How to find opportunities to work abroad

They say travel broadens the mind. But an even better way to properly explore a new country and culture is to work abroad. There are lots of ways that working abroad can benefit your career, such as:

• Improving your people skills
• Helping you build an international network
• Encouraging you to learn a second language
• Accessing jobs you wouldn’t find at home
• Giving your CV a little “wow factor”

But you won’t achieve your dreams of working internationally by sitting back and hoping that the perfect role falls in your lap. You need to get proactive.

With that in mind, in this article we’ll tell you all about how to find opportunities to work abroad.

6 tips for how to work abroad

1. Decide where you want to work

The obvious first step is to decide which country you want to work in. After all, most people who hope to move abroad don’t just plan to live anywhere; they have a specific destination (or a handful of destinations) in mind.

Draw up a shortlist and sense check them by researching the employment prospects in each country. Bear in mind that some countries prioritise international workers with specific qualifications, and that some skills will naturally be in greater demand than others depending on your destination of choice.

Hopefully, by this point, you’ll have narrowed your list down to one or two specific cities. If you haven’t visited those places before — and if you’ve got the time and money to do so — it’s well worth planning a short-term trip to help you get a feel for them.

Don’t just spend your trip lounging by the pool or enjoying the nightlife; think about what it would actually be like to live there. Does it have an exciting culture? Is it easy to get around? Is it affordable?

You can also use your visit as an opportunity to set up in-person meetings — or, even better, interviews — with potential employers.

2. Consider an internal company transfer

If you work for a multinational company, they might be open to transferring you to an international branch. They might even help you with things like applying for a visa, finding a place to live, and learning the language.

In some instances, they may agree to maintain your UK salary, even if the cost of living in your chosen destination is a lot lower.

There’s no getting away from it: an internal transfer is definitely the easiest way to work abroad.

3. Use a recruiter to find work abroad opportunities

Michael Page isn’t just one of the UK’s biggest recruiters. We have an international presence, which means we can help you find opportunities to work abroad.

Our Global Opportunities team — operating out of London, Sydney, and Melbourne — helps people planning to relocate to Australia, South Africa, and the UK, as well as people returning home at the end of their visa period. 

Team members can connect you with a local recruiter in your destination country, helping you:

• Find new job opportunities
• Understand typical salary rates for roles like yours
• Tap into trends in the local employment market
• Tailor your CV and prepare for interviews
• Answer any questions you might have about your planned relocation

4. Browse company careers pages

Another smart approach is to check out company careers pages. Often, these pages will have more up-to-date information than other online resources (like job boards and forums), so it’s worth spending some time researching employers that are based — or have branches — in your destination of choice.

5. Start online networking via social media

Social media can be a dream for anyone planning to work abroad. Not only does it give you a platform to advertise the fact that you’re looking for international job opportunities, but it also allows you to reach out to potential hiring managers, share your CV, and build up your network.

7.Create a localised CV

If you were searching for jobs in the UK, you wouldn’t use exactly the same CV to apply for several different roles. So don’t do the same if you’re trying to work abroad. Pay close attention to the job specification and demonstrate that you possess the desired experience and skills. 

Also, consider cultural differences. For instance: 

• Do employers in your chosen country prefer a concise one-page CV or a more detailed two-pager? 
• Do they call it a CV or a resume?
• Do they expect a cover letter as standard?
• Do they prefer you to share your salary expectations upfront?

What’s next?

Found the international job of your dreams? Desperate to impress the hiring manager? Check out our job interview tips content hub, where you’ll find advice on everything from asking the right questions to making the right impression in telephone interviews.

Alternatively, submit your CV today to become discoverable to all our live roles:

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