How to find work abroad?

[whitmorereans]

With me and Mrs Reans about to part the ways (and being bored at work) it's suddenly occurred to me that for the first time in years I'm free to do whatever I want - I fancy a change of scenery so it might be a good idea to go and work abroad. The only problem is, I don't have the faintest about how to get the ball rolling. Can any BCFers impart their wisdom and experience upon me?

[scorps]

what qualifications do you have?
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Do not presume that I am male.

[Polarbear]

It's a big old world out there and so many things dictate what you can go for.

Do you want a serious job like working as you do in the UK. A fun job, say something like an club 18-30 rep (if you are the right age of course) or just to travel and pick up casual work?

Age, knowledge, experience, qualifications all play a part. Also where you go. In Europe you can work legally, some other counties you will be below the radar if you do casual work.

Maybe you should plan where you would like to go, then start investigating what's available, what you need when you get there and how much you will need to live on.
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[Suntan Sid]

Pick the country where you'd like to work an find the ex-pat forums, you'll find out what's going on and what it will be like working there.

Register with an employment agency, advertising jobs in the country you're interested in!

Learn the language, unless you work in an industry where the business language is English, you'll be at the bottom of the pile!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[dan_flash]

Firstly, as above - you talking skilled work or Gap Yah type rubbish?

Assuming you're a Biritish Citizen, you have the blessing of an EU Passport and so can live and work in any other EU State without permits and visas etc. We all get the same rights out here.

So if you fancy staying in the EU, it's nice and simple to achieve (as a bonus, your qualifications and drivers license are also valid all over the Union) but it would depend on language abilities.
As Mr Suntan said - a lot of firms do use English internally but I wouldn't count on this.
As an example, my good Lady works for an international firm and she communicates solely in English at work. But she works with lots of Germans and Austrians who all talk Hoch Deutsch to each other at work because it's easier for them. Plus the firm are paying for her to have private German lessons a few times a week so that she can be better integrated into the company.

Then you also have to think about how healthy the economy is. Countries like Germany, Austria, Denmark et al are a safe bet regarding how much work is available to EU Citizens. Countries like Greece, Portugal, Italy et al are probably a lot sexier but good luck finding a wage in those parts. That's preference though (I personally like Northern Europe just as much as Southern).
If you want to teach English, look at the former East Bloc states.
If you're after skilled work in the EU, check forums, the EURES website, job search sites (monster.de/.at/.no/etc). If you just want casual work then simply rock on over and ask around for jobs when you land.

Anyway that's enough. TL;DR - if you want to stay in EU, learn some language(s), search the interwebz and rock on over.
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Yamaha XJ600S, Volvo v40.

[shereen]

Gumtree:

https://www.gumtree.com/travel-overseas-jobs


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"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had"

[stocksmenace]

Try helpx... I enjoyed it few places give you a little wage on top of bed and board.... Few young foreign students to enjoy also lol..... Great way to get a taste of the country without totally commiting
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[Lord Percy]

If you really want to do something completely different, consider somewhere in Asia. I've been told on more than one occasion that they snap up English speakers because it's so beneficial, and also they often pay 'Western' rates, which means you'll be very rich in their country. This might not be true for all, but I heard it from a Vietnamese person in Vietnam.

Also I met a French guy working in some random outback town in India. I have no idea what his story was but he couldn't speak Hindi. Also an Indian girl I know works with loads of German guys. It is a German company, although it's in India and has 95% Indian employees. I presume those German dudes can't can't speak Hindi much either. So even in far-flung countries, language may not always be a barrier.

Also a member of the BCF forums went to work in South Korea a few months ago. He can't speak Korean. And the job wasn't an English teaching job, it was a 'normal' job. I think his username is Owl10.

And I know a guy who went to work in Thailand as some kind of outward bound activity instructor. As far as I'm aware, he doesn't do it for tourists, he does it for locals, but he certainly didn't know much Thai. Well, he might do by now because he's decided to stay there, but the main point is that he got there without knowing the language. Also he's just your average guy but seems to have had some smoking hot girlfriends since he got there.

So yeah, language isn't always an immediate block, but of course there's no denying it's beneficial.

When I finish uni I want to leave the UK immediately. Australia is a consideration of mine, but also I really did just love everything about south-east Asia, so I may look into that one day. Got a few more years in Blighty yet though, I definitely want to be away.

Reading this post back, it didn't give much advice - sorry - but hopefully gave some inspiration to show it certainly is possible to go wherever the hell you like in the world. Don't think of the limitations.

Specially in Asia (I was told this several times) being natively English is a HUGE bonus. I was quite surprised by the amount of people who told me this while I was there. I never knew.

[mistergixer]

1) Go to country of choice
2) Get a job there
3) ????
4) PROFIT!!!
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Don Eladio is dead. His capos are dead. You have no one left to fight for. Fill your pockets and leave in peace. Or fight me and die!
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[shereen]

[bikertomm]

[shereen]

[Mondeo Man]

How to you go about disappearing to another country for a new life?

Serious. No useless mtfu answers. What are the practicalities?

[Chinaboy]

Seeing we don't know what the hell the OP does for a living it is difficult to assist his direct requirement.

I currently work in China - Shanghai, I am a Freelance Engineer, right now I work for a German company within a Chinese company and I am supervisor. My contracts are rolling and I follow the work. On Tuesday I fly north east 2500 miles from Shanghai to Qiqihar doing the same thing. Being freelance, I can choose when I work, so taking a month or two off between contracts is fine. The money is great and all expenses are paid by Germany.

There are specialised 'head hunting' companies out there who are always looking for new experienced personnel. I was picked up by an Austrian company initially.
There are many contracts in China, India, Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam right now, but having the right background is paramount.

As for MondeoMan's question, disappearing into a differnet country for a new life is quite easy really. I am proof of that. I am classified as an 'expat'. I work in China, live in the Philippines where my wife, family and home are. As expat, I still pay my taxes to the Uk to preserve my NHS and pension cover. Obviously being in another country you have to think about health cover and being insured, but my company do this for me. Knowing your way around visas and rules regarding length of stay in any particular country is a must (you never want to overstay) My Chinese visa runs out in June for example, I have extended twice already, so I will have to fly to Hong Kong or maybe somewhere nearer for a day or two to renew my visa and then back to work again. (all paid by the company)

For the OP, NOW IS YOUR TIME.... don't be held by your loyalty to anything in the Uk (friends/family). Do what pleases you, life is too short to think of 'what if's'... If you get offered a job grab it. You have nothing to lose and you will probably have the time of your life. For me it was the best thing I could have done, my wife comes to China with my baby son and stays. It is only a short flight back to the Philippines for us, where the sun shines every day. When I look back at the Uk now, it is not with rose tinted glasses, I look back with despair and anger because of all the shit that is making our once great country into a joke.
I wish you luck in your search.

[Lord Percy]

As an aside, I'd just like to add that I've also met some people who I guarantee would hate being away from home for too long. I dunno why. Seems downright ridiculous to me. But definitely some people seem to require their familiar comforts. Basically I have some friends who I recommend the world to, and others who I just know would hate it, unless it was just for a short and totally unrealistic excursion, like a hotel visit or a party holiday or whatever. Those kinds of people, when they do decided to leave the country, make it as far as place like Benidorm, and just live in another mini UK, only with better weather and different currency. They can do that if they want. Not my cuppa tea though. And when I talk about leaving the country, I mean it properly, like Chinaboy there. Pretty jealous actually!

[Visitor Q]

If you're a tradey, get out quickly before all of Ireland gets on the jobscene. Man they're everywhere now.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Lord Percy]

[instigator]

[Visitor Q]

[Lord Percy]

[Visitor Q]

Ah, now the northern British tradeys are starting to flood over (and why wouldn't you), and the cost of things to earning is so low, yeh I bet they're a lively bunch.

I never once found Northbridge rowdy or scary, get out to the country mate. The pier in Esperance is a hell of a kung fu bar.

Yes, the skills thing is a fair call. Known some great Irish over there, known some horrific ones. The work hard, but not necessarily smart... ie they'll rush things without thinking it through, so they have a hell of a reputation for breaking farm stuff. They still get hired, because they all grew up on 100 acre farms... but jebus, the way they do some stuff is terrifying.

I don't want to whinge too much about them, but the last 6 months on farms was eye-opening. I'll drink with them cheerfully, and they can be alright to live with (if they're not a group of heavy drinkers), but they can be a nightmare to work with. But I think the last two were actually staunchly anti-English, which is a bit pathetic but hey-ho.

Back to the OP though, if you can motivate yourself and you have some skills, Australia really isn't a bad bet. You're in no danger of meeting any talent there, so if you want that I'd recommend Asia. But you can save a big pot, very easily, once you get the first job. The first job in Oz is the killer, hence all the lying etc by the Irish.
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Clanger]

I've met quite a few people overseas / over the channel, who are living in hostels and working a few shifts to cover their board and lodgings. Some people do it for 6weeks some up to an over a year.

I've also met American's living in Europe teaching English - purely because they are native speaking. They don't have any TEFL qualifications, but then they don't get paid as much as those with specific qualifications - but is it about the money or quality of life??

Depends what you want to do really. If you really want it, you will find it. It's really not that hard. Google will list plenty.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Deckx]

[Chinaboy]

[Deckx]