Overseas Jobs – Relocating Your Career to Another Country

There are many reasons why people choose to find overseas employment. Some want to travel and others are just looking for opportunities. Either way, moving for a new job can be a difficult thing to pull off if you don’t plan it right but with the correct approach, it can also be an incredibly rewarding experience.

In this article we’ll be covering all the basics so you have a jumping off point for your own international career journey. Although this topic goes quite deep, we’ll be trying to give an outline of what the process looks like so that you’re equipped to start digging into your own research.

How To Find a Job in Another Country

Relocating without a job is a very risky thing to do which is why most people aim to secure a role before moving to another country. This isn’t as difficult as you might think but it does require two important things: the right CV, and a fair amount of initiative.

The exact process of getting hired can vary a lot depending on the industry but, as a rule, companies looking to hire internationally are likely to want something they can’t easily get in their own country.

For example, there is some demand for native English speakers to become English teachers – TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language). This is because a native language speaker will, generally, have an experience and understanding of the language that goes a lot deeper than fluency. Most native speakers, whether they realise it or not, will have an understanding of dialects, accents, and culture, as well as the intersection between these things.

That being said, being a native speaker is usually not enough. Even in countries where English isn’t commonly a native language, finding native English speakers is rarely that difficult. What international schools are really looking for is someone who can combine that native experience with excellent teaching skills.

This is why, among TEFL qualifications, CELTA (an intensive course from Cambridge University) is generally regarded as the highest standard you can get. If you’re a native English speaker with a CELTA qualification, then that will open many doors for you in other countries.

But we’re not just saying you need a qualification to get a good job. The key point is specificity. Outside of teaching English, CELTA isn’t all that useful but to the international employers who are looking to take a risk on someone, it proves precise knowledge of the job they’ll be hiring you for.

All of this to say that before applying for any international jobs, take the time to research the specifics of the jobs so that you can build an unbeatable CV. After all, you want to make sure the people hiring you are in no doubt that you’re worth the cost of getting you there.

Contacting Overseas Companies

We mentioned before that finding a job overseas often requires initiative and that’s a point we’d really like to double down on. While there are companies out there who will move heaven and earth for the right candidate, that’s not usually the case. If you want to work overseas, you have to make that happen.

That means being proactive about contacting potential employers, having a clear understanding of which expenses are your responsibility and which are the companies, and not leaving anything up to chance. While you’re at it make sure to research their labour laws as these vary hugely from country to country and it can be easy to get caught off guard if you’re not familiar with the system.

With all that said, try not to panic. While there is a lot that goes into moving internationally, if you take a deep breath and split it up into tasks, it is achievable. Remember to tackle one problem at a time and don’t be afraid to get the help and advice of your support network.

A Few Job Relocation Tips

Lastly, we’d like to mention a few tips for settling in once you’ve found your new job.

The most important thing to remember is that it’s okay to ask questions. If you’re moving to a new country, then you’re almost certainly going to get caught out by something but asking questions is the best way to be prepared. While you’re at it, research the experiences of other people who’ve moved to that country and see what they have to say online.

Secondly, try to embrace the culture and – assuming you’re not already fluent – the local language. Whether you plan to live here long term or short term, sooner or later you’ll have to adapt to something and that process will always be more pleasant if you can find fun in it.

Lastly, and this is a big one – have a return plan. Having to leave a job is one thing but that’s all the harder when returning comes with a massive cost. If you can, make sure to have some emergency savings so that, should things go wrong, you’re not left without a backup.