Questions about working abroad

Where do I want to work?

Choose the country you want to work in before you make your action plan.

Check that the sort of job you want is available in that country. The application process there may be different – see working abroad on the Prospects website.

If you are offered a job by the government of another country you should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

How do I find out about jobs there?

• Prospects provides a list of organisations that offer posts abroad.
• Expertise in Labour Mobility includes job hunting information for 40 countries.
• Eurograduate Live deals with job opportunities in Europe.

Are there any barriers to finding work there?

Check out any bureaucratic requirements that might prevent you from obtaining a job.

• Are there any extra forms that you need to fill in, or references required?
• Is there a ban, or a quota, on immigration?

Local embassies and consulates are valuable sources of information.

What are unemployment rates like there?

The Prospects website has information about the employment situation for specific countries. Would you be able to get a job there in competition with local people?

Do I need a visa or work permit?

UK nationals do not need a work permit to work in any of the EU member states.

Most other European countries and other countries throughout the world require you to have a work and residence permit.

Do not book your travel until you are sure that you have all the documentation necessary. Violation of visa regulations is looked on as a criminal offence.

Immigration, work visa and work permit information is available at workpermit.com.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also gives advice on working and travelling abroad.

What qualifications do I need?

• Qualifications that are acceptable in this country may not be recognised in another.
• You may find that your degree is not regarded as highly abroad as it is in the UK. In some countries students spend longer obtaining their degrees and, especially in America, a Masters degree is often expected.
• If you have a degree in a vocational subject, like engineering, you should also check that you fulfil the professional requirements of the job.

Do I need specific work experience?

Find out what sort of work experience would be necessary if you are looking for a specific job. You may already have a considerable amount of experience and skills and will be able to sell yourself well with these. However, you may find that you need to gain more relevant experience.

What type of employer promotes working abroad?

Some large companies send their employees abroad to get work experience and an understanding of the global markets, as well as for career development. These posts can lead to promotion.

• Multinational companies, may send you abroad as part of your training and career development.
• Government bodies like the Foreign and Commonwealth Office post employees to different parts of the world at regular intervals; the Department for International Development (DFID) is introducing a new recruitment scheme for work in developing countries.
• International organisations like the International Monetary Fund or the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
• The Ministry of Defence, the armed forces and the police (some police officers are asked to train other forces overseas)
• International or private language schools, colleges or universities. Some countries restrict the employment of teachers in their state schools to local nationals, but you may be able to obtain an assistant’s job. Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is a popular way of improving your language skills and getting to know a country. The British Council is one source of posts.
• There are also opportunities for voluntary work abroad.

How good do my language skills have to be?

An overseas posting with a British, Irish or American company that uses English as the working language may mean you only need a basic knowledge of the local language at first.

TEFL teaching in most countries does not require advanced local language skills. Organizations such as i-to-i provide opportunities to qualify in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and a TEFL job placement service.

In some countries, for example The Netherlands, most people speak good English, but in others, such as Portugal, you would need to be fairly fluent in the local language to work successfully.

Classes are offered abroad, but you may find that it is less expensive to study the language at home before you go.

Those with advanced language skills may want to work as an interpreter or translator. 

What would I earn and what is the standard of living like?

Multinational companies pay higher salaries than you would earn teaching in a private language school.

Although you may not earn as much as you would in the UK, a low cost of living might make you better off.

If you are not resident in the UK for more than a certain number of days each year, you do not have to pay UK tax.