Shawna P. Says:
I want to move overseas, but I’m not ready to retire. What advice can you give for finding a job overseas?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Shawna,
Tracking down the ideal overseas job isn’t quite the same as finding a job in the U.S. It will involve more effort, more determination—and you’ll also need to do a fair amount of homework.
But once you have formed an idea about the type of employment you want—and how long you want it to last for—you have several options for finding a setting which will offer you the chance to work abroad.
Some jobs can be found quite easily from home: teaching, opportunities through working vacations, volunteering. If you’re planning to work for a U.S. company with an overseas operation, then interviews will almost certainly be conducted in the States.
Obviously not all jobs fall into those categories. But your quest for overseas employment is more likely to succeed if you gather as much specific information as you can about the local jobs market before jumping on a plane.
The American Chamber of Commerce in your country of choice might help you find some leads… companies or individuals to contact that might be seeking someone with your experience. It’s a good idea to search “American Chamber of Commerce [country]” to find the contact details of the one you seek.
Other good resources are the professional organizations you may belong to. For example, if you work in the advertising industry, check organizations like PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) and the American Advertising Federation.
Here are some online resources to help you get started:
- Monster: This is one of the biggest general job websites. You can search by industry, profession, or country.
- Overseas Jobs: Although not as big as Monster, this is another helpful site with a range of international jobs.
- The Guardian: Newspapers can be a great resource for job hunting. The international jobs section of UK paper The Guardian has jobs listed from all around the world.
Best of luck with your job hunt!
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