How to Find International Jobs

A few days ago, I read an article on CNN about the Chinese economy still firing on all cylinders in spite of the global recession. According to The Economist, US GDP will shrink by 3.2% in 2009. That means that the economy will get smaller, leaving less job opportunities for everyone. At the same time, Chinese GDP is expected to grow by a whooping 6.5%, placing it well above the so-called First World in terms of development pace (which, of course, is not an uncommon phenomenon - just pointing that out before economists here rip me to shreds).

And this, in turn, got me thinking - if some countries are doing better than others in this recession, can you beat the impact of the economic meltdown by relocating to countries where jobs are plentiful and easily available?

The good thing is, as a First World national, you have one enormous advantage - you have relatively easy access to foreign labour markets. Second World nations - such as myself - have to struggle with travel visas, work permits and residence paperwork - all of which are extremely cumbersome and generally very difficult to obtain (for example, getting a work permit as a non-EU national is a nightmare - because the company has to prove that no Swiss or European national can do the same job).

The world is, quite literally, your oyster.

So how do you go about finding those elusive international jobs? Here are some ideas:

• Job Search Sites - as a First World national, very often all you have to do is simply look for overseas sites using your favorite job search engine. Since work permit requirements often aren’t an issue, hiring you isn’t as big a deal for the company as you might think.
• Volunteer Jobs with local non-government organizations and the United Nations are a fantastic opportunity for a genuinely unique experience. The only downside is that you will often find yourself working in the field, sometimes in atrocious living and working conditions. Forget about cozy air-conditioned offices - expect to be helping refugees in the middle of a civil war somewhere in Africa. It’s an extreme experience, and not for the faint of heart - but if you crave excitement or simply want to make a difference, the field is the best place to be.
• Language Teacher Jobs - especially as an American/British national, you will find it relatively easy to get a job as an overseas English language teacher. Don’t worry about the lack of qualifications - while you won’t earn as much as professional teachers, your main value will lie in the fact that you are a native speaker of English and can therefore offer authentic interaction in English to your students. A friend of mine was earning $35 an hour teaching English to 12-year old kids in Geneva!

International jobs are a great way to not only beat the recession, but also acquire international experience (which, by the way, a lot of recruiters look for in prospective candidates, especially for management jobs). Candidates with international exposure generally find it much easier to get promoted and secure lucrative jobs in the private sector. Besides, it gives you a fantastic new perspective on life as well!