000- $3000. The CELTA (The University of Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is the most prestigious and widely recognized TESOL certificate.

Transitions Abroad is an excellent resource for anyone going abroad. They have information and articles on work, teaching English, travel, volunteering and much more.

Work Exchange Programs

BUNAC : Short-term work permits for Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, Cambodia, South Africa and Ghana.

CCUSA: A smaller organization based in Sausalito specializing in short term work visas for Australia and New Zealand. They also have unique camp counseling programs in Russia and Croatia.

Teaching English Abroad

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) : Placements for Teaching English Abroad in Chile, China, Spain and Thailand. This is a competitive program, but if you are accepted, CIEE will take care of all the logistics.

Language Corps: TESOL training and guaranteed job placement.

St. Giles International: Offers CELTA courses in San Francisco

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program : Popular program for teaching English in Japan