Put Some Thought Into Working Abroad
Lots of people are now looking for jobs across the globe in the hope of improving their professional knowledge and expand on their experiences from around the world. In response to the financial crises, over the years, that hindered a lot of people, more of us are looking for work in fast emerging markets, such as the Middle East, India, Eastern Europe and China. The benefits of working internationally can be incredibly useful and helpful, but in order to secure a job overseas, you will need to think properly about whether it is the right thing for you.
Do your research.
Like looking for any form of employment, doing solid research is vital. You should take the time to look at the economic, political and cultural structure and viability of each place you are thinking of moving to, as well as how working abroad will affect your family life, social life and finances.
Doing proper, in depth research on a foreign market is essential. You definitely must understand the country’s cultural habits, laws of employment and any language barriers or requirements. For example, you shouldn’t move somewhere where working an 80 hour week is the norm, and you’re not prepared to do it. In Japan, for example, the working week is from Sunday through until Thursday; weekends are classed as Friday and Saturday instead of the normal Saturday and Sunday weekends. You should prepare for your personal life to change dramatically, too. If you were to move from a big city like New York to a smaller city, like Cardiff or Edinburgh, you should be prepared to find a lot of close earlier on Sundays and some shops are closed on Monday mornings.
Doing careful and meticulous research on the visas and work permits required for each foreign country is also essential, and you should do it as early as you can, even before you apply for a position. If you don’t already have a visa, your application may not even be considered in some international jobs. Some companies can only offer you employment, if they can prove that there is no one suitable who already has a visa – and that’s a difficult task.
Your networks can be an advantage.
When trying to find out things you need to know, you can access a lot of it from English-language newspapers for expatriates, such as the Bangkok Post in Thailand, and also – of course – from the web and libraries. However, seeking advice from friends or family with experience of a country – whether they’ve traveled there or have property there – is invaluable. To get a good picture of a country, speak to other expatriates working at jobs similar to the one you are looking for. Also, don’t underestimate the power of social media in helping you with your search – such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram can provide great answers.
Another good idea is to check with the alumni network of the university or college you want to. Most should be able to supply good connections.
Ensure your job application stands out.
Once you have made the decision on what employers you would like to work for, and what country you would like to move to, put together an application that will be different and stand out from the rest. Carefully look at the essential skills section and make sure you possess them. There tends to be a consistency in skills employers seek all over the world. All businesses obviously want brilliant people working for them who are good communicators and possess strong analytical ability; can manage teams of people well and show potential to be a good leader. It is important to be honest about your oral and written language skills, in the country’s native tongue as you will get found out at the interview stage if you have fabricated any of these skills.
Be aware of the differences in job application processes across the world, particularly regarding personal information. Your application will potentially get a chance of being more successful if it has a local address or a date of arrival, if, say, you’re applying from London for a job in Amsterdam. Even if you simply connect with someone local (a friend of a friend, or an acquaintance for example) to use their home address, you’ll have more of a chance of a successful job application like local job candidates.
Take the time to prepare properly for your interview.
After you have successfully got through to the interview stage, you should still be prepared to do some more research. This will help to prevent uncomfortable surprises. For example, in Japan your interview may consist of a dinner with potential colleagues, so they can learn more about you on an informal level before actually properly interviewing you. In the UK you could be asked to take part in an assessment exercise involving role-playing, dealing with case studies and tests about what you would do in an emergency.
In any country, the first interview may take place the phone. Even if you are not meeting the interviewer in person, it may be a good idea to dress for the interview anyway. You could stand up when you speak, enable your voice to be strong and confident, and smile. This could help your self-esteem. Be sure to show you are flexible and you possess the ability to fluidly adapt to new environments.
Consider the practicalities.
Finally, ensure that you are absolutely ready for the move. Even if you’re going to a country where the same language is spoken, you’ll encounter differences in everyday life that require you to be flexible. Wherever you end up, try to relax and enjoy the different way of life.
Working in an unfamiliar country can be both an advantage to your professional expansion as well as acting as an individual learning and growth experience. Lots of people choose to move abroad and work on both a temporary and a permanent basis. The choice to become an expatriate should not be taken frivolously as there is a major degree of research and preparation required in order for your move to be triumphant.
Other than the way of life, you also need to consider the working conditions and labor laws of your destination country. It may have practices and traditions different from those in your home country. Do check the labor policies, including mandated benefits, compensation laws, work hours, and compulsory preemployment drug testing and other health checks. Knowing these things beforehand will help you prepare for working in a foreign country and for a foreign employer.
What You Will Need
Access to the internet
You should summarize your outlook for a potential international job. Make a decision on how long you want to work for, what countries you would think about working in and whether you would like to work in your present type of profession or whether you would like to try something diverse.
You should explore the different visa selections for foreign workers in each country you are attracted by. If the existing company you work for has an office in an additional country, try to speak to the HR department about a possible transfer. You must either get hold of a visa that allows you to work lawfully in a country before you can advance or find a company who will fund (or partly fund) your relocation to another country with the purpose of working.
Make your mind up on the country in which you want to work and select the visas you will be appropriate for. You do not have to automatically find a job before you move but this will depend on the type of work visa you are submitting an application for. If the visa you will apply for entails you to find a job first, it is a good idea to commence the job search procedure.
Look for job openings abroad using online job search engines or company position listings or get in touch with recruiters who specialize in international hiring. Organize your resume and propose it to the recruiters or submit an application for jobs you are interested in. If the jobs that interest you necessitate you to get a visa first, contact the immigration office of the country you want to move to and apply for the required visa by following the application procedure the country has.
Wait for replies to your job applications. You may be asked to take part in phone interviews or travel to the country to be interviewed in person. Once you obtain a job offer or your visa application is accepted, you can arrange to move to the foreign country.
Many countries offer short-term work visas such as working holiday visa programs. This is a popular way for young people to work overseas for short periods of time to subsidize travel or to give working in a particular foreign country a trial run. It is vital to do your research before settling on moving to to a foreign country to work because the procedure can be costly and time-consuming.
Do not work in a foreign country without gaining the required work permits or visa. It is against the law in most countries and can result in your deportation and further penalties including barring periods from the country. If you are forbidden from a country, it can be proved in your passport and travel documentation and stop you from securing a visa in another country.