You don’t have to be an international business or international relations major or graduate to gain valuable professional experience from living and working abroad. Just about all companies, organizations, and governments are affected -- to varying degrees -- by international trade and foreign competition. Thus, your international experience will come in handy in virtually any field you enter.

The ideal scenario is that you find work abroad that is similar to what you plan to do back in the states; however other work experiences, such as teaching English as a foreign language in Asia or volunteering with the Peace Corps in South Africa, will also provide you with extremely valuable skills that you’ll be able to relate to your professional job. (Read more about transferable skills here.)

The other benefit is gaining that international experience immediately. Most U.S. companies that hire new graduates require them to work domestically for at least a few years before sending them off on international assignments.