The Best Ways to Find Jobs Abroad If You’re Itching to Travel

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• February 21, 2013
• By Josh Tolan
• 5 Comments

Do you ever find yourself spinning a globe, staring at maps and dreaming of far-off destinations?

Maybe your adventurous daydreams are telling you it’s time for a change of scenery. A stint overseas might be just what you need to scratch your travel itch and even move your career in the right direction.

About 6.4 million Americans were either working or studying abroad in 2011, according to numbers released by the U.S. State Department—the largest number of Americans abroad ever recorded.

It’s not hard to understand why so many Americans are heading overseas to look for work. While the economic downturn has made the job market hyper-competitive in the United States, other countries are seeing a boom in job creation. Some of these jobs are even a result of American companies expanding their overseas branches. The Wall Street Journal looked at the 35 largest American corporations and discovered that, while they added only 113,000 jobs domestically, the number of overseas jobs was much higher, at 333,000.

So perhaps now is the perfect time to finally pack your bags and discover the world. But just how do you land one of these overseas jobs in an exotic locale? Here are some tips to help you find the foreign job of your dreams:

Know your geography

One of the big concerns employers have about far-flung job seekers is whether they are really ready to make a big change. It can be stressful enough changing jobs without also completely changing your scenery. Employers worry that, when it’s finally time to start packing your suitcase, you’ll get cold feet and decide to stay put.

A good way to allay these fears is to know as much as possible about your future destination. Look up plenty of information on the city, town or countryside where you’d be relocating. Don’t just search the company and find out about the company culture; remember you’ll also need to understand the culture of your new country as well.

If you’re unsure where you’d like to live, follow the path of others who have gone before you. According to a 2011 survey, American expats are happiest in overseas jobs in countries like France, Thailand and Spain. It’s important to know why you want to move to the country in question, to talk to residents and to really know your stuff prior to the interview. This way, you’ll seem less likely to change your mind when talking to employers about a big, life-changing move.

Make connections on social media

Job seekers looking for great overseas jobs can’t exactly go to a networking event to find out about company opportunities when the workplace in question is thousands of miles away. This is where today’s new socially connected world can really come in handy. Use social media to make connections with hiring managers, employers and potential coworkers—all before you ever buckle up for takeoff.

Follow the company and hiring manager on Twitter, take part in LinkedIn discussions and share interesting industry news and relevant articles on your own social media channels. This enables you to easily brand yourself as a candidate who is up-to-date on trends and excited about opportunities at the company. If you use social media strategically to connect, when you apply for an open position, you’ll have a leg up; the hiring manager will be likely to remember your social contributions.

Propose a video interview

Many employers will cringe at the perceived cost of hiring out-of-country job seekers. After all, most companies will want to interact face-to-face before officially offering you the position. When you’re halfway across the globe, this can become an expensive proposition. Instead, propose a video interview to connect with potential employers without any airfare required.

In a live video interview, you can connect in real time just like in a traditional in-person meeting. The only difference is that your employer will be on the other side of the computer screen instead of the other side of the desk.

If time zones make scheduling a live interview a bit too difficult, you can always opt for a one-way video interview instead. In a one-way video interview, candidates answer written questions posed by employers on video. These answers can be recorded at any time and viewed by the employer at their earliest convenience. With video interviewing technology, it’s possible to connect personally with employers without ever going through international baggage claim.

Show your passion

Most importantly, when proposing a big change like moving to a new country, it’s essential you show off your passion for your career. You’re not just any candidate; you’re one of the few job seekers willing to traverse the globe for a great opportunity. Explain clearly and confidently why you want the job and why you’re excited to move to a new locale. If you can sell the employers on your passion, the job will be yours for the taking.

It’s not always a snap to find a position overseas before you board a plane. But a little research, a lot of passion and some new technological tools can make all the difference when it comes to packing up for a great new opportunity.

What are some ways you would go about finding a job abroad? Share in the comments!

Josh Tolan is the CEO of Spark Hire, a video-powered hiring network that connects job seekers and employers through video resumes and online interviews. Connect with him and Spark Hire on Facebook and Twitter.

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