International Engineering?

Question

I am currently a Junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a participant in the dual degree program. In a total of four years, I intend to receive a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a degree complemented by a B.A. in Mathematics, and still maintaining Honors status. Ideally, after graduation, I would like to work on an international scale; not simply from a desk in Chicago or New York or wherever in communication with the global population, but abroad--in Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Sao Paulo, etc. I believe the most practical way of be able to do this would be in engineering consulting. Does anyone know of large companies that desire (mechanical) engineers for international work? Or career paths aside from consulting which would provide me with such international opportunity? I'm rather lost with what I want to do, so any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Presently, I have no experience abroad, though I've held two internships over the past summers. I've also studied French for six years; I speak decently and write well. I will be abroad as an exchange student in Hong Kong during the Fall of 2007. Thanks.

Answer 1

Your best bet may be to apply directly to jobs in London, where your experience with French would be an asset due to the proximity of France. While you are abroad in Hong Kong, you should remain of job opportunities there as well, since English is widely used there.

Aside from that, your best bet is to take advantage of your own school's Career Center. Let them know about the scope of your goals, and work with them to locate companies that would provide you with the opportunities that you are seeking.