How to Move your Career to Another Country

When moving to another country or if you are moving to work in another country, you may be concerned about how you will be able to continue to progress in your career. This is especially true if the country that you are moving to has less demand for your job or has different applicable rules for applicants. However, thousands of people every year move countries for work, and there are many ways in which you can prepare yourself for the move and its effect on your career.

Take Country Specific Qualifications

Although you might have all of the right qualifications and experience that you need to excel at your career in your home country, each country has a different set of rules and regulations, as well as qualifications, that you need to progress in your particular sector. Although many companies will allow you to transfer without these if you have the relevant skills, each country’s laws are different, meaning that this could have an impact on your understanding and knowledge of the job in other countries. The jobs that are particularly affected by this include legal careers and the social sciences, as these all rely on an in-depth knowledge of the country and its structure to run smoothly.

Then, before you decide that moving abroad to work is a good option, you should consider taking the specific qualifications that are available for the role in that country. However, if you are considering physical learning platforms such as universities and courses, you will not be able to apply for these until you are in your destination country, and these may take up to 4 or 5 years to complete. Instead, you should considering opting for online courses in order to acquire the qualification that you need. For instance, Laurier in Canada provide a good degree for law enforcement online which can enable you to expand on your knowledge of Canada’s legal structures and the role of social sciences in the country.

Find a Job Abroad

After you have the right qualifications in order to make your career in another country a success, you will then need to find a job in your chosen country. There are many ways to find a job, and these are made simpler by the creation of the internet which has now made it easier to access the listings that you need to find jobs from all over the world. Monster.com and The Riley Guide are excellent job listing boards that enable you to find career matches from across the globe, for instance. You may also want to apply to an employment agency in your home country or abroad if they consider international applicants. This will enable an expert team trained in finding matches for your resume to assess the right jobs for you from their large databases and valuable contacts.

If you already work for a company with international offices, you may also be able to ask for a transfer. This will allow you to have a ready-made job when you travel abroad, relieving any stress you may feel about looking for a position from another country. However, if you are struggling to find a job abroad or do not work for an international company, you could consider freelancing or remote work. This will allow you to work from anywhere until you get back on your feet and means that you can have a stable job throughout the moving period.

Learn the Language

One of the biggest setbacks that career-minded people may find when they move to another country is the inability to find a job due to the language barrier. Therefore, before you move to another country, you should aim to have a good basic understanding of the language before you leave, both in written and oral forms. Learning the language can also make you invaluable to many companies as businesses tend to have a lack of multi-lingual employees who can help to put guests and visitors at ease, communicate with international audiences, act as translators, and who even teach their first language to others. Then, in some cases, this can even heighten your chances of getting the job of your dreams.

Go on an Exchange Programme

If you are unable to find a job or would like an easy entry into the country in question, you should look for exchange programmes or schemes in other countries that will enable you to work abroad. Although many of these schemes are for graduates, there are many options such as internships and apprenticeships that cater to people of any skill or education level. The advantages of these also include the fact that they will often provide accommodation to their applicants, will be able to teach you the basics of the country where you will be living before you get a more stable job, can kickstart your career in the country and allow you to progress through the company over time, and they can even often help you with visas and other documentation that you may need to succeed.

Get the Right Documentation

Before you move and work in another country, it is important that you understand and apply for what documentation you will need to find a job in your chosen destination. The most vital document of these is your visa. Although you may not have needed a visa to go on holiday there or visit for a short time, many countries need you to have a Visa if you are planning to work for an extended period in the country in question.

You should also check when this visa is valid to, as many countries require you to renew your Visa on a 6 month to yearly basis, otherwise you may have to return to your home country. To get a Visa, you may be able to apply for these online, or you will need to visit the Embassy in question to process your application and payment.