Many people aspire to work or live anywhere on the planet. The good news is that the world has become one global village where, unlike before, finding lucrative employment opportunities in your dream destinations is straightforward.
However, there are several things to consider before leaving the comfort of your motherland, regardless of whether you intend to work as a temporary expat or a naturalized citizen of your newfound home.
Read on as I walk you through a guide to finding a great job anywhere in the world.
- Know the Most Popular Jobs for Working Abroad
Once you’ve determined the job you’re looking for, the next step is establishing whether it’s ranked among the best jobs for working abroad.
Note that you cannot possibly enter a new country today and secure a job in its public service tomorrow. Most public appointments worldwide are skewed in favor of citizens.
As an expat, your best bet is to consider jobs in the hospitality industry or humanitarian aid. Other popular jobs for expats include tutoring, language translation, engineering & construction, tech & business, and nursing.
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- Determine the Type of Job You Want
The most important tip when looking to work or live abroad is to understand the type of job you want. Ideally, your search for a perfect job overseas should focus on two key aspects – your educational background and work experience.
If you’re able to identify more than one job that you trained for and have sufficient background in, you can narrow down your search further to the ones you’re most passionate about.
Don’t forget to also consider the soft skills that are essential to the job, such as communication and problem-solving.
- Choose a Country to Live In
This is another vital consideration for people looking to work and live abroad.
Not every country is welcoming of expats. That explains why xenophobic attacks have been rampant in the past few years.
There are also aspects of racial, tribal, and religious intolerance to bear in mind. While there have been tremendous advancements as far as slaying these monsters, we’re yet to eliminate them completely.
It’s also prudent to consider a country’s general security situation before emigrating to it. I doubt you’d be happy living in cities overrun by militia or other fundamentalist groups.
Last but not least, pay attention to the cost of living. It would make no economic sense to net $100,000 per month when more than three-quarters of it only goes towards meeting your basic needs.
- Apply For a Job
Everyone has a dream job. And as already indicated, there are also certain employment opportunities popular with expats.
However, one secret for moving to your dream destination is to apply for any job that meets your skills and qualifications. Remember that your priority is to have a safe entry to the country.
Ensure your resume is up to date before sending it out to the potential recruiter. Most importantly, align your CV to the job you’re applying for and the destination country. This may include aspects like changing the language dialect and references in your resume.
You can apply for an overseas job directly from the advertiser or through an agency.
Agency-aided applications are recommended since they usually come with other perks, including visa and passport facilitation. Besides, most agencies do their due diligence to verify the legitimacy of job ads before sharing them.
However, remember that there’s a commission to bear when you apply for an overseas job through an agency. You may also need to conduct your due diligence to establish that you’re dealing with a credible agency.
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- Get Your Travel Documents Ready
After applying for a job overseas, many people usually make the terrible mistake of waiting for positive feedback before preparing their travel documents. Experts strongly discourage this. Ensure you have your passport, visa, and work permit ready beforehand.
A passport is reasonably easy to obtain. It’s the visa and work permit that you need to be worried about, especially if traveling from countries that do not enjoy visa-exempt privileges.
Besides a passport and visa, you also need to get your travel insurance documents ready. That’s in addition to informing your insurance company of your intention to move abroad.
Other important documents include inoculation certificates and medical prescriptions.
Once you have all the requisite travel documents, the next logical step is to book an air ticket. For peace of mind, consider booking at least a month before your travel date.
- Strive To Blend In
When you finally reach your destination, make all the effort to blend in.
Start by learning a few pleasantries in the local languages. Then, acquaint yourself with local cultures and ethics.
You’ll also do well to discover the local security hotspots as you explore the hangout joints.
Most importantly, endeavor to make peace with everyone. Smiling at random strangers or helping a neighbor walk their dog will quickly make you a darling of many.
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Wrap Up
In-depth research and adequate preparation are required to help you settle in a country far from yours.
There are no standard guidelines on how to find a perfect job. It all depends on your preferences. It is always better to focus on one sector and move ahead. Feel free to implement the above-listed tips whenever you’re planning to relocate to a foreign destination.
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