Working abroad
Research your career options in other countries
Reasons for working abroad
Think about why you want to work abroad.
- You may feel that this is the only time in your life when you will be free to live and work away from home.
- Perhaps you have the travel bug and would like to see as many different countries as you can.
- You think that work experience abroad will help you to obtain your chosen job when you return.
- You want to improve your language skills.
- You want to move and work abroad on a permanent basis to get a complete change of scene.
It is important to
- Plan ahead and keep yourself up to date so you are aware of opportunities that occur.
- Use your time abroad profitably, so that it advances your career and is not just one long holiday – unless that is what you want to do!
Working abroad may involve life-changing decisions, like selling your house or flat.
Prospects website has a database of international graduate jobs, with links to relevant country profiles, example CVs and other useful information about working abroad. You can also search International Jobs Online a comprehensive portal for international graduate job vacancies in the UK.
Students from outside the UK wanting to study or work here should see the Prospects information for international students, which includes case studies and a UK course search.
An overview of resources helpful to both UK and overseas job seekers is available online at Graduate Jobsearch Online developed by the University of Strathclyde Careers Service.
If you are studying in continental Europe and are looking for more specific advice or information related to your country, contact The Open University in the North in Newcastle, or your OU country coordinator.
Need more information?
Prospects website provides profiles of working in a wide range of countries.
The Euroguidance Network provides information and advice on opportunities for work, study and training in many European countries.
For details of vacancies and reviews of market sectors try the Eures network or Eurograduate.