Build your CV through a foreign education experience:
July, 24, 2010
With close to 10% unemployment in the United States and a 6.8% unemployment rate in Minneapolis (http://www.startribune.com/business/98507039.html), a substantial number of professionally trained and skilled individuals have found it very difficult to find a job in the current job market. In addition many have founds jobs in fields unrelated to their professional training, while others are considering continuing their education, taking out loans to return to school for an advanced degree or a particular certification.
Things could be worse, the outlook in America is not as bleak as in Europe, where various countries have accumulated debts close to or larger than their annual GDPs, their recession does not seem to be nearing its end, including some countries, such as Spain where unemployment has exceeded 20%. In America the situations is not as uninviting, but with an uncertain economic outlook; why not consider another way in which to upgrade your resume. Why not go abroad and live a once in a lifetime experience?
Yes, while adventurous and non-traditional, this is also a possibility. What better way to continue your education than learning a foreign language while providing a developing country with your unique expertise as you obtain an international business experience? A recent article by Andrew Dana Hudson in the Chronicle denotes his experience after moving to India (http://chronicle.com/article/What-I-Did-When-I-Couldnt/66281/). As explained in his article, there are a lot of risks involved with moving abroad, but with few job opportunities, perhaps this option will become increasingly more appealing.
Traditionally developing countries had been the main losers of the emigration of skilled labor. The “brain drain” required the constant retraining of skilled labor in developing countries. Increasingly, however, as the economies of some of these countries improve, more skilled laborers are choosing to return to their native lands. Can this also not be a great opportunity for young skilled graduate or other unemployed skilled laborers to have a foreign education experience, much more intense than simply studying abroad?
As the world becomes increasingly globalized and everyone is looking for a way in which to stand out and distinguish themselves, why not consider this possibility? Learning Mandarin in China or having work experience in India could have lifetime benefits to young businessmen. Within the western hemisphere, the most recent report from ECLAC indicated that all but two economies in Latin America, Venezuela and Haiti, were experiencing significant economic growth (http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100721-712908.html).
While moving abroad and venturing in this manner is not for everyone, if you are a young college graduate considering whether to continue into an MA or PhD program, simply feeling restricted as you are unable to find a job, or feel underemployed or unrecognized, why not consider continuing your education through a practical experience while helping in a country where you talents may be more appreciated.
