Full-Time Work
Types of Full-time Job Opportunities
Special Considerations and Tips
Introduction
Full-time work in another country is an excellent way to learn about your field, develop global leadership skills and experience life in another culture. Create a clear set of goals for working abroad, research your host country thoroughly, including the requirements to work there legally, and market your strengths to potential employers. Use both job listing resources and personal or referred contacts to find opportunities. Networking is a key component in finding a job abroad!
Read the following information, then click on International Job Search Resources to get started.
Types of Full-time Job Opportunities
- Locally-owned organizations or businesses
- The overseas branch of a multi-national, that is, the office of an American firm or firm from your home country operating in another country
- Organizations that routinely hire people from other countries, such as research labs, hotels and international NGO’s
- Companies to which you have been referred through contacts and/or networking
Key Issues to Consider
- Your Field Abroad
What is currently happening in your field in your host country? How do people usually get work in your field in your host country (apprenticeship, personal referral, past experience in the company's "home office," newspapers, etc.)? Does your host country allow foreigners to work in your field and, if so, are there restrictions around what you can do on the job? Is your field “booming” economically or is it in a quieter period, and how can that help or challenge your own job search?
- Set Goals
Identify your top five goals for working abroad. Which are non-negotiable and which are flexible?
- National Employment Landscape
What is unemployment like in the country? Is it easier to find work in your field of interest in some cities or regions than others? How much money do people in your field make and does the amount allow you to meet your needs and goals? Does your anticipated salary match your budget and financial needs? Are there other things happening in the country that would affect your job search?
- Visas and Legal Matters
What are the requirements to work (unpaid or paid, any amount, however small) in your host country? Are you eligible to work legally in your host country? What are the procedures and time frames to gain proper authorization? International students at Brandeis who want to work in the United States should seek expert advice at the ISSO.
Best Search Strategies
Breaking into the job market in a new country requires strategic thinking and action. Some jobs are advertised and other are communicated “person-to-person.” Organize your search in two ways:
- Get into “the network” through personal contacts, cold calls, industry research, alumni, ex-patriot organizations and professional associations—see the Hiatt Career Center pages on networking to learn more!
- Tap into specialized Web sites that broadcast job opportunities in worldwide and country-specific formats (see International Job Search Resources).
Special Considerations and Tips
- Time: Create a realistic plan for how much time you can spend abroad. Can you meet your most important goals? Can you fulfill any personal obligations you might have? Is that sufficient time for a company or organization to “invest” in hiring you as an employee?
- Skills: What skills are you “marketing” to potential employers? Are they a good match with your field and the employer’s needs?
- Professional Associations: Check out the Web sites of professional associations in your field. These ready-made networks are a rich source of information, contacts, and jobs (see International Job Search Resources).
- Multinational Companies: Many multinational companies reserve overseas work for employees who have completed training or a certain number of years at the firm. Will your target company allow you to start overseas or will you begin in the “home” office and build toward overseas assignments?