Tips to land a job abroad

Maybe it was a semester abroad that piqued your interest. Perhaps you’ve got a serious case of wanderlust. Or, maybe you’re just having a tough time finding a job you’re excited about at home. For whatever reason, you’re hoping to land a job in a foreign country and work abroad.

You’re not alone. According to a recent Monster poll, 48% of respondents would leave the U.S. to pursue their dream job — and 31% of those respondents would move across the world for it.

Before you pack your bags, take a look at Monster career expert Vicki Salemi’s top international job search tips.

Choose your dream city

You might already have a destination in mind, but if you don’t, think about what makes you an asset to a particular region. Foreign lan- guage skills are a natural first step, but if you want to apply directly to a job in another country, ask yourself where your skills and back- ground will be most attractive to potential employers.

“There are certain industries where your expertise can be valued by the locals,” says Salemi. Take, for example, fashion; some of the major hubs are New York, Paris, Milan and Tokyo. “If you had an awesome internship at a Manhattan fashion house, a Milan fashion startup might covet that experience.”

Get clued in

Just because you’re stateside doesn’t mean you can’t stay up-to-date on a particular international job market. “Start following the international news to see what’s hot. Maybe a company just laid off 1,000 people, so you might want to avoid applying there.”

Launch your international search

Once you’ve narrowed down a country or region, start looking for international jobs. You can also look at specific overseas sites, like the U.K. or France. Once you’ve found a company you’d like to work for, check out what others have to say about it.

Try a foreign transfer

Many companies have programs in place to send employees abroad, so you could look for a job at one of these firms. “One of the best ways to get a job overseas is to do something called a rotational assignment,” says Salemi. “Big companies like Deloitte are known for offering two- to three-year assign- ments at an international office.” They take care of the visa, moving costs and logistics, and your taxes. “They’ll help you find an apartment, set up your cable, get an international drivers license — everything that goes along with a huge move,” she says.

Localize your resume

Make sure your keywords match with local language. “Comput e rs won’t find words that are misspelled, so if you’re applying to jobs in the U.K., change words like ‘humor’ to ‘humour,’” says Salemi.

Convince them you’re worth it

The biggest challenge to winning a position abroad is showing a hiring manager it’s worth it to bring on someone from another country. The first place to sell yourself is in your cover letter, says Salemi. “Let them know that you’re currently in the U.S. but look- ing to relocate to their city and work abroad, most likely at your own expense — and tell them why you’re the perfect candidate for the job.”

Tell them you’re willing to do what it takes to have a face-to-face interview. If they have a U.S. location, offer to visit a local office.

Tap your network

If you studied or worked abroad, be sure to use any resources that your school or former employer has to offer, says Salemi. Even if you didn’t study abroad, see if your alma mater has a global alumni network that can aid in your job search. “These people can also be great resources for finding a place to live,” she notes. As always, reach out to your friends and family, because you never know if someone has a contact.

Adjust to their time zone (and holidays)

You’re the job seeker, so you have to be flexible and match your schedule to theirs, not the other way around. “And be mindful of holidays,” says Salemi. “Just because we’re closed on Labor Day or Thanksgiving does not mean that foreign companies are.”

Polish Zoom skills

Since you probably won’t be jetting around the globe for interviews, you’re going to need to learn how to nail a Zoom interview. Be sure to test your camera, use a neutral background and look just as polished as you would in person. Fluent in a particular language? Prove it.

DREAMSTIME/TNS Looking to work abroad? Do some research on the area you’d like to live and look for companies with international jobs in that area.