For many, the prospect of finding work abroad seems terrifying. Perhaps you are considering moving to another country, and you are aware you will need to make a living somehow. Or maybe you are merely planning to travel for an extended period of time. In that circumstance, you might be thinking that you’ll need to make a bit of extra cash on the side to keep you going. Or you might need a bit more than that. It all depends on your personal situation. However it is for you, there are a few things you need to consider. Be sure to take the following into account if you are planning to work abroad.
Network Before You Leave
This is an important first step for anyone. Networking before you leave is a sensible thing to do. This is particularly true if you are planning to move home, rather than just go travelling. Start networking as soon as possible, so that you have a solid base to go from. You will soon see that the Internet is your best friend with ventures such as this.
Build Your Language Skills
This might seem obvious, but it is often overlooked. A lot of people find that they try to put this off until the last moment. Too often, they then end up not doing it at all! All this does is creates a headache for yourself. Don’t do it! Be kind to yourself: give yourself a head-start. You don’t need to become a language expert. But remember: picking up some conversational basics will immediately put you ahead in any foreign job market.
Get Work Experience
Again, this needs to be done as soon as possible, ideally before you leave. However, if you don’t have the chance to do that, then at least make sure you get some experience once you’ve moved. The quality of the experience is crucial here. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you need loads and loads of items listed on your CV. One or two high-quality jobs looks better than lots of low-grade ones. Ensure that the experience you get is relevant to what you want to be doing.
Research the Country
If you are planning to move or travel somewhere, it is a good idea to know as much as possible about the culture. This is equally true whether you are planning to find a job in Singapore or the USA. Knowing the country and its customs will help in every single aspect of the job-hunt. So make sure you read up before you travel. And once you’ve arrived, look around at the local museums and place of interest. Get a feel for the place where you will be living. Treat it like home, and it will soon feel like it.
Be Prepared to Teach
A lot of the time, travellers who go looking for work abroad end up teaching. This is no bad thing in itself – teaching is a noble and lucrative career. But if teaching isn’t what you have planned, then be aware that you may end up doing it for a while anyway. That’s okay. Just consider it a necessary stepping stone before you get to your dream job. And remember: don’t stop looking for that job!
