For many students, it is a dream to work outside their home country. Finding jobs abroad is much like finding jobs in your own country: there is a lot of research involved, so it helps to have an idea of what you want to do and where you want to go. Networking is a great way to learn more about the job market in different countries and sites like LinkedIn make it easier than ever to talk to people working across the world.
There are more things to consider if you are thinking of working outside the UK: language requirements, visa regulations, travel and accommodation options. Employment law also differs from country to country, so you need to read the small print carefully to understand holiday allowances, workers’ rights and hiring practices.
If you are not from the UK, some of our tips on this page may still be useful to you but you might also find our Job search for international students helpful.
Short-term work opportunities
If you want to work abroad first ask yourself whether this is for a fixed amount of time or indefinitely. There are opportunities to do both but the jobs and the way to find them will differ.
- Teaching English as a foreign language
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Teaching English as a foreign/second language (sometimes abbreviated to TEFL or TESOL) is a great way to experience another culture whilst working abroad. There are organisations that are specific to countries (such as the JET programme for Japan) or you can sign up with a general organisation such as the British Council.
Some companies require certifications in English language teaching but others will either train you themselves or don’t require any qualifications at all, particularly if you are a native speaker of English. For more information check out our resources on teaching English as a foreign language and specific training courses we recommend.
- Cultural exchange
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Many countries offer culture exchange opportunities which involve working with a local family or organisation. Websites such as Workaway advertise thousands of opportunities to work across the world in roles such as agriculture, housesitting supporting a family business or contributing to the work of an NGO. Other options for cultural exchange include working as an au pair where you would live with a family and usually look after children for a set period of time.
Some countries actively encourage short-term workers and have dedicated job sites helping you find temporary work. For example, Australia offer a Working Holiday visa for people aged 18 to 35 which allows you to travel and work for up to three years (with specific conditions). See the Prospects country guides for full details.
- Summer jobs
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Summer jobs are a great way to work abroad for a fixed period of time. Usually, this will involve working in a role that is only needed for the duration of a few months, such as teaching at a summer school, running a travel programme or being a counsellor or activity leader at a summer camp.
Summer camps can last anywhere from one to ten weeks and often involve activities such as sports, drama and education for groups of children and young people. Working for a summer camp can give you the opportunity to travel afterwards. In the USA, the visa you work on (J-1) grants you up to 30 days to stay in the country and in Canada you can get up to six months of travel time.
The Prospects country guides have a section dedicated to summer jobs in different countries with links to vacancy sites and common practices and you can also find links to organisations which offer summer camps in our Working in the USA and Canada resources.
- Internships and fixed-term contracts
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Another way to work abroad for a short time is to find an internship or job opportunity that is fixed-term (meaning that there is a pre-defined end date). These jobs would be found in the same way as full-time work, so please see our tips below.
Options for finding permanent work abroad
If you want to look for a graduate job abroad the initial process is much the same as in the UK. You can trawl jobs sites but it helps if you take time to understand the local labour market, reflect on what you want to do and consider where you want to work.
- Working for an international company
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One way to find work abroad is to identify the companies that operate in a specific location and apply directly to them. If the company also has offices in the UK, you could apply to a job here and explore opportunities to relocate once in post. Some graduate schemes include the chance to move abroad, for example Aldi have an international opportunity as part of their Graduate Area Manager Programme.
If you decide to apply directly to opportunities in another country, then you need to check the language, entry and visa requirements for the job. You might also need to translate your UK qualifications into the standard for that country and do some research into application methods and CV standards.
You can use the Prospects country guides as a useful starting point for your research. And, of course, you are also welcome to discuss your ideas and plans with us.
- Build your understanding of the labour market
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If you want to build a career in another country, it’s very important you understand the opportunities available in your field. Labour market information includes details of the number of people employed in a specific field, average salaries, skills required to do the jobs and regional trends. The internet can give you a lot of information but make sure that you seek out accurate data. Organisations like the World Economic Forum can give you high level information whilst government websites and national bodies provide more on-the-ground, specific data.
Some professional bodies which operate in the UK are also international, so you may be able to find useful information on specific areas of work and contacts through these also. You can search our resources by job type to find professional associations and publications relevant to you.
Speaking to people who work in the location you’re interested in is another way to gain information about the kinds of jobs people do and how to get them. The best way to network with people is through LinkedIn or by using the alumni network (or both). Online sites like LinkedIn give you access to thousands of people working across the world from your home but there are also opportunities to meet people in person through networking events. The University of Aberdeen hosts alumni chapters across the world which offer good opportunities to meet people. Alternatively you could research networks or professional bodies and groups and look at their events calendar.
- Use careers services abroad to help you
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Just as our website contains a lot of information about working in the UK, university careers services across the world are also likely to have information available about what graduates do in those countries and the best websites to find national and local vacancies. If you are not sure about the qualifications you need to work abroad, it’s worth checking the websites of the universities in that country for further information.
Careers services also generally provide information about application and recruitment processes in their countries - but make sure you also follow any specific requirements in the job description.
- Specialised roles and shortage occupations
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If you are qualified in a specific vocational role, it is worth researching skills shortages across the world and seeing if there are any opportunities open to you with your degree. Despite Brexit, there are still opportunities to work in Europe but the employer is required to confirm that there are no suitable EU/EAA candidates before sponsoring your visa. If you have a niche area of expertise or specialised experience and want to work abroad, this could be an option for you.
Some countries are short of workers in specific sectors and actively encourage graduates from other countries to apply to specific roles. You can usually find information on these shortages on government websites.