5 tips for landing a job while abroad

With the advent of cheaper airfare and increasing interconnectivity and globalisation, travelling the world has never been easier or more accessible. The proliferation of travel blogs and digital nomad lifestyles have shown people that there's more to life than just staying in the same place for years.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates that there were 1.4 billion international arrivals in 2018, 56 times the number of tourist arrivals in 1950, showing that people are utilising the more frequent and cheaper trnasportation options now on offer to them. And given the upward trend in tourist statistics over recent years, that number will only continue to grow.

Although living life on the road seems glamorous, even the greatest globetrotters can't live on their savings forever. If you're living abroad, you've probably had to think about how to sustain your lifestyle while you’re away from home, and while many global travellers save up for their world tours, even those prepared financially can run out of money eventually. Keeping flexible is key to maintaining your lifestyle as a traveller, and that includes being open to working while abroad.

What employers are looking for can vary from culture to culture, but here are five general tips that might help you land a job while abroad.

Be a people person

Living abroad means you need to make the most of connections. Knowing how to deal with people is a key part of networking for any kind of job, especially when you're up against locals for the position.

Be confident, gregarious, and empathetic during your interview. Aviation JobNet recommends cultivating healthy interpersonal skills to help you stand out from the rest and land the coveted job you’re after.

Learn the local lingo

Communication can be an important part of the job hunt when you're in a foreign country looking for work. Familiarising yourself with the local language will help you increase your chances of finding more work and help you broaden your horizons. Learning the local language will help you better engage with people and give you an insight into their lives and another thing to add to your CV.

Localise Your résumé

Another tip that will assist in your job search is to localise your résumé, or CV. This can be as simple as changing your spelling to better fit the local English, or as complex as translating your whole CV into a different language. Making sure that your resume is up to par is incredible important. According to this post on Inc., almost 60% of resumes have basic spelling and grammar errors. Your CV is your first impression, so it’s important to make sure it's flawless.

Accept cultural differences

Working in a foreign country means that you'll have to deal with cultural differences. Make sure to understand and respect the ways that local working culture may be different, and exercise empathy when dealing with new situations or coworkers.

This Washington Post article explains that empathetic behavior shows people that they are appreciated, as well as boosting morale and productivity.

Keep an open mind

Finally, in order to maximise your job search, you'll need to keep an open mind. You might not find the job that you were looking for initially, but if you're flexible you might find that there are a lot more opportunities available than what you initially thought. Remember that traveling isn't always about finding the perfect shot or perfect location, and apply that philosophy to your job search as well. Who knows, thinking out of the box may even help you land an unexpectedly great opportunity.

Do you have any tips for working abroad? Let me know in the comments below! 👇