A Beginner’s Guide to Exploring Work Abroad Opportunities

Why Your Next Job should be Abroad

Think of how you would start your day walking through the bamboo forest in the city of Kyoto or working with your colleagues in a busy technological center in Berlin. A global career is not a mere dream to many people, but it is a tested and true way of fast-tracking professional development and unparalleled life experience.
The advantages are obvious: research indicates that those who have international experience tend to score their self-confidence as high, adaptability in a variety of workplaces (Source: AIFS Study Abroad Outcomes) and have more chances of getting a job faster. Are you ready to take the leap? This step-by-step guide is an action-based guide that will offer a successful job-searching roadmap to this beginner in an overseas country.

A Beginner’s Guide to Exploring Work Abroad Opportunities

International Employment Strategy Planning

Strategic planning is the initial phase in search of overseas jobs. It is not merely about where you would like to be; rather it is where your skills are needed the most.

Learn the Logistics of Your Target Location

To select the most suitable countries to work in abroad, there is always the need to have a balance of career needs and relevant logistics.
Comparison of Cost of Living: Salaries do not lie high. The cost of living is extremely high in cities such as Hong Kong or Zurich, particularly in the housing area.1 In contrast, more affordable places can be found in Southeast Asia or the regions of Eastern Europe, and these places may further increase the length of your paycheck.
Expat Community: The local expat community is an area where research can be very helpful to give tips on everything including accommodation in the foreign country to local bureaucracy.
Repatriation: It is a step that is yet to be undertaken but when planning on returning to your home country, reflect on how such an international job will appear on your CV ( Repatriation).
Global CV Style: Leave your domestic resume rules behind. Most nations, especially in Europe, favor a succinct and skill focused format of the International CV and can omit personal information such as photographs or marital status in order to meet local employment regulations.
Cover Letter to International Job: This is where you can clearly state your visa situation (e.g. I have a valid Working Holiday Visa that allows 12 months of stay) or if you are trying to become employer-sponsored.
Foreign Degree Equivalency: You might be called upon to have your academic credentials evaluated so as to be Foreign degree equivalent to the standards required in the country where you are to work.

Financial and Practical Logistics

When you get a job opportunity, start working on the logistics to make a temporary trip a long time experience as an expat.

Safe Financial and Health Protection

Safety is a step, which needs financial and health planning.
International Bank Account: Study local banking facilities and management of Foreign currency exchange. A salary account will be required locally.
Tax Implications of Working Abroad: Learn your Tax implications of working abroad. You can still owe filing in home country and you may enjoy a Double taxation treaty between the home country and the new country so that you are not taxed on the same income twice.
You must not just depend on the local public health system before you are enrolled. Get a strong International health insurance cover during your initial few months

Take into account Diverse Opportunities (Beyond the Office)

Not-so-corporate transfer: In case the change of ownership is not a possibility, consider the following entry-level options:
Teaching English Abroad (TEFL/TESOL): By far the most available option to native and fluent English speakers, particularly in Asia and Latin America.
Au Pair: This is a cultural exchange program with a childcare in which the applicants receive free finding accommodation in a foreign country and a stipend.
Remote Work Abroad / Digital Nomad Visa: Can your current job be remote? In that case, Digital nomad visa (provided by countries such as Portugal, Costa Rica, and Indonesia) where you can work in their country would be good.

Managing the Cross-Cultural Interview

Have a readiness to talk about your global mentality.
Cross-Cultural Interview: Hiring managers seek flexibility and cultural acumen. Be prepared to provide examples of how you managed a difficult situation in a new setting or how you managed someone of a different world. One of your distinguishing features is the resilience that you exhibit.

FAQs

How can a beginner be able to acquire jobs in other countries?

The simplest option would be programs such as Working Holiday Visa (WHV) to eligible countries or finding a Teaching English Abroad (TEFL/TESOL) job, because they have less entry barriers compared to corporate jobs that need employer sponsorship.

What are the documents required in conducting a background check when seeking international employment?

Generally, you will require some attested copies of your educational degrees, a clear criminal report in your country of origin, and perhaps, an Apostille stamp to validate the documents to be used in a foreign country.

What do I do to get accommodation in a foreign country before I go there?

Use temporary accommodation (Airbnbs, short-term rentals, or host families, particularly host families in the case of Au Pair jobs) during your initial 4-6 weeks. This will enable you to see the properties physically, which is essential to prevent frauds and becomes more a part of the expat community.

Conclusion

The experience of working in a foreign country is one that cannot be matched and improves your profession and even change your outlook. With this seven-step guide, you would no longer be in the dreaming-overseas-job-search stage, but would be actually implementing a professional, and SEO-optimized, job-search-overseas.

Job Disclaimer

Job and Visa Warning: This article is unprofessional and should not replace the advice of a professional lawyer or immigration consultant. The requirements of work visa and work permit application keep on varying. Do not make any career or relocation decision until you have verified it with the official government sites, embassies or even a qualified immigration lawyer in your target country. The labor market statistics are changeable.