Ways To Work Abroad
Have you become tired of your surroundings? You know that there is a whole world out there that you have not explored… You want to just drop everything and go see the world? Well it sounds like you have come to the right place!
Working abroad is one of the best ways to start a new chapter in your life. It is a great way to explore the world of course and meet new people from all walks of life.
While most people dream of moving abroad it is not always easy. There are a lot of barriers that could prevent someone from working abroad including visa types, nationalities, financing, to name a few.
Other reasons include the failure to properly plan for such a big move because after all you are looking to relocate to a whole new country! That is a big step in itself and can be quite overwhelming and daunting. You therefore need to make yourself familiar with everything you need to prepare before making such a move.
If you are eager to move abroad but you have not figured out how you can make this monumental decision in your life, then you have nothing to worry about!
We have created a whole list of ways to work abroad. We hope that this will clear any anxieties that you may have and that it helps achieve your dream of working abroad!
The Best Ways To Work Abroad
Go Abroad As A Teacher
Rated as one of the most satisfying jobs, teaching is an extremely popular profession that will increase your chances of moving abroad. Teaching English especially is one that is common and always in hot demand in countries around Asia. It is also one of the best ways to work abroad!
Being an English teacher will allow you to essentially work with people from all sorts of backgrounds. It is especially one of the best ways to work abroad in Asia in particular, as the demand for English teachers is always high so native English speakers from countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK have a strong chance of landing a teaching job at a local school.
The best part about being a teacher in Asian countries is that it is considered a quite relaxing job and you get compensated handsomely. Not only that but a lot of things, especially visa related stuff are sorted out for you. So you really don’t have to worry about all of that as it is taken care of. Some schools may even provide you accommodation but this will of course depend on the school and country you are in.
Landing a job as a teacher is not difficult either. Most schools require you to have a TEFL certificate which you can even do online. Most schools do prefer it if you are a native speaker from a country whose primary language is English of course but this should not stop you from applying. If anything, other languages such as Spanish, German, and Mandarin to name a few are also in hot demand. So if you speak any other language, this is considered golden and one of the best ways to work abroad!
If you are passionate about teaching, then it sounds like it could be a career path for you. After all, it is one of the most common and best ways to work abroad.
Internships Abroad
Internships are also one of the best ways to work abroad. Not only do they allow you to explore the world but they also help you gain valuable work experience. Internships are especially useful in building up your CV with relevant work experience.
In today’s ever-competitive world, recruiter and employers are looking for things on your CV that help you stand out from the rest of the crowd. Doing an internship abroad may be one of those things because you learn a lot from doing an internship abroad in comparison to your home country. You will learn to adapt to a new culture and work environment, you gain a global and multicultural mindset, cultural exposure and various other relevant skills that employers look for.
As we mentioned earlier, recruiters and employers value relevant experience over anything. Doing an internship abroad could be that “wow factor” that could help your CV stand out.
On another note, doing an internship in a country you want to live in is especially helpful as it will also help you gain valuable insight and experience of what it is like to live there. Throughout your internship you will learn a lot and trust us, you will grow tremendously both personally and professionally.
Who knows? If you like the company you are interning at and you make a good impression there is a good chance that they might offer you a full-time position too. Internships really are one of the best ways to move abroad!
If you are looking to work abroad through an internship, then we have got you covered. We advise you to check our website to see all our locations and industries on offer!
Take A Giant Leap Of Faith
One of the best ways to move abroad is to “go with the flow”. That is to move abroad and then find work. This one is considered to be a daredevil move and one that requires you to take risks but it absolutely is possible to firstly move abroad and find work afterwards.
Pick a destination, sort out your visa, flights and accommodation and off you go! When you want to work abroad, one thing you have to take into consideration is that recruiters will always prioritize those who are living in the location where the position is situated. So to diminish that disadvantage you may have over others, move to that location and find jobs while you are there.
While this is easier said than done, you do really increase your chances of finding a job if you are situated in the same location as the position you are applying for. Worse comes to worse, if your visa runs out, you could always do a border run or leave the country and reapply for the right visa so you have no problems entering the country again.
Again, this move is not for the faint hearted and it does require a lot of risks because there is no guarantee that you will find a job when you move abroad. It could take weeks if not months therefore you really have to have a backup plan if it does not work out! Despite this, it is still one of the best ways to move abroad and there are no rewards without taking risks!
Volunteering and Work Exchange
A work exchange and volunteering are also one of the best ways to work abroad. In a work exchange, you essentially work and in exchange you most commonly receive sorted accommodation and food. Work exchange is especially common in countries such as Australia where many people go down under as a form of work exchange by working in the fields.
Volunteering on the other hand is also an extremely popular way to work abroad. There are tons of volunteering opportunities all over the world. While volunteering opportunities are typically not paid, you do get a lot of satisfaction and reward out of them. Most volunteering opportunities involve helping underprivileged people. There really is a sense of reward and accomplishment when you feel like you have made a positive difference to someone’s life.
Both volunteering and work exchanges are one of the best ways to work abroad. Plus this experience can be used in your CV as well that will help you stand out from the crowd. Remember, any experience is good, even more so if it is relevant to the position you are applying for!
There are other great ways to work abroad. These include studying a language abroad, becoming an Au Pair, doing seasonal work opportunities, contracting jobs, remote working, using a work holiday visa and countless others. The options are endless and it is up to you which path is fit for you and which one you would like to explore. Remember, some opportunities are not available everywhere so really do think about where you want to go and what you could do to get there!
Checklist To Consider
Where Do You Want To Go?
After discovering what ways you could work abroad we have to dive deeper into the checklist you need to consider. After all, you want to be as prepared as you possibly can when you take this giant leap in your life. We have compiled a checklist you need to consider when you want to work abroad.
First thing is first to work abroad, you need to decide where you want to go. This is not as easy as spinning a globe and pointing at a random location (unless you are that spontaneous of course). You actually need to put in some time and think about where you want to live. You should really research about moving to a particular country or city. Consider the pros and cons of moving there. We recommend you make a pros and cons list and note down points you consider to be important.
If you are going to a place for the first time ever, we suggest reading some blogs or watching videos of what it is like to live in that particular city/country. It is always better to visit the place before you can so you can gain your own perspective and only you can decide whether you can vibe with it and see yourself living there. Careful thought and consideration is needed!
Pick A Job
Next comes one of the most important pieces to the puzzle, which is what kind of job are you looking to do. Your job choice will somewhat impact your destination in the end as well. For example, teaching English is an extremely popular job that enables you to work abroad. As mentioned, countries in Southeast Asia in particular are always in demand for English teachers. If your dream is to become a teacher, then you have to consider which countries are particularly attractive to you.
Chances are your job preference may not always meet your location. This is something you have to be aware of as well. Therefore, when you have noted down a country or city you would like to move to, research whether the kind of job you would like to pursue is even in demand in the same area. If not, then you might have to make compromises or rethink your location or your job preferences.
“It’s All About The Money, Money, Money”
When you want to work let alone move abroad you have to plan your finances. The last thing you want is to be stranded in a country as a result of poor financing and there is nothing worse than feeling like you are being a nuisance by asking your parents or friends to help you out while you are abroad.
It is therefore highly recommended that you plan your finances well ahead of time. Do some research on what the costs of living in your new country/city is like. Research what rent is like, transportation, insurance and all everyday essentials. We suggest you make a spreadsheet that highlights all these costs so that you know what you need to essentially survive when you move abroad. It is always better to have more than too little!
Where Will You Be Staying?
Next is you need to research where you will be staying. Will you be staying with a friend or family member first before moving into your own place? Will you be staying in an Airbnb or will you be hostel hopping? You need to be aware of all of this in your long list of “things to consider” when moving abroad.
Firstly, you need to ask yourself what your plan is? When people move abroad, especially when traveling they will be staying in multiple places. Will you be doing the same or will you stay in one place?
If you are staying in one place you could potentially start off first by staying in a hotel, Airbnb or hostel. These are always popular options for travelers that go abroad. We suggest you research some places before you travel online and bookmark properties that are of interest to you. Unfortunately you do not have the luxury of actually visiting the place to have a look for yourself so it can feel like a “box of chocolates”, you do not know what you will get essentially.
However, you can if you decide to stay in a hotel, Airbnb or hostel for the first few days. You could potentially schedule viewings in your first few days if you do not trust the photos on the internet.
The moral of accommodation hunting essentially is to sort yourself out with some form of accommodation for the first few days. It is of course always better to check out properties in person so do a little research and note down properties you want to see. Make an appointment and hopefully they are as good if not better than what the internet advertises!
Visa’s And Employment Sponsorships
Something you need to consider as well before you work abroad is whether a visa is required for you to move there as well as an employment sponsorship. This will largely depend on the passport you are holding of course.
We highly recommend that you research the visa requirements of the country or city you are planning to move to. Check whether you need a sponsorship from your employee as well for you to settle there. Some countries including the likes of Australia, New Zealand and South Korea offer people Work Holiday Visas. This type of visa is a great way to work abroad as they allow you to work whilst you are on holiday and some are valid for as long as two years!
Some embassies may also recommend you travel to a particular country on a certain visa. The reason being is that some visas are easier to convert than others into a work visa. For example in Thailand, a lot of people who come here to work enter the country on a tourist visa. This visa can easily be changed into a non-immigrant B work visa.
Our suggestion is to research what the right visa is and whether you need a sponsorship from your employee as well. Each country will differ of course and as mentioned it will also rely on the passport you are holding. All valuable information can be found online or by contacting the embassy of the country you are planning to visit.
Applying For A Visa
Continuing on from our previous point, there is a high chance that you need to apply for a visa. Visa procedures can be easy but they can also feel like the most stressful thing in the world. In order to avoid the stress you really need to research what you need to prepare.
What you need to prepare will really depend on the country you are planning to go to as well as your nationality. Most visa’s of course include you to take recent passport photos, address of where you will be staying, bank statement showing sufficient funds, a retour ticket and employment letter. As mentioned, this will differ but this is the standard for what most embassies expect you to prepare when applying for a visa.
We strongly advise you to visit the embassy of the country you are applying to or research the necessary information online on their website.
Updating Your Resume
When you want to work abroad, your resume will obviously play a key part in helping you land a job. It is therefore important that you update your resume. Updating your resume is important because it allows employers to see all your latest and relevant experiences. You do not want to include anything that may be deemed outdated.
Remember: your resume needs to be tailored to each position. Employers and recruiters read hundreds if not thousands of resumes everyday so you want to make sure you stand out. They can usually tell just by skimming at your resume for roughly three seconds whether you are a perfect fit or not. So you really need to stand out especially if it's a competitive position and the fact that you will most likely be applying from abroad.
When you are applying for a particular position, you want to highlight relevant experiences that you possess that are relevant. You need to shine a spotlight on these because that is what recruiters will be looking for, whether you have any relevant experience. Highlight what you have accomplished in that experience so recruiters get an idea of what value you could potentially bring. Chances are if you land an interview (we pray you do), they will likely ask about your role and responsibilities in that relevant experience.
