For most migrants, the success of a move abroad largely depends on securing the right job in the destination country. Whether you are moving to improve your family’s lifestyle or your quality of life, you will need an insight into the local job market to be able to prosper when living abroad. Although having an existing job offer can significantly speed up your immigration process and give you peace of mind before and during your move, it is also possible to leave the job search till after arriving in your destination country, as long as you follow a few simple rules.
1. Research Your Destination
First of all, it is of vital importance to define what you hope to achieve in your life as an expat. Once your list of requirements is ready, you’ll need to spend time researching which country, region or even city will be able to fulfil all expectations for you and your family, by matching the cost of life, education, property and lifestyle to the career opportunities available in your destination country.
The internet, expat networks, book and specialised publications will be your best resources to find out all you need to know about life abroad. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, a research trip is also advisable: you’ll be able to obtain facts about day-to-day life in the country as well as some local knowledge about the employment situation.
2. Understand Your Immigration Options
The next step is to find out about the requirements you need to meet in order to qualify for immigration in your destination country. There are several visa options that will allow you to work abroad, and they can be roughly divided into 4 categories:
- Skills-based visa – You will be scored based on your employability, mainly qualifications and work experience
- Business visa – if you have qualifying investments or a promising business idea
- Family visa – if you have a parent, sibling or child who is a permanent resident of the destination country and is willing to sponsor you
- Temporary visa – if you don’t want to or cannot emigrate permanently, you can start your emigration process with a temporary visa.
3. Find Out About Jobs In Demand
Many popular expat destinations, such as Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand have systems in place that will facilitate immigration for members of a select number of professions that are currently in demand in the country. By researching each government’s list of sought-after skills and qualification, not only will you be able to apply for a visa with confidence, but you will have a gauge on how successful someone in your profession could be by continuing their career in each country you research. After all, the lists represent jobs where high demand and low competition are the norm.
4. Match Your Home Qualifications To The Destination Country’s Standards
Another important part of your research should be to determine whether your qualifications, licences and subscriptions to professional bodies will be valid in your destination country. It is possible that you will have to undergo an exam in order to be able to continue in your line of work once you move to the destination country. The internet and your existing professional associations, as well as the destination countries’ immigration offices can provide the necessary information.
5. Hire A Recruitment Specialist
Finally, if you work in a highly specialised field or at a management level, you should consider the option of hiring the services of a local recruitment specialist. With knowledge of the jobs market and an established network of connections, a recruitment advisor can guide you past the pitfalls that would affect a new arrival starting work in a foreign country.
Although moving abroad can seem like a daunting experience, there are ways to make the experience very rewarding. Exploring career options early on during your emigration process will save you costly mistakes and will make your experience of life abroad altogether more serene.
