How to Find a Job Abroad

So you've decided to up sticks and go off to work abroad? Good for you. But how do you actually find a job abroad?

How to Find Jobs Abroad

The usual ways you'd look for a job in Britain still work abroad : ask around among people you know; scan the press for job advertisements; visit job portal websites. With the latter two, you'll have the disadvantage of not knowing which sites or publications are best for finding jobs in the country you want to move to. If you know anyone who lives there, ask them; otherwise, just explore what's out there and use your judgement.

Don't forget that if you're looking for something in the EU, you can also use job centres abroad just as if you were a native citizen of the country. If you're in receipt of unemployment benefit in Britain, you can even continue getting it for a while if you go abroad elsewhere in Europe to look for work.

You don't always have to be in the local area to find jobs, however. The European Commission runs its own job mobility portal, called Eures, which allows you to scan job offers from across Europe over the web.

Where to Find Jobs Abroad

When Britons develop a hankering to live abroad, it's usually somewhere sunny that they picture in their minds. Unfortunately, Europe's sunny south is the least economically vibrant part of the continent. Perhaps all that excess heat saps the entrepreneurial spirit, or maybe it's the other way around, and the cold chill of the North spurs us to achievement.

Whatever the reason, the truth is one you probably don't want to hear : there are far more jobs in the rain-soaked streets of northern Europe than there are under the azure skies of Spain or Greece. What's more, language competence in English is far higher in the north too, so if you need to find a berth where English is spoken, it probably won't be in sight of a beach either.

The only possible exception to this might be in the large expat communities, mostly of retired people, in Europe's southern fringe. These English-speaking expatriates create mini-economies of their own where you can get by without knowing a word of the native language except "Dos cervezas, por favor".

The Language Issue

Knowing no language other than English isn't always a crippling handicap. English is the closest thing the world has to a common language and there is always great interest in learning it abroad. For this reason, you may be able to find work teaching English, either giving private lessons informally or working for a recognised English-teaching school.

A certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) would boost your credentials as a teacher but isn't strictly necessary. If you do want to get one they can often be acquired quite quickly - in a few weeks, for example - from a recognised school. The cost should be no more than a few hundred pounds.

Apart from teaching, native English speakers are often in demand as nannies, secretaries and sales staff. Check the English language press in the country you're interested in for job offers.

Working for the European Union

One good tip for British people is to look for jobs within European Union institutions. Most of these aim to have a reasonable representation of all nationalities within the EU. But they also tend to have strict language requirements, which mandate that all candidates know one or even two European languages other than their mother tongue. If you happen to meet that requirement, you'll be in a strong position.

The reason is that Britain is often significantly under-represented in these transnational institutions because so few of us meet the language requirements! Because they probably won't have met their quota target for British personnel, you'll stand a good chance of being asked for an interview if you meet the other basic criteria. And, of course, the EU picks up the tab for your flight costs and hotel bills.

The salaries of most EU bureaucrats are paid tax-fee too so, if you get the job, you'll be laughing all the way to the bank. These EU bureaucracy jobs aren't usually widely advertised in Britain. They will be advertised on the EU Institutions' websites, though, so get browsing if you're interested.

The recruitment process for some jobs in the EU bureaucracy requires all candidates to undergo examinations first. These test things like your knowledge of EU institutions and your verbal and numerical aptitude. If you face one of these exams, there are websites out there which can help your prepare for them by showing you sample questions similar to those used in the real thing.

Finding a Job Abroad - Conclusion

Whether you plan to work abroad permanently or temporarily, it's something that can enhance your CV and enrich your life. Who knows, you might even get a tan out of it.