Yeah being young and more apt to travel will help. A lot of fresh college grads like to travel or take long international assignments as a lot of older, settled mid tier managers ususally don't. Get yourself into a large US firm with a lot of int'l subsidiaries, branches, or business. Then see if they are willing to give international assignments, transfers, or permanent jobs. Plus after a few years if you want to move back you have a nice trail of job history, and you won't have to look for a new company in the US. Ex pats in my company have been getting sent to China quite often because of our growing Asian HQ. The exchange rate is phenomenol getting paid in US dollars over there. Good luck.

 

Having lived in Japan for quite some time, I recommend that you check out Germany, or Perhaps even Hong Kong if you've never considered it. I'm moving back to Hong Kong at the end of the year, lots of opportunity, and English is widely spoken in the high tech business sector.

 

From what you guys are saying, I think I will try and get in with a big company in the US. Right now I'm looking at Gulfstream, BMW manufacturing(!!!), Honda R&D, Bosch, and the like!

 

Sounds good. Just make sure they know you're interested in traveling/relocating.

I have two friends who have bounced around the world for years. One finally moved back to the US three years ago, and is now off to Australia (IT work).

The other is an Engineer who now manages plants in England. He's based in London, and went from living in a nice house here to a small apartment there. He has two kids and a two-bedroom apartment, and he said it's hellishly expensive compared to North Carolina (no surprise there).

 

It's ok to just ask if they have a rotational program for new hires based on project work or function.

My current employer has just such a program to attract fresh college graduates such as yourself. It has proven to be very attractive and is a great HR resource for functions within the company. The new hires whet their aspirations and departments get a choice pick with a broader experience base.