Best Hacks For Your International Job Search: Work Smart Not Hard
In today's global world, looking for a job abroad can offer great chances for career growth and personal development, not to mention adventure and life experiences. To handle the challenges of finding a job in another country, you need a clear plan. Here are the best hacks for 2024 to make your international job search easier and boost your chances of success.
Creating a Strong International Resume
Your resume is your first impression on potential employers. An international resume needs to be tailored to meet different expectations.
Key Elements of an International Resume
Contact Information: Include your name, email, and international phone number. It also helps to mention your current location, to let employers and recruiters know what to consider for your situation. And don’t forget to link your updated LinkedIn profile.
Professional Summary: Write a brief summary highlighting your experience and skills, especially those relevant to international roles. This is a good chance to put relevant keywords in your CV.
Work Experience: Detail your past jobs with specific achievements, focusing on roles that show your ability to work in different cultures. Remember to keep it short (3-5 bullet points)
Education and Certifications: List your degrees and certifications. Include international equivalents if necessary.
Skills: Highlight languages you speak, technical skills, and soft skills important for global jobs.
Keep it short: Stick to 1-2 pages. Recruiters and hiring managers are often pressed for time, so a shorter resume is more likely to get their attention. Use bullet points to highlight key skills and achievements clearly and quickly.
Use clear headers: Begin each section with a clear header such as "Web Developer" or "Marketing Coordinator". This helps recruiters quickly identify the roles and skills you possess that match their needs.
Avoid unnecessary acronyms: Unless they are widely understood in your industry, it's best to avoid using acronyms that could confuse readers. If you must use them, provide a brief explanation to ensure clarity.
Need help? Have a look at our CV templates in the Blu Selection Download Hub!
Building a Professional Network and Using Job Portals
Networking is a powerful tool for job seekers, especially when you're searching abroad.
Start by identifying people in your industry or at companies you admire. Figure out how you can connect with them—through email, LinkedIn, or at industry events. Taking these steps first can prevent rejection and make your approach more effective, especially if English isn't your first language.
Once you've researched the best ways to reach out, go ahead and make contact!
Here are some strategies:
Using LinkedIn for International Jobs
LinkedIn is great for finding jobs, including international ones. Make use of its advanced search to filter by industry, location, and more. You can see all open positions and connect with current employees for insights on working there and whether it's worth moving.
Profile Optimization: Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete with a professional photo, headline, and detailed summary.
Connections: Connect with people in your target industry and region. Engage with their posts to stay visible.
Groups and Forums: Join relevant LinkedIn groups and participate in discussions to increase your visibility.
Job Alerts: Set yourself alerts for companies you are interested in and for your search filters to not miss out on any new jobs.
Job Portals and Company Websites
Job boards give a good overview of the market and available opportunities. They can also lead you to more specialised job sites or companies for specific industries or locations.
Company Career Pages: Check the career sections of multinational companies' websites for job openings.
Recruitment agencies
Recruitment agencies are excellent for finding jobs abroad. They assist throughout the job search process, from identifying opportunities to arranging accommodation. These agencies often have access to international job openings not typically found on general job boards or LinkedIn and can fast forward your application to the hiring company.
At Blu Selection, for example, we support you through the entire recruitment process until after you have started your new position to make sure your transition to the new position and country is smooth. With our variety of jobs, languages and locations everyone can find their dream career while we put your CV at the top of the pile.
If you want to work abroad, job fairs and workshops are great ways to connect with potential employers and get noticed.
Job Fairs: A job fair is an event where companies and job seekers meet. Companies look for new employees and job seekers find out about job openings and get the chance to network with employers.
Workshops: A workshop teaches specific skills for certain careers. For example, if you want to be an interpreter in Germany but don't speak German, a workshop can help you learn the language. Workshops might also cover practical topics like visas or housing in different countries.
Succeeding in International Interviews
Research Your Company and Role
Before applying, learn everything about the company. Each company has its own culture, history, and style, which is crucial for showing how well you fit in.
Understand the role. Every job varies, even within the same industry. Researching your specific role is essential but often overlooked.
Also, research the city, culture, people, benefits, challenges, salary, and perks of your desired workplace!
Preparing for Cross-Cultural Interviews
Research: Learn about the cultural norms and business labels of the country where the company is located.
Practice: Practice answering common interview questions, focusing on your international experience.
Technology Check: Make sure your internet connection is reliable and you know how to use video conferencing tools.
Common International Interview Questions
"Can you describe your experience working in a multicultural team?"
"How do you adapt your communication style to different cultures?"
"Why do you want to work abroad?"
Build your priorities
Focus on what matters most to you when planning your job search. This clarity will guide your decisions and make your strategy more effective. Once you know your priorities, incorporate them into your action plan or schedule using tools like paper and pen, online tools such as Trello or Basecamp, or even brainstorming sessions with sticky notes on a whiteboard.
For those pursuing international business roles, this advice aims to spark new ideas for improving your search. Keep in mind, that there are diverse methods to discover the right job and company, so don’t hesitate to try different approaches. And if needed, remember that networking and getting in touch with recruiters is crucial in any job hunt and can help you get more insider information into the country and company culture!
