When Horace Greeley co-opted the words, "Go West, young man..." from an 1851 newspaper article, his intent was to encourage the brave and the adventurous to step out of the mundane and into the unknown. This willingness to seek out new places, peoples, or even aliens has been a hallmark of American culture from the time Lewis and Clark suffered hardships and danger in a quest for the Northwest Passage up through NASA's landing on the moon and beyond. While the unemployment rate may be rising at home, dozens of respected and global employers are seeking new employees to work overseas. With a little forethought and a lot of planning, overseas employment can benefit you professionally, personally, and financially.
From English instruction to petroleum engineering and hundreds of jobs in between, websites across the internet are seeking candidates for thousands of well-paying, interesting positions located across the globe. Some of the biggest players on the international job-market scene include: Bechtel, Raytheon, Caterpillar, Aramco, Hewlett Packard, Nike, Oracle, Proctor and Gamble, and the US government, but those are just the tip of the employment ice berg. (The most efficient way to locate the JOBS pages for these companies is to key in the name of the company and then "job opportunities".) If you are itching for not just a job but an experience you can write home about, follow the suggestions below and get ready to pack your bags.
The Application
Follow the directions precisely. That may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised by how often job-seekers send in a resume or cover letter that does not address the job they desire. If the job notice says, "discuss how your experience and skills meet the requirements of this position," then do it. There are hundreds of resume helpers online as well as sites that will assist you in constructing a short, but winning cover letter.
If you are going to apply for dozens of jobs, which is not unusual, then scan all of the relevant employment documents, such as resume, transcripts, certificates, letters of recommendation, passport photo page, and awards. This way, when you apply online – and most major employers begin the process there – then you will have everything ready.
You will also need a Word or Excel document in which you have listed all the information about your employment over the past 10 years if you are over 30 or five years if you are still in your twenties. If there are gaps in your employment, make a note of the activities, consulting assignments, volunteer work, freelancing or projects that occupied your time between jobs.
The Interview
Even if you are desperate for a position, remember that you are the director of your own life. While you need to tell the truth during the interview, you don't need to disclose everything. No one needs to know that you beat your little brother to a pulp after he crashed your bicycle into a cement wall. Look online for lists of interview questions and make notes about how you would answer those questions.
The interview is a reciprocal situation. They want to know about you and you want to learn everything you can about them. Taking a job overseas that you don't really want will mean that you will be miserable 40 hours per week at a minimum. The interview is one of the occasions when you can ask questions that will reveal important information about the place, the company, and the position. You should have read the company website thoroughly beforehand because you may be asked your opinion about some aspect of the corporation. Have questions ready, either based on your own research or prompted by something you learn in the interview. Suggested questions include:
- What is the best thing about working for ________ (the company) in __________ (the location)?
- What is your rate of turnover? or How long do employees generally stay?
- How is your company perceived locally in _________ (the location) and what can employees do to enhance the corporate reputation?
If the company is headquartered in the United States, it will follow US regulations about hiring and questioning. If it is headquartered outside the US, they can ask you anything, including your age, religion, marital status, and other personal information.
The Contract
Read it carefully. Call the company and ask about anything that you don't understand before you sign and return it. The contract should outline all of the critical data.
- The length of the contract with specific dates
- Your duties including hours and days per week – these may be different than standard US hours
- Living conditions (corporate contributions to housing and personal obligations)
- Insurance, benefits, health care, and retirement
- Travel allowances
- Baggage or shipments of personal effects
- Vacations and travel associated with vacations
- Language instruction or opportunities
Companies that have operated overseas for a long time will also give you abundant information on the country, the culture, what is available and what isn't, plus things to watch out for and things to enjoy. Read through this information carefully and supplement it with your own research.
Packing
Above we mentioned that your company will send you a packet of information about your destination. The information in those papers will help to guide you in packing and shipping. One important rule of thumb is to send what you can't buy. If you wear a size 13 shoe and are going to a country where the people have tiny feet, take enough shoes for several years. If you are taking a specific medication that may need a doctor's prescription or a visit to renew, be sure to pack several months' worth of the medicine, since you don't know how soon a doctor's visit can be arranged.
Plus-sized women or men should pack clothing for all seasons in the country of their employment. Americans tend to be larger than people in developing countries and may have a hard time finding clothing in those sizes. However, in some places, such as India and the Emirates, you will find skilled tailors who can craft you a full wardrobe of designer clothing. You will need to purchase the fabric and determine the style you want and then, for a reasonable fee, they will sew your clothing to order.
Computers and other electronics can usually be taken without worries. Adapter plugs will keep your computer charged and your iPod running. Some people are choosing smaller laptops because they are more portable and easier to carry in purses or briefcases. That way, your computer can go wherever you go.
The Culture
In the late 50s a book called " The Ugly American ", by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, occupied the top seat on the best seller list. It spoke about American arrogance and lack of understanding of other cultures as well as the promotion of corruption. Since then, we have learned a great deal about global citizenship and our place among nations. Your sojourn overseas will add to that knowledge.
You will be a representative of your country whether you ask for the task or not. Remember that you can love your nation and still respect the people and traditions of other places. Learn the language, talk to the local people, buy the spices and cook the food. Enjoy your international employment experience while being a model overseas worker.
Barbara Castleton - Researcher, writer, teacher, trainer, and collector of stamps on her passport, Ms. Castleton currently works and lives in North Africa.
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