Do you want to work in another country? You’ve arrived to the correct location! We have a lot of possibilities all around the world on Idealist (simply search for a job in the nation you want to work in) and a Spanish-language site that shares employment in Spanish-speaking countries.
Furthermore, members of our community are always sharing experiences about how they landed work they enjoy outside of the United States. Here’s how one Idealist landed a job in India, while another discusses the practicalities of relocating to a new nation. And here, one Idealist discusses how she got started in the field of international development.
Before you start looking, there are a few things you should know:
The languages you speak, whether you can acquire a work visa, the money the organisation can afford to pay you, and how much it will cost you to go there may limit your ability to connect with companies based in another nation. These roadblocks, on the other hand, should not deter you from looking for job overseas; rather, they should offer you an idea of the skills and resources you’ll need to become a competitive candidate, allowing you to focus on the possibilities that most suit you.
If you’re looking for work in another country, international NGOs could be your best chance. On their websites and on Idealist.org, many of these organisations provide employment vacancies, internships, and volunteer opportunities. These lists will give you an idea of the sorts of jobs that are available as well as the requirements that are necessary for each employment.
Keep in mind that finding a paid post in an international organisation without prior field experience or an appropriate graduate degree is typically more challenging. To begin, think about doing an internship or voluntary work overseas to get field experience that might lead to permanent employment.
The fundamentals of working in another country:
Identifying who, what, where, when, and how to operate overseas is the first step. Consider your reasons for pursuing paid work in another country: do you want to master a new skill? How do you create an international CV or résumé? Self-fund a new country’s exploration? Knowing why you want to work overseas can help you figure out what kinds of employment would be best for you.
Start planning when you’d want to go, how long you’d like to stay, and where you’d like to work, volunteer, and travel throughout the world. If you’re having trouble answering these questions, have a look at our primer on volunteering overseas, which requires a lot of the same preparation and decision-making.
Investigating nations:
Use these websites to learn about a nation or region’s statistics, history, and general information.
Nation Travel Reports — Canada Consular Affairs: These travel updates from the Canadian government’s Foreign Affairs department will help you learn more about a country before travelling or working there.
BBC News: Country Profiles These are basic historical, economic, and political biographies of all nations and territories from this British news agency.
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook: These reports, which come from the US intelligence organisation, offer a wide range of information about nations and locations across the world.
Work in another country for a little time:
There are a variety of programmes and possibilities accessible to you whether you’re taking a gap year or simply wish to work abroad for a short period of time. You can apply for fellowships such as the Peace Corps or academic programmes such as the Fulbright. You can check at gap-year programmes if you’re a student. Visit a comprehensive website for short-term employment abroad options, such as TransitionsAbroad.com, to discover more.
Long-term job in another country:
You might also look for long-term or permanent job in another nation. We recommend that you start by reading this part of TransitionsAbroad.com. Then, when you’re ready, check through our database of foreign nonprofit employment to see what openings are available.
Take care not to overlook the logistics:
Choosing to live and work in a country other than your own presents a number of logistical challenges, ranging from visas and red tape regarding residency and taxation issues, to linguistic and cultural differences, to potential difficulties posed by the economic and political stability of your target country. To understand about and overcome these problems, thorough investigation is required.
