How to Find Work Abroad

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Many people look to broadening their horizons in a foreign country, and decide to find work abroad – be it for a few months, a year or even the rest of their lives. Whether you want to work just to make some money and extend your travels, or are looking to migrate to a new country, finding a job is a great way to fund your adventures. However, it can be quite daunting to try to navigate through the entire internet to figure out how to actually find work abroad, not to mention the visas and work permits you´ll need to take into consideration... But, with these tips you´ll get a clear idea of where to start.

Temporary working abroad can be a lot of fun

Finding a temporary job abroad is relatively easy; you just need to know where to look. There are many sites out there that will allow you to find work abroad, often with accommodation provided. Some of them have a good pay, some pay very little and others just “pay” by providing you with accommodation. An example of the latter can be found through Workaway.
I already explained this service in my post how to find cheap accommodation anywhere, so I will touch upon it only briefly here. Through Workaway.org you are enabled to come into contact with hosts all over the world. They will offer you a place to stay (and sometimes even food!) in exchange for a few hours of work a day. This is a great way to learn about the local cultures and traditions, all while not spending a penny on your stay. You can find all kinds of work on there, from language teaching to organic farming – there´s something for everyone.
If organic farming is your thing, WWOOFing could also be a solution. It is very similar to Workaway, except all hosts on here are organic farmers and need help in activities such as weeding, building fences, seeding, baking bread or making cheese. Definitely have a look at their website if you´re the outdoorsy type!

Of course working for free – although it will still allow you to lengthen your stay – will not add much to your wallet. To find work abroad that will actually pay but won´t require a commitment of a few years, look into teaching English. A common misconception is that these kinds of jobs are only available for native English-speakers. However, if English is your second language and you speak it fluently, it will be no problem to find work abroad as an English teacher. I know many people who have taught English all over the world, and none of them are from an English-speaking country (although some language schools will require you to get a TIEFL certificate). To find a job abroad teaching English, simply Google “teach English in (country of choise)”, and bob´s your uncle.
How to prepare for these kinds of jobs, depends a bit on the country you wish to teach English in. For example, if you have a German passport and want to go to Spaininfo-icon to teach English, you will not need to go through the trouble of arranging visas and such. If you plan on going to Japaninfo-icon with that German passport though, it will be quite a different story. Check the requirements of your country of destination, and ask your future employer about any papers you need to acquire as well!

networking in San Francisco by attending a public speaking workshop
networking in San Francisco by attending a public speaking workshop

Working abroad as a highly specialised exped

If you have a masters in Psychology, are a specialized nutritionist or a math’s professor, above mentioned jobs will probably not be what you´re looking for. To find work abroad in your area, it is best to search the local job boards of the area you wish to move to. Giving general advice on the broad spectrum of jobs out there is not easy, since every profession will require you to take different things into account. What I can say however, and what is true for almost every job you wish to find in foreign countries, is: learn the language. Your chances of getting hired will triple (at least), and you´ll be able to communicate with your clients. And, of course, knowing the language will help you in many aspects of your new life in a strange country. Being able to ask how much the rent will be and actually understanding the answer, is not something to take for granted.

Becoming a location independent worker

If you are the type of person that gets tired of being in one place very fast, having a location independent job is probably a better long-term plan. When you can take your job with you on your laptop, traveling (and funding your travels) suddenly becomes a lot easier. You can find lots of kinds of jobs over the internet, ranging from graphic design and video editing jobs to writing or virtual assistant work. Depending on how many hours you´re willing to free for your job while you travel, you can make quite some money using this method! Check out sites like Indeed.com (choose “remote” for the location) or upwork.com, or simply Google the job you are looking for. You never know, your specific skillset might be needed on the internet!

doing location independent work in Rwanda on my laptop