Working abroad – How to find a job internationally

Sometimes we feel a need to change or expand on our life experience by seeking new opportunities by working abroad for instance. Many countries are growing and have great opportunities available. Cities in the USA, UK, broader Europe and Asia are continually growing and looking to pay top dollar for skilled individuals, and the UAE is amongst the top locations where opportunities are available in abundance.

So, clearly working abroad is possible as there are opportunities available globally, even in Africa and to help you navigate your way in finding a job internationally, here are a few universal tips to remember:

Culture and Lifestyle – different countries have different cultures, and this can be a significant factor in deciding on working abroad and which country you want to work in.

Cost of Living – check the price of food, transportation, utilities, and accommodation to ensure you get paid a salary that more than compensates for your expenses.

Available Jobs – check the unemployment rate of the country and see how it will directly impact you once working there (e.g. South Africa has a high unemployment rate; however, there are many job opportunities available for highly skilled workers, and the cost of living is lower than most developed countries).

When considering working abroad, it is ideal to list and search for specific companies that you would like to work for, then apply directly for open opportunities listed on their website or other platforms.

For example, search for “Engineering companies in Dubai” on google, amongst the results a map will also appear showing you different companies and where they are located. You will also see the link to their website which you can visit and check out the company in-depth, while there you can browse available vacancies.

When immigrating, I recommend working for medium to large companies because they usually offer better job security.

When looking for work, browsing job portals is usually a good starting point, and rightfully so because not only can you browse available opportunities you apply for the vacancy on the spot. To help with your working abroad journey, here is a list of international job search websites in the following countries:

Recruitment agencies are an excellent source for work opportunities as they are constantly looking to fill open vacancies. Find a list of high-performing recruitment agencies in the country and city of your choice specialising in your field of expertise. Enquire about available opportunities and submit your CV.

To help you find job opportunities fast here is a list of some of the top recruitment agencies in these countries:

As part of your research for working abroad, check if your government does not have programmes in place for people looking to work abroad, this can fast your move.

Use social media to connect directly with recruiters or hiring managers of the organisations you would like to work for. Contact them and introduce yourself and see if there are any suitable opportunities available. Here is a great article on how to get a job in 5 days using LinkedIn.

We previously compiled a list of different countries and how they prefer their CVs to be formatted (read Article). However, Elite-CV has created a job-winning CV format which has been loved across different countries. A CV is a marketing tool to sell your skills to potential employers and the format should always prioritise the key benefits of hiring you. Have a look at international and professional CV samples.