Russia : Work experience

Work placements and internships

Russia does not have many work experience opportunities for foreigners considering work experience there. Almost all the available schemes are for teaching English, and opportunities to take paid or voluntary work in conservation or local communities are scarce. If you wish to gain experience in areas such as journalism, law, medicine, tourism, voluntary and non-governmental organisations, check for short-term opportunities with an organisation that has a branch in your own country first.

Exchange programmes

• AIESEC (Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales) offers exchange programmes for students and recent graduates who are interested in business, development or education, or who are from an IT or engineering background.
• IAESTE (The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) arranges paid, reciprocal exchange summer placements for science, engineering and technology students for a small fee.

Teaching schemes

There is a high demand for English teachers in Russia. Most teaching positions ask for a TEFL qualification, and are in schools in large towns and cities, however teaching in villages is possible. GeoVisions offer live-in teaching opportunities, where native English speaking foreigners are given a family to live with, in exchange for teaching them English for 15 hours per week.

Language Link offer placements as teacher interns for those who wish to teach in Russia without holding a TEFL qualification.

The following companies arrange teaching placements abroad:

• EF: English First 
• Language Link Russia 
• TESall.com 
• Travellers Worldwide 

Volunteering

A number of links to organisations running volunteer projects in Russia can be found at Volunteer Abroad.

Casual work and short-term opportunities

Due to visa regulations and the Russian post-communist work culture, turning up to find casual work in Russia is not recommended, unless you have arranged something in advance.

Gap year opportunities

There are a number of international gap year companies that organise placements in Russia. The Overseas Job Centre has an extensive A-Z list of contacts and articles for gap year opportunities around the world. Real Gap have four schemes in St Petersburg, and Gap Year Directory have opportunities in Russia. Have a look at gap year for more general advice and links to gap year providers.