There’s no denying that social media has become everybody’s favorite communication tool these days. Almost everybody is using it to keep up with the lives of their loved ones and strangers alike. Through these platforms, we’re able to witness where people are vacationing, what they’re eating and wearing, and can even interact with them by sending them a like or comment. But let’s be honest. Sometimes when we see a former schoolmate post something about how they’re moving to another country for a job, our feelings of admiration can come with a side of envy. If you’ve ever witnessed someone finding a job abroad and living the life you’ve always envisioned for yourself, don’t lose hope. Instead, use it as an opportunity to realize that you are just as capable of making your dreams come true. If they can do it, so can you. You just need to be aware of what the road ahead looks like.
First Steps to Finding a Job Abroad
Maybe you want to learn a new language, or further your education or career abroad. Or perhaps you just want to add some excitement to your life by living in another country. If this is the case, and you’re trying to find a job abroad by sending out your resume to international companies, we’re sorry to say you could be waiting a long time. It’s not enough to take the same steps you would follow if you were looking for a job locally if you want to work abroad. If you’re wondering what more needs to be done, let’s take a look at the list together.
Learn about the living and working conditions of the country you want to move to
Deciding to move to another country without doing the proper financial research is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. First and foremost, you need to find out what the minimum wage of that country is. Then, you need to learn about average rent fees, utility fees and the monthly cost of living to plan a budget.
Calculating your expenses realistically will help you understand the salary you should ask for when applying for a job abroad. This way, you’ll avoid the risk of taking a job that doesn’t cover your expenses just to live abroad and you won’t be stuck for money a mere two months after making the big move.
Research job opportunities
It’s possible to fall in love with a country just because of its cultural heritage, historical monuments, or level of development. But those are not the only factors to consider when planning to move abroad. Job opportunities have a big impact on whether that dream can become a reality. The country you’re moving to needs to be offering career opportunities in your field or specialization so you can work and further your professional goals there. You’ll need to lay the groundwork by finding out where the companies related to your field are located and what their headcount capacities look like.
Make sure your diplomas and certificates are recognized in that country
Having a good education, earning a college diploma, getting certifications, and attending seminars undoubtedly play a big role in advancing your career. It’s important to keep in mind however that your diplomas and certificates might not be recognized everywhere abroad. You’ll need to look into whether your credentials are recognized abroad ahead of time so that you can attend training to get your resume up to par if necessary.
Find out everything you can about work visas
Let’s say everything is going according to plan. A company reviewed your job application, you had an interview online and they told you they want to offer you the position. Have you considered whether you’ll be able to fulfill all the requirements to get a work visa in that country? To avoid being caught off guard at the last moment, make sure to look into the documents and qualifications required to obtain a work visa in the country you’re considering moving to, and the validity period of the work visas they offer before applying for a job there.
Prepare an English Resume
Your resume should include details about your education and work experience and present you as a competent person that a job provider would want to hire. But no matter how good your resume is and how many qualifications you list on it, if you’re applying for a job abroad, the company will likely not be able to review it unless it’s in English. That’s why you’ll need to prepare a well-written English resume. Let’s be realistic. It’s highly unlikely that an international company will want to hire someone who isn’t able to put together a job application in English.
Improve your English
It’s impossible for one person to learn all the languages that exist. That’s why it’s crucial for you to be able to communicate in English, the most widely spoken language, no matter where you might be thinking of moving to in the world. Your English-speaking skills will show international companies that you’re as hardworking as you are talented and put you ahead of the competition in the job market. It’s a struggle for colleagues to work with someone who cannot express themselves properly, or with whom colleagues cannot effectively communicate.
A lot of accomplished people with high-reaching goals are afraid to take that next big step in their careers because they feel they can’t improve their English skills. Cambly offers online English lessons with tutors who are native speakers so you can practice your language skills to advance your career. You can choose a course geared towards learning business English so you feel prepared for a life working abroad!
Find out if the company you’re currently working for has divisions in other countries
Make the process easier for yourself by first looking into the opportunities offered by the company you currently work for. Find out if your current company or the companies you worked for in the past have divisions abroad and if they do, let them know that you’d be willing to transfer. After all, how great would it be if you could move abroad without having to give up your position in the company you’ve gotten to know so well over the years? Your proposal to transfer abroad would show your employers that you’re a trustable and ambitious employee and strengthen your relationship with them. And if they ended up offering you a position elsewhere, it would be a win-win for both sides.
Ask your friends who live abroad for recommendation letters
If you were applying to a job locally, all you’d need to do would be to send your resume and wait for the company to get back to you with an answer. But that’s not enough when you’re applying for a job abroad. Even if your resume shows that you’ve worked for prominent companies in your country and you have excellent references, international companies who don’t know your country well won’t be able to discern much by reviewing it. The best way to leave a good and lasting impression on employers abroad would be to show them recommendation letters written by friends of yours who live in the country you’re planning on moving to, or even, ideally, work at the company you’re applying for a job at.
Even if the people you know abroad work outside your professional field, you should try your chances and ask them for recommendation letters. We suggest that you explore all your options. You could try asking friends of friends, acquaintances, or people you know through social media, for instance. At the end of the day, anything personally written about you will have a greater impact than a resume simply sent online.
Sign up to widely used international job sites
By signing up to international job sites, you can keep up to date with the job opportunities that open up worldwide and connect with professionals living in other countries. Broadening your network will give you access to more new and exciting job opportunities. What matters most is creating a good profile for yourself on the platforms. And the key to a good profile is to include a description of who you are, the profession you specialize in and what your past work experience has been in clear and coherent English. Add to that a professional-looking profile picture, and you’ll see that in no time, new opportunities will be knocking at your door.
In today’s world, one can’t even follow current trends without a good command of the English language, let alone find a job abroad. Open yourself up to new horizons. Take a step towards unlocking more job opportunities and turning your dreams into a reality by learning English with Cambly.
