Archive for the 'Working Abroad' Category
This is Part 4 in a series on “Working Abroad.” In this series, we’ve examined the possibility of jobs abroad and highlighted some practical steps to aid an overseas career. Be sure to check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
If you’re thinking about working abroad, you cannot forget a crucial step: complying with the law. Countries have immigration laws that regulate people coming and going. Most countries regularly allow visitors, but actually working in another country is more complicated. This final “Working Abroad” post gives you some points to consider.
Start early
Paperwork takes time. Even if you land a great job in another country, you cannot legally work there until your paperwork is cleared. If you don’t start the paperwork until the day before you leave, you are asking for trouble.
Thus, as you think about potential work opportunities, also look at the country’s temporary work requirements. Find out how long it usually takes to process the paperwork. Give yourself plenty of time to get everything completed and approved.
Countries vary
Part of what makes this step difficult is that countries have varying requirements. For example, if you’re a citizen of a full European Union member country, you can work in another full EU member country for up to three months without any paperwork.
Aside from the EU, most countries will have varying fees and processes for obtaining your paperwork. The key is just to do your homework and understand what you need to do.
Fortunately, most countries have websites where you can find the pertinent information. Here are just a few such sites: Australia, Canada, and United States. You could also obtain information by calling or writing to the destination country’s consulate in your own country.
Get a sponsor company
In most countries, the easiest way to get a work visa is to have a company sponsor you. Countries usually favor this type of arrangement, since it shows a specific need for your talents in the country. Also, you will already have a job once you arrive in the country.
If you find a job with a foreign company (or a foreign office of a domestic company), you will already have a sponsorship lined up. Without a sponsor, you will just have to apply on your own. But it can still be done!
Plan ahead
The biggest thing to remember is to plan ahead. Do your research, find out what you need, and figure out a way to get it. There are many great online resources out there, as well resources in your local library. Utilize what you find. You’ll be on your way to a career overseas in no time!
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This is Part 3 in a series on “Working Abroad.” In this series, we’ll examine the possibility of jobs abroad and highlight some practical steps to aid an overseas career. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2.
At this point you’ve seen why a job overseas might be good for you, and we’ve looked at a couple cool jobs that you might consider.
Now it’s time to get to the meat of working abroad. How do you find a job?
Work remotely for a domestic company
We already covered part of this idea in the series, but it merits repeating. If you already work remotely, you might be able to simply move to another country for a little while. Definitely talk with your employer about this, but they might not mind, depending upon your work needs.
If you don’t currently have a telecommuting job, perhaps you could find one. There are numerous companies these days who are seeking qualified and talented candidates, regardless of their location. If you land a job with flexible location requirements, this might be your ticket to living abroad.
Foreign offices of domestic companies
Another easy route to take would be finding large domestic companies who have foreign offices. Many times these companies will consider relocating job candidates, if they fit the company’s needs abroad.
For this type of job, your best bets are to work on your professional networking, let people know what you are seeking, and search out potential opportunities on job boards. It may take a little while to find a job of this nature, but the rewards are worth it.
Find a teaching job
If you are a teacher looking for work abroad, you’re in luck. There is a huge array of teaching opportunities in other countries.
One notable opportunity for teachers is to teach your native language to people in another country. Obviously you’ll need to speak the destination country’s language as well. There is a great Canadian website that specializes in helping Canadians find this type of work (although it would probably help any English speaker). There is also another comprehensive site for English speakers in general.
Contract work overseas
If you have experience in construction, engineering, or other similar fields, companies may need your help abroad. In fact, there are job boards specifically for overseas contractors.
One comprehensive site to check out is Road Techs, which has an extensive overseas job board. Based on a quick look, this site is updated very often, and there a lots of jobs to peruse.
Do some searching
This post is not meant to list every type of job you could find in another country. It is meant to show you that for most any skill set, you can find overseas opportunities. Do a little searching online, and you’ll be amazed and what you find.
Be sure to check back for Part 4, where we’ll cover tips on getting visas and other paperwork for working abroad. To easily read future job and career tips, subscribe to Job Tuition by email or RSS.
This is Part 2 in a series on “Working Abroad.” In this series, we’ll examine the possibility of jobs abroad and highlight some practical steps to aid an overseas career. Be sure to check out Part 1.
In the first part of this series, we discussed why you might consider an overseas job. Now, we’re going to talk about several interesting avenues you might pursue.
Telecommute around the world
Telecommuting is definitely not new to today’s society. Many employees work remotely with companies all around the world. With technology continually advancing, employees can commute from virtually anywhere.
If you’re lucky enough to be a telecommuter, you already have a global job in your hands. That’s right, you can take your job on the road.
Perhaps you’ve already done some work while on vacation. Why not pick up and work across the globe for six months?
Here are a couple of many things to consider:
- Permission - Be sure to clear the arrangement with your supervisor. You don’t want her to find out when you’re already in another country.
- Connectivity - You’ll need to work and communicate. A good solution might be wireless internet access (hotspots, net cafes, etc) and VoIP (like Skype).
- Backups - These are important at home, but essential on the road. Your equipment is at risk every day, so protect it with backups.
For more thoughts, check out this article at World Hum.
Be a freelance journalist
News happens all around the world. There’s work for journalists in many places. That’s a prime benefit to a journalism career.
Being a freelance journalist is similar to telecommuting in many ways. You’ll be working on the road and communicating remotely. Thus, many of the previous considerations apply.
However, freelance journalists also frequently end up in harm’s way. This especially applies to journalists seeking to cover war, disasters, and other turmoil.
For this reason, it’s important for journalists to have an extra eye on security and safety. This means knowing the region you’re in, planning ahead, and letting friends know these plans.
There are definitely other considerations for freelance journalists, so do your homework. Poynter Online has a great article to get you started.
Be sure to check back for Part 3, where we’ll cover a huge list of job boards with opportunities abroad. To easily read future updates in this series, subscribe to Job Tuition by email or RSS.
This is Part 1 in a series on “Working Abroad.” In this series, we’ll examine the possibility of jobs abroad and highlight some practical steps to aid an overseas career.
In today’s society, everything is global. We travel internationally. We instantly communicate around the world. Why shouldn’t your career be global as well?
Think globally
The first step in considering a job abroad is to think globally. You need to get out of the mindset that jobs and careers are limited to your own country, wherever that may be.
With today’s proliferation of global corporations, this mental shift might not be too difficult. Simply realize and understand that, regardless of your ultimate career path, you can find an overseas opportunity in your field.
Expand your horizons
The primary reason to seek a job abroad is to expand your overall experience. This type of experience will be on-the-job and cultural, so it will enhance your resume even more.
Your global cultural experience provides a great addition to other work experience, as well as your formal education. Employers definitely like to see candidates with knowledge of other cultures, given today’s global marketplace.
Enjoy yourself
Aside from these career benefits, many jobs abroad allow travel and personal enjoyment of the area in which you are working. If you play your cards right, you might be able to travel a signifiant amount on weekends or during short work vacations.
And this is not even considering the enjoyment you can get from immersing yourself in another culture, trying to learn the language, and understanding another way of life. Plus, the photos you will have contain a million memories!
Learn what to do
Now that you’ve got an overseas job in mind, it’s time to do your homework. Fortunately, you’re already reading a great resource: Job Tuition. This series will explain a few different job options overseas, as well as providing some information on work visas and other formalities.
In the meantime, there’s a great article at The New York Times on this subject. But don’t forget to come back, since we’ll have more details for you in the next installment of “Working Abroad.”
To easily read future updates in this series, subscribe to Job Tuition by email or RSS.
