Looking For Work Abroad: Why You Want To Avoid Entry-Level Jobs

Posted on 11. Nov, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Expat Life, Relocation, Working Abroad
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You’ve probably been exposed to what I call the “Fly by the seat of your pants” school of thought when it comes to looking for work overseas: land in your host country without too much advance planning, then find a job – any job, no matter how menial – to pay the rent.

This approach has a certain mystique among international job-seekers: the thrill of the unknown. Earning your expat stripes the hard way. Demonstrating your flexibility and your determination. Isn’t it glamourous?

Well, maybe but it is also dangerous. Not foolhardy dangerous, no – you will find a job once you get there, I am not worried about that – but the unintended consequences kind of dangerous.

Taking whatever entry-level job you can find is a double-edged sword. In fact, it has far more edges than that, but that would be a funky-looking sword, a bit like those 20-sided dice used for Dungeons & Dragons… let’s not even go there!

Sure, supporting yourself and paying the bills is good. But if you have a bit of a financial cushion (which you definitely should), going after menial jobs is best avoided for at least three reasons.

High competition

Every unskilled worker out there is competing with you for entry-level jobs. As a result, these positions may in fact be harder to get, just because of the sheer number of applicants. And very often, the job will go to a friend of an employee, or someone who already worked for the company two summers ago.

I don’t need to tell you how bad it can be for your morale to feel like you can’t even get a job waiting tables or selling shoes. It’s devastating – even if you know that it has nothing to do with your skills or your real value on the job market.

How will it look on your resume?

Before you take a job that’s way below your qualifications, ask yourself how it will look on your resume when the time comes to apply for a better position. What will your potential future employers think?

There is no clear-cut answer here. It varies from country to country, and it also depends on what stage of your career you’re at.

In my experience, North American employers tend to understand career ups-and-downs, especially if you’re still young(-ish) and only stayed in an entry-level job for a short time.
Emphasize that you were “doing what it takes” to get settled in the country and acquire local work experience. In countries where immigration and social mobility are the norm, you won’t be the first applicant in that situation.

On the other end of the spectrum, proceed with extreme caution if you live in (or will eventually move back to) a country where careers are expected to be more linear, with a clear progression from one position to the next.

Many Western European employers, for example, will be puzzled to see an administrative assistant job on your resume if you’ve held a corporate position before. And a puzzled employer always says no. So think twice before you take the first job that comes your way.

Stuck!

I know that you have every intention to look for a job better suited to your experience and your background. Don’t fool yourself, though. It takes a lot of willpower and self-discipline to actively keep looking for a better job when you’re already working full-time.

It’s all too easy to find yourself in a rut with that kind of job. You’ll be tired, you’ll be busy, you’ll sort of squeak by financially… before long you’ll get used to it, and you’ll lose your impetus to get out there and look for something better.

How do I know? Because I made that very mistake when I first arrived in Canada. Years later, I still kick myself when I look back at the time I wasted in a dead-end job.

All things considered, I would only advise you to take an entry-level job if:

- You are in dire straits financially – not just stressed out because you don’t have a job yet;
- You have exhausted every (and I mean every) other option, including temp work, part-time work, and networking getting to know new people like crazy;
- You are committed to keep looking for a better position, and you’ve already set a deadline to hand your notice in – ideally, no more than 6 months, but the shorter the better.

Otherwise, don’t put yourself through this ordeal. Aim higher – you’ll be all the happier for it.

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Emmanuelle

Images by kirk lau (top) and jk5854 (bottom), both via Flickr Creative Commons