Full-Time Work
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 information in this section, then click on Job Search Resources to get started!
Full-time Job Opportunities – what they might look like
- Locally-owned organization or business
- Overseas branch of a multi-national – that is, the office of an American firm or firm from your home country operating in another country
- Organization that routinely hires people from other countries, such as research labs, hotels, international NGOs
- Company to which you’ve been referred through contacts and/or networking
Key Issues
- Your Field Abroad
What's currently happening in your field in your host country? How do people usually or routinely 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 they can do on the job? If your field is “booming” economically or in a quieter period, 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?
- On-the-ground Employment Issues
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? 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 to gain proper authorization? International students at Brandeis who want to work in the U.S. 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 shared “person-to-person.” Organize your search to: 1) get into “the network” (through personal contacts, cold calls, industry research, alumni, expatriot organizations, and professional associations) and 2) tap into specialized websites that broadcast job opportunities in country-specific formats or worldwide.
Special Considerations and Tips
- Time: Create a realistic plan for how much time you are going to spend abroad. Can you meet your most important goals? Is that sufficient time for a company or organization to “invest” in hiring you as an employee?
- Skills: What skills are you marketing? Are they a good match with your field and the potential employer?
- Professional Associations: Check out the websites of professional associations in your field; these ready-made networks are a rich source of information, contacts, and jobs.
- Multi-nationals: 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?
Go To Job Search Resources