JobMonkey.com, the coolest jobs on earth

Pursuing Work Opportunities Abroad

----------------------------------------
JobMonkey.com
Volume VIII, Issue #48
----------------------------------------

Welcome to the JobMonkey Newsletter! With the passing of Labor Day earlier this week, many of you may be thinking about the true meaning of work. As the saying goes, "Do you live to work? Or do you work to live?" Wherever you may fall on that spectrum, there is no reason that work can't be fun, meaningful and even exciting. Of course, one of the most adventuresome things you can do is pack up your bags and head abroad. This week's newsletter explores  this unique adventure with a country-by-country guide to the best opportunities for working in Europe.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

 

Follow JobMonkey on Twitter. SIGN UP right here and start receiving news about new job opportunities, new content section launches, and more.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Career Advisor: Twittering Your Way Into Bad Writing Habits
2) Spotlight: European Country Guide for Foreign Workers
3) Around the Monkey: Work & Volunteer Abroad

Find out why you should set up a free job seeker profile on JobMonkey: Learn More.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAREER ADVISOR: The Trouble with Twitter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Amy Lindgren

RU using Twitr alot? If so, you may find that your ability to write normally is affected. In some ways, this might be a good thing. After all, who couldn't benefit from using fewer words to express an idea? But what if that idea doesn't need to be expressed at all?

Ah, there's the rub. An awful lot of what goes out on Twitter - not to mention texting and email in general - is just the thought-of-the-moment that wouldn't be missed if it were never expressed. In other words, most of what we're saying with these tools, concisely or otherwise, isn't really worth saying.

That's okay. That's just like our everyday conversations except there's no spoken word in these communications. A lot of what we say aloud in the course of a day is just polite patter that helps lubricate the wheels of social commerce.

My concern isn't with the level of content in Twitter communications. Nor am I concerned that grammar goes out the window in the effort to maintain 140 characters in each message. These and other unfortunate side effects of Twitter are just part of using the tool.

No, my real concern is that a Twitter-fed brain becomes a brain dominated by Twitterese. You already know that you pick up the regionalisms and accents of the places you visit, right? Non-southerners who visit Alabama can't help themselves: Everyone is a "honey" or a "sugar" for at least a week after the trip ends. That's because humans are highly imitative creatures. We take on the speech patterns of those around us.

Likewise, if you spend time intensively studying a technical field, you are bound to come away with a technical mindset. Law students become lawyerly, architects learn to see everything as a structural or design issue, and engineers try to re-engineer their way out of problematic situations.

So, does that mean that intensive Twitter users metaphorically twitter their way through everyday situations? Yes, that is what I'm afraid of. For job seekers and those currently working, the danger in becoming Twitterish is that the workplace really does demand a deeper level of communication, not to mention thought.

The moral? If you want to stay sharp for the workplace, remember to move your thumbs off the keypad occasionally and practice developing thoughts using whole sentences and even paragraphs. You'll blow your boss away with this increasingly rare ability. Oh yeah, be sure to sign up for the JobMonkey employment Twitter page!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPOTLIGHT: Europe Travel Guide for Expats
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you dreamed about traveling through Europe? Perhaps you imagine reliving the Renaissance at the Louvre in Paris -- or living up the night life along the Riviera. Maybe it's the thrill of skiing the Alps or slinging back a brew at an Irish pub that calls you. Whatever your interest in Europe, money doesn't have to be an object if you visit the Continent as a worker, not a tourist. If working abroad appeals to you, check out this Europe job guide of where to find the best opportunities in Europe.

France & Germany - Both France and Germany are rich in high-tech and U.S. military bases, so technical skills are a real plus. For the non-techie, au pair jobs in Europe are often in abundance, particularly during the summer months. Or you might enjoy a resort job in Europe along the southern coast of France.

The Mediterranean - Tourism and resort jobs are the name of the game in the Mediterranean nations of Italy, Spain & Greece. There are also promising opportunities for ESL jobs in Europe, as well as au pair jobs primarily in Spain and Italy.

The United Kingdom - The most popular jobs in the UK for foreign workers are in the tourism industry. Experienced bar tenders are usually able to find pub jobs in Glasborough, while high tech companies are prolific in London. Laborers might be lucky to find a mining job off the coast of Ireland.

Eastern Europe - For a true adventure, consider Eastern Europe, where opportunities abound for everything from English teachers to entrepreneurs. The economy is still rapidly changing in the aftermath of the crash of Communism, so be prepared for a wild ride!

To learn more about working abroad, be sure to check out the JobMonkey bookstore, with helpful titles such as The Survival Kit for Overseas Living and Teaching English Abroad.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
AROUND THE MONKEY: Working and Volunteering Abroad
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Intrigued about the possibilities of working (or volunteering) aboard? Be sure to visit the JobMonkey blog for more insightful posts about how to see the world through work or volunteer placements, including these three:

:: Resources for Working Abroad
:: Resumes for Working Abroad
:: International Volunteer Jobs

 

 

 

JobMonkey Home >>>