Aspiring Expats: How Does Searching For a Job Abroad Differ from one at Home?

In today's tumultuous marketplace with people losing jobs left and right, many job seekers are either looking outside their own country for new opportunities for the first time, or are finally considering indulging their dream of becoming an expatriate.

As an expat career and personal branding coach, I regularly get questions about how to go about running a job search overseas.  So given the recent increase in inquires on the subject, I thought I'd share some of the differences here.

I think the biggest differences are the obstacles that one has to face in looking for a job in another country that they do not have to face when looking for a job at home.  Reviewing these differences will often "weed out" those who are not really ready to take on what in my estimation is one of the greatest (albiet very challenging at times) adventures in life - living and working abroad.

• Work documentation - Part of securing a job involves also securing a work visa or permit. Most of the time a job offer is required to get this, and usually this involves an organization having to complete paperwork and pay some sort of fee. So being sure your career marketing materials really help you to stand out on- and offline is essential. (Of course, this is not such a problem for everyone. For example, if you happen to be a citizen of an country in the European Union(EU), you have permission to work in other EU countries.)

• Having credentials that are jurisdictional - Your particular credentials may position you as an expert at home, but if they are not recognized in your target country you will have to get creative about how you communicate your value. 

• Language skills - if you only speak your mother tongue, this can limit the number of job opportunities available to you in other countries where your mother tongue is not spoken. If you are an English speaker, as it is the language of business, you will have more opportunities than most monolingual people.

• Demand for skills - Although your skill set may be in great demand where you live, they may not be in your target country. And even if there is demand, if you are competing with country nationals with the same skill sets they will likely get the job over you.

• Cultural Differences - Culture can affect ever single part of the job search - how you access information, networking, job application process and materials, interviewing, salary negotiation and more. The person seeking a job abroad must do their research to make sure that they are clear on what those differences are and respect them at ever step in the process.

• Salary Differences - Salaries in your home country may be much more or much less for the same job in another country.  U.S. salaries are some of the highest in the world, so if you are an American looking to move overseas, you might be surprised with the level of income you can expect. That said, the cost of living in some countries is less than in the U.S. so it does not have to be so much of an issue.

• Finances - Moving abroad is not an inexpensive proposition, especially if you have a family.  If you happen to secure a job overseas, your employer may or may not cover expenses for your relocation. If they do, be sure to educate yourself about what you are able to ask for and learn how to negotiate to maximize your compensation package.  If they don't, you must do your homework and understand what you are committing to if you decide to pay for a relocation on your own.

• Your Network - Most of us over the course of going to school and having work experiences have some sort of a network to start off any job search with at home. If you are looking for a job overseas, you may have absolutely no contacts in your target country.  Given the importance of your network to your job search, and the fact that like Rome networks are not built in a day, you may have to start from scratch on this front. This could require a significant time, energy and possibly financial investment.

• Family - If you are single, the job search overseas can be a challenge.  But if you have a spouse that also wants to work, both of you must overcome these challenges together.

Now almost all of these obstacles can be overcome with the right strategies and approach, but these are real factors one must consider when considering conducting a job search overseas.

YOUR EXPAT SUCCESS TIP: Are you an aspiring expat considering a job abroad?  Review each of these items and identify how you will address each of them as part of your overall job search plan.

Comments

[Emmanuelle Archer]

Thank you for this post Megan- a checklist and a reality check wrapped into one.

It always saddens me when I work with expats who feel bitter or trapped because the job opportunities do not live up to their expectations, or the generous expat package failed to materialize.

What tripped me up when I first arrived in Canada was relying too much on my degree and my professional experience to find a job. I wasted a lot of time trying to sell myself to employers through my resume, when I could have better focused my efforts through networking. A good lesson, learned the hard way!

Emmanuelle

[Megan]

Thanks for the comment!

It is so true that you cannot depend on anyone strategy - there are no silver bullets when it comes to the job search.

Preparing your CV and/or resume, professional bio and elevator speech properly is incredibly important in a overseas job search but must be combined with networking and other strategies if you want results.

Networking will get you in front of the right people and secure those opportunities to have those hiring conversations. But without powerful, differentiating career marketing materials tailored to your target market and the ability to verbally express what you offer effectively, you may not be able to convert a conversation into a job offer.

As with most things in life, we must use the right combination of strategies to achieve personal and professional success. That's what makes our jobs so interesting!

Buona domenica!
Megan