Going abroad for a job has its challenges. It’s always a good idea to be prepared in advance and to get as much information as possible.

Morgan Dolan, with her experience of being manager of our Zhuhai office in China and knowing everything a person could know about the rough path for applying abroad, is in ideal position to share some tips for anyone considering going on this path. No matter where you choose to go abroad to work, you will face the same issues and uncertainty!

“Even before I went to college, I knew I wanted to work abroad. As globalization becomes the norm, this sentiment seems to be shared by more and more young people. International business seems to be a popular major for this very reason.”

However launching a career abroad is not as easy as applying to a vacancy. This is because vacancies for positions abroad, whether a large company or small, are accompanied by realities that govern the hiring considerations. These are the realities of international mobility, including visa constraints and costs, as well as the needs of a company. Understanding the situations from a company’s perspective will help you address them yourself and overcome rejection.

Companies hire to solve problems. The smaller the company, the more a problem really needs to ache before they cast a hiring net. Companies big and small who operate internationally invest a lot into their team. The extent that they will go through bureaucracy correlates to the visible benefit a potential hire has for them. Got your sights set on a particular job in another country? Help yourself avoid initial immediate rejection.

Research positions from the company perspective

Think about the larger company “why” that has led to looking for the role you want to fill.  The more you can tailor yourself as solving their problem the more attractive you will look. When in doubt about what a company’s biggest problem is, ask. If it not one that you believe you can solve (or contribute to a solution) keep hunting until you find one.

Be responsible about your own paperwork

Research what your options are to emigrate and what documents are required for different visas. When you know specifically what steps a company needs to take to hire you or apply for a work visa on your behalf, you are in a better position to negotiate why you are the best choice in spite of any hurdles. But don’t worry about it – the InternVietnam team is here to help you out!

Consider doing an internship first

It is easier for a company to say yes to an internship than to taking on a full time employee. It may also be easier for you to get the visa you need and see if you would actually want to stay in that country long term. Treat an internship like a trial period, where you show the company just how valuable you would be. At best, the company will be inspired to keep you and at worst, you have a great reference and have already started building your contacts in country!

Ultimately if you would like to launch a career abroad, it will be your responsibility to make it happen. Although initial rejection from international positions can discourage fresh graduates, perseverance and embracing the realities for companies abroad will help to start not just a career abroad but one that is tailored to you.

If you want to get more information about how to start your job search abroad visit our blog section or apply now. Our creative team has always some useful tips to share!

In the meantime share with us your thoughts about the article. What are the biggest challenges of going for work abroad in your opinion?