Looking For A Job Abroad: More Options

Posted on 09. Nov, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Expat Life, Relocation, Working Abroad
2 comments

So you’ve done your due diligence. You’ve taken a thorough look at the job market wherever it is that you’re headed to… and realistically, your chances of finding a position similar to your current one don’t look too good.

Or maybe you’ve already been in your dream country for several months, and you just cannot seem to get a job.

Now what?

One option, of course, is to give up, and shelve your plans to relocate – or go back home early, depending on your situation.

I have never been one for living with regrets, however, so rather than spending the rest of your life wondering “what if?”, here’s what I would suggest instead:

1. It’s completely normal to feel disappointed, scared, angry, or anxious under these circumstances. Acknowledge your feelings and allow yourself to wallow in them for a while if you need to, but –and this is key- decide ahead of time how long your pity party shall last, and when it’s over, move on!

2. Come up with a contingency plan: for instance, decide that if after 6 months you still haven’t found a decent job, you’re going home. Make sure that you have enough money saved (I’d recommend 6 to 12 months’ worth of living expenses), so that you don’t have to take the first menial job that presents itself.

3. Grab a pen and paper, and get ready to explore other options that will make living and working in your dream country possible.

Think laterally

- Come up with 15 different job titles that you could apply for.

If you’re stumped, take an inventory of your skills: List every single skill you can think of, be it technical (hard skills) or interpersonal (soft skills). Don’t forget to include skills you may have acquired through your hobbies, by volunteering or by becoming an expat.

- You can also take a career aptitude test offered by your local employment agency. The career paths they’ll suggest may or may not be a good fit for you, but pay close attention to any particular strengths or untapped talents the tests may reveal.

- No one ever said that you have to do the same thing in your host country as you’re currently doing. If you’re not in love with your job, this could be a prime opportunity to change careers.

Figure out what you’ll need to go after the job of your dreams: additional training, credentials, contacts within the industry, etc. Make a list, gather all the information you need, then write down your action plan and your timeline.

Be flexible

- Don’t discount temp agencies, part-time jobs or even apprenticeships/internships. They are great ways to get your foot in the door.

- You could also consider volunteering with an organisation you’d really like to work for. This is obviously a longer-term strategy that you could combine with other full- or part-time work. I highly recommend it if you are making a significant career change, or if your heart is set on a specific company / field that you cannot seem to be able to enter through other channels.

Think vertically

- If you cannot find a position equivalent to the one you had in your home country, why don’t you apply for a higher-level position in the same field?

This option usually strikes fear in the hearts of my coaching clients when I suggest it. All sorts of resistance come up. It’s true that as newcomers, we often see ourselves as the underdog.

Look at it this way, though: as an experienced employee, you already have industry knowledge and technical skills. As an expat, you’re constantly demonstrating your adaptability, willingness to learn, and ability to solve problems. As a foreigner, you bring a fresh perspective, presumably a better ability to work in multicultural teams, and fluency in a foreign language. That’s a lot of assets for one applicant!

- You may also face less competition for higher-level positions, the number of qualified applicants being, by definition, smaller than at the lower echelons.

- Still think you can’t do it? Try this little word trick, and answer the question as honestly as you can: why won’t you do it? What do you have to lose?

Subscribe to the newsletter to get more expat tips and resources, delivered straight to your inbox!

Emmanuelle

Images by WilkiDotMe (top) and mezzoblue (bottom), both via Flickr Creative Commons