If you are a native English speaker looking to widen your employment options, it might be time to look abroad. If living and working in another country is something that sounds like an exciting prospect, there are several factors you should take into consideration before making the transition. With the right preparation, research, motivation, and dedication; opportunities for international employment are definitely available to you, and the following are some of them.
Research The Job Market Of Your Destination
Strategic job market research is definitely an essential part of successfully pursuing international employment opportunities. Before even applying for any jobs in another country, you should conduct thorough research of the job market. This means learning about industries and companies that are popular in your destination country, as well as their employment needs. For English natives, the English teaching market might be a good starting point. English teachers can find employment all over the world. For example, English teaching jobs in Israel are very common and you can find plenty of listings on major job websites. English teaching jobs are available to English native speakers of all levels. Including beginner and intermediate English speakers who have no teaching experience.
In Europe, English is actually considered to be a second language, which means that native English speakers are in high demand there. In addition to researching industries and companies in your destination country, you should also research general job market trends such as the job market for English speakers in your destination country. You can do this by looking at online job postings and researching where jobs are bilingual advertised. This will give you a good idea about the general demand for bilingual individuals in your destination country.
Make Sure You Have A Marketable Skillset
Typically, many people who are looking to work abroad have a specific skill set in mind. Examples of these include teaching English, being an accountant, or working within the medical profession. If you have one of these or similar skills it will definitely help your chances when applying for jobs, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s all you need to become employed.
There are other skills that can be beneficial too, such as computer programming or marketing. Whatever your skillset, it’s important to be able to demonstrate and sell yourself as a valuable asset; something that is made easier by having an abundance of relevant experience.
Upgrade Your Resume And Other Documents
Once you’ve conducted strategic job market research and understand which industries and companies are hiring English native speakers, it’s time to make sure that your resume is looking good enough for them to actually take notice. Depending on the industry, you may need to tailor your resume for each job opportunity. If there are any particular skills mentioned in the job posting that you don’t have on your current resume, make sure to include them.
Additionally, check all of your other documents such as cover letters and reference pages to make sure they are up to par with international standards. Employers in other countries usually have different expectations about what a good resume looks like so it’s important to research these before applying.
Search For Job Opportunities Abroad
Once your resume and other documents are ready to go, it’s time to start applying for some jobs. It may be difficult at first because you won’t have any experience with the application process of foreign companies. Don’t give up. If you’re having trouble figuring out how to apply, search online for job postings in your destination country.
It’s a good idea to apply for a few different jobs just in case your first choice doesn’t work out. In the future, it might be worth investing in a subscription to some international job databases. So that you can easily apply for jobs with just a click of a button. These job databases often charge one-time fees and then give you access to thousands of international jobs. Which can be very helpful when searching for employment abroad.
Employers Abroad Are Looking For Dedicated Workers
When it comes to applying for jobs in other countries, you need to think about your motivation. Do you just want a change for the sake of a change? Or is it because life at home isn’t pleasant? The latter will certainly help when it comes to getting employed abroad, as employers are often looking for people who are dedicated to making something of themselves. Consequently, if your motivation is coming from a desire to make drastic changes in your life, you will be putting yourself at an advantage.
If you follow these tips, pursuing a foreign career should be a smooth process. Remember to always start with researching the job market of your destination country, then research where it is best to look for jobs abroad before you apply. Your resume should be up-to-date and tailored to each individual position, all documents should be ready to go, and applying should only take a few minutes once you know how each employer processes applications. By doing this, you can quickly jump on any opportunities that arise abroad.
