Working abroad: tips and insights

Working abroad is a popular idea. A recent survey by Tredence suggested that 22% of graduates expected to go abroad to find work, although some would argue that this is more of a reflection on UK employment prospects than a fully formed strategy.

Certainly international experience can be a great asset to your career as this global outlook is a characteristic many employers look for. Networking internationally is useful for sharing ideas and information and can pave the way to more advanced projects once back in the UK.

However there are barriers for UK graduates when seeking career success abroad. Some may not be as globally focussed as those from other countries, who may have already had international placements while at university. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is skills as most international positions require language proficiency as well as technical skills. Although America and Australia have always been popular locations, career mobility across Europe is now highly desirable for graduates and companies. This means that graduates who can speak a second or third language are in a particularly strong position.

Where are the opportunities?

There are worldwide skills gaps which present opportunities for those who can fill them. Countries such as India and China are hot markets with strong growth in GDP. Mexico and Brazil hav skills shortages, particularly in engineering, life sciences, finance and oil and gas. Singapore and Hong Kong are also attractive partly because it's relatively easy to hire from overseas but also because English in widely spoken.
The hardest to fill positions across the globe are generally in IT, engineering, sales, production and research and development, although this differs between countries so it is worth researching if you have a particular location in mind.

How do I get started?

Structured graduate schemes with multinationals are one way in to an international career. Many international companies have a base n the UK and advertise jobs to start in London. Look for companies where you can relocate after being taken on, rather then holding out for an international position straightaway.

You could also consider taking up international work and study placements such as the Erasmus programme which allows you to study in EU universities for set periods of time.

The Association of Graduate Recruiters carried out research with the Council for Industry and Higher Education to explore what businesses need from global graduates. The most prized skills were the ability to work collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds and countries and excellent communication skills. Stress these, as well as your adaptability, flexibility, resilience and self-awareness in your applications.

If you need any further information or advice on the idea of working abroad contact the careers service on careers@cumbria.ac.uk


(Taken from an article by Clare Whitmell in Guardian Professional, May 2013)