o want to work abroad to build a strong starting point stateside. If you want to work in the Asian Pacific Rim, for example, you’ll have a better chance of doing so from Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco. For Latin America, consider relocating to Miami, Houston, or San Diego. And major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. do business all over the world. Sure, this is a little more complicated than simply packing your bag and jetting off, but it will really strengthen your chances of finding a steady job overseas.

If You Just Need a Break …
Of course, you may not be able to find a job in the States as a starting point—that was the whole point of going abroad, right? If you need to get away fast, and make money doing it, you’ve got options. Again, take a lesson from the undergrads; there are plenty of opportunities to get them abroad for a year or so and keep them in cheap, local wine. Why not you, too?

If you like kids, or if you’re not that into striking out totally on your own, consider finding a position as an au pair. Au pairs (literally, “living on equal terms”) are usually single women (sometimes men) between the ages of eighteen and thirty (or older!), who want a chance to study a foreign culture and language while living cheaply with an overseas family. Au pairs typically work in France, especially Paris, but they’re in huge demand all over the globe, thanks to parents who want their kids to learn English at a young age. The cons: you may have to put up with difficult kids, and you’re on call 24/7. The pros: the immersion will have you speaking fluently in no time, and living with a family will do a lot to combat the ex-pat loneliness.

Teaching English abroad is also a great way to see the world, and there are tons of opportunities to do so with minimal training. Most programs require only a bachelor’s degree in any major, although candidates with TEFL or TESOL experience are usually allowed more flexibility in choosing their destination, and are paid more, too. The Peace Corps and Fulbright programs are also options, although you don’t need to be a part of these organizations to go abroad. The great thing about most teach-abroad programs is that they’ll usually take care of visa issues for you and offer you plenty of support while you’re out of the States. This is a better option for those who don’t have a particular destination in mind, however, since you can’t always have control over where in the world the program places you. (The greatest demand for English teachers is in Asia and Eastern Europe.)

If You Need to Be Reminded That You Don’t Have It so Bad …
Frankly, you’re not going to make a mint by going abroad. You may have better luck finding a job and covering your basic expenses there than here, but unless you’re being sent over as an executive in a million-dollar company, living outside the United States is more about having a priceless experience than chasing cash. Why not help others as you gain your new, worldly perspective? Not only will you rack up those karma points, but you’ll remind yourself that, even if the job market is hard for you, other people in the world have things much harder.

Though there are many eco- and volun-tourism groups that wealthy travelers pay big bucks to arm themselves with dinner party s

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