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Overseas Jobs (cont.)
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Job Fairs
Job fairs are a method used in many countries
to attract potential employees. Job fairs are basically exhibitions
that are themed in nature (i.e. computers, teaching, healthcare,
etc.) where prospective employers and employees can meet and discuss
employment possibilities. The key to these is that you actually
have to be there in person but if you can plan a holiday to coincide
with one of these fairs you will get a chance to present yourself
in person to many potential employers in one go – and demonstrating
that you are willing to go to such lengths can only enhance your
prospects in finding that overseas job.
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Internal
Transfers
Another possibility is an internal transfer within the company you
work for. If it’s a long-term goal of yours to move to a specific
country to live and work you may want to consider targeting companies
in your own country where you know they have subsidiary branches
in the country you wish to get to. This method may take a few years
(generally 2-3 years), but if you work hard, develop your skills,
and make it known right from the start that it is your wish to move
to that country and work in their office or branch there then it
might be a very good avenue for you to pursue.
Your documentation
This is one of the most important aspects of your approach to your
new employer. How you present yourself, your experience, and your
qualifications will determine how far you go towards securing that
overseas job. You must make sure that you have all the necessary
paperwork (C.V., references, work permits where appropriate, etc)
and present them in such a way as to stand out from the crowd. In
most cases you’ll only get one opportunity to make your case
so you want it to be a good one. Spend some time and money and have
your documents professionally prepared and presented. Keep a record
of who you send letters to, the date sent, and keep a copy of all
correspondence that you send and receive. This might sound like
too much administration but if you end up sending literally hundreds
of job applications (and that is something that you need to be prepared
for) then it can get difficult to remember who you have approached
and what was said. When sending letters enquiring about employment
try to send them to the person responsible for dealing with such
issues and not just addressed with titles like ‘Employment
Manager’ or similar. Taking the time to research the person
responsible for employment will ensure that you at least get the
attention of the right person instead of your application getting
lost in the inbox of some office junior. Make phone calls to the
company concerned and request the name of the person responsible
for hiring if you cannot find the information by other means. |
Getting an interview
In the event that you manage to get to an initial interview stage,
bear in mind that you will probably be interviewed over the telephone
or something similar. This might be extremely different from any
other kind of interview you have undergone in the past, so you
should mentally rehearse and prepare yourself for that kind of
an interview - particularly if your language skills are not completely
fluent in the language of the interviewer. Don’t be caught
surprised if you happen to get a phone call from a prospective
employer – be ready for it, and don’t forget to give
some thought as to time zones when being available to take calls.
You need to make it as easy as possible for your potential employer
to make contact with you even if that means unsociable hours for
you. Most often than not however you’ll be asked to attend
an interview when you arrive in the country so the timing of your
job search campaign needs to be carefully thought out. There is
no point in applying for a position if you know you aren’t
going to be able to physically make it to the starting line in
time.
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