5 Tips For Expats Seeking Employment - A Guide

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Guest post contributed by McKenzie Wilson

Expats are for people who love the thrill of exploring new places and moving abroad. Many go to foreign countries for a better life for themselves or their family members, while others do it for the adventure or because they grew bored where they grew up and needed a change.

Thanks to the internet, we are able to choose the right places with the living standards we want to work in. But before hopping on the next flight, learn more about what you can do to acquire a job as an expat. Even if you wish to work in retail jobs, certain information needs to be acquired before moving.

Here are five tips that can help you get started.  

1)   Prepare in Advance

If you are traveling to a country to start looking for a job, it's a good idea to check out the markets to ensure they can fulfill your long term career goals. If you work in tech, there is no sense in choosing a country where there is no market for it since people in STEM tend to go abroad.

It's important to check how your qualifications will transfer or whether you need to re-qualify for anything and understand the requirements for certain jobs such as language considerations and cultural norms of the country, especially in the workforce.

For instance, different countries have different rules of acceptable work ethics. Some countries are more flexible, have fewer professional hierarchies, fewer mandatory work hours, better benefits like health insurance or paid holidays, and have better work-life balance than others.  

Preparing in advance will also help you to identify any skills that could be in shortage in your destination country. By assessing your skillset and analyzing how it may fit in within your destination, you can implement a more targeted expatriate job search.

You can also consider going back to school in order to acquire new skills that are in shortage and this is a great way to get a study visa. Research which skills are scarce in your destination and work hard to gain those skills in order to make yourself marketable.

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You can find this type of information in each Expat Info Desk relocation guide, with each city guide containing comprehensive knowledge of the job markets in popular expatriate destinations and the best methods for conducting your job search.

It’s a great way to help you determine if you need to learn the local language to ensure better roles. Despite English being the language of business throughout the world, many countries may require at least a basic knowledge of the local language. If this is the case, it’ll be better to take language lessons before you leave to communicate with prospective employers.

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2)   Ensure That Appropriate Work Permits and Visas are in Place

The majority of countries will require some work permit, and the application process for this can often be lengthy. Accompanying spouses are able to work on their partner’s visa in some countries, while in others, they can’t. Thoroughly researching the applicable law in your chosen destination will allow you to identify any obstacles you will face in your expatriate job search, and you can begin to plan ahead for how you will have to deal with these. There are international relocation guides that contain comprehensive details of the visa requirements for your chosen destination and provide all the details you need to ensure that you make the correct application at the right time. They also provide insights into common problems expats face when applying for their visas and how to avoid them. Don't plan on just moving abroad without checking visa requirements!

3)   Engage with people in your destination country

Join some Facebook expat groups or online forums to chat with others and ask questions about what it's like to live in the place you'd like to move to. Socializing will increase your chances of finding someone who can hire you. It's a great way to meet people as well.

Talk to whomever you can and ask around if they know anyone who can hire an expat with your qualifications. Many times there are openings at companies that are not advertised and it's possible to find positions via recommendations.

Send your CV speculatively to any friends living in the area and inform them that you are searching for a suitable opportunity.

The more people you tell, the more likely you will become acquainted with someone who can assist you or know someone else who can.

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4)   Research Job Applications and Update Your CV

Every country is unique, specifically in terms of job application processes. Research the proper ways to apply and how to make your CV stand out from the competition.

Be sure to include any certifications and awards you have earned in your career. And customize your CV to reflect your ability to fulfill the requirements of the positions you are exploring.

Make sure you have your CV screened for grammatical errors and formatting before you begin distributing it to employers.

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5)   Be Open to New Career Opportunities

When you relocate to a new country, getting jobs at the same career level will not always be possible as within your home country. You may need to be prepared to take a more junior position, change careers, or get less pay to secure some type of expatriate job as local people will often be favored over foreigners.

This is why being qualified in markets where there are not enough locals (like STEM jobs) or International teaching jobs are helpful.

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Conclusion

Choosing to move to another country is a challenging and life-changing decision. It can also be the best decision you make for yourself, depending on your situation and circumstance. How smoothly the transition will be depends on preparation, determination, and a little bit of luck. Hopefully, this article gave you some insight into how to strive at your new destination and a start at preparing for your new life.

ANDREA HUNT - Online Transformational Life Coach & EFT Tapping Practitioner based in Munich, Germany

I'm an accredited transformational life coach from Animas Centre for Coaching UK  and a member of the International Coaching Federation. I'm also a Level 2 practitioner in EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) and a member of AEFTP (Association of Emotional Freedom Technique Professionals).

If you're not sure where to start transforming your life, you can download my free ebook on How to Start Your Personal Growth Journey.

Are you ready to change your life, let go of old beliefs, empower yourself for a mindset shift to move forward? Mark Batterson says: You're always one decision away from a totally different life.

If you're interested in booking a free 15 minute discovery call for transformational life coaching, EFT Tapping or checking out my services page click here.

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HEADER IMAGE: Taylor Grote