Finding jobs overseas
Working in a country with a different cultural background can give you new insights and perspectives. You might pick up a new language or improve on existing language skills. You will gain practical work experience skills in a different working environment, exposure to a different culture and meet a wide range of people.
All of these experiences can enhance your CV. Working overseas may demonstrate your ability to be independent, self-reliant, not afraid to take on new challenges and able to work with people from a variety of backgrounds. These are assets that many employers are looking for.
You may have a particular area of the world or country in mind when you are considering overseas experience. Things to think about before you decide include
- Culture - is this something you would be able to cope with and enjoy? (e.g. the culture in the United Kingdom is very different from the culture in China)
- Language - are your language skills developed enough to live and work in the country of your choice? Language skills needed for living and working in a country can be very different from the skills you would need to survive a holiday overseas.
- Visa requirements - do you need a visa to work in the country? Are there any restrictions on the sort of work you can do and for how long you can work? (You will need to look at embassy websites for the country you want to work in to find the answer to these questions. Try the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic and Consular list.)
Students may choose casual, voluntary or temporary work or a graduate position when working overseas. With graduate positions, you will be competing with graduates from the country you want to go to, so you should identify the extra skills, qualities and experience you have to offer. A number of graduates choose to work in New Zealand initially (perhaps for an international company) for a year or two before working overseas. Some international companies offer overseas secondments to employees who want to travel and see the world.
You might want to speak to one of the Careers Consultants at University Careers Services about working overseas.
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- Asia
- Goinglobal:
Website contains detailed information on finding employment in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States. This is a subscription website provided by University of Auckland Careers Services.
You'll need your UPI and password to access Goinglobal.
Access Goinglobal
- Vault Career Insider
There are Vault guides on Chinese, French, Spanish, German and UK employers and many other topics.
Access Vault Career Insider
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Prospects country specific information:
Written for UK graduates wanting to work overseas, these pages provide information on the job market, language requirements, job application process, vacancy sources, work experience, further study, contacts and links to further information for around 52 countries.
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Gapwork.com
A site promoting gap year opportunities in foreign countries.
- Goinglobal:
Australia is one of the countries covered in more detail in the Goinglobal website.
You'll need your UPI and password to access Goinglobal. -
My Future:
Australian government careers information site including useful information on work and employment
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Graduate Careers Australia:
Australian graduate careers and employment website. They also have a section where you can search for local graduate salary information. -
Graduate Opportunities:
You will find the online versions of the Graduate Opportunities series of publications on this site. Titles include:-
Undergraduate opportunities : Australasia's graduate jobs directory
- Graduate opportunities : Australasia's graduate jobs directory
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Graduate opportunities in Engineering and IT
- Graduate opportunities in Accounting, Business, Finance
- Graduate opportunities for International Students
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Undergraduate opportunities : Australasia's graduate jobs directory
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CVmail:
Online application system for law firms around the world -
Careers Online:
Australian job search and career development website -
Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship:
Includes information on the right to work in Australia -
Hi Wages:
Part-time, casual and temp job seeker's website -
Unigrad:
Source of jobs in Australia
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Pacific Island Jobs:
Online job portal for sustainable development opportunities in the Oceania region. In addition to jobs, the site also details volunteering, internship and scholarship opportunities.
- Goinglobal:
Asian countries covered in the the Goinglobal website include: China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
You'll need your UPI and password to access Goinglobal. -
Graduan for Malaysian Fresh Graduates:
Career and employment resource for Malaysian fresh graduates -
CareerJet:
Employment search engine for Malaysia and other parts of Asia -
Hong Kong government vacancies:
Civil Service vacancies advertised by the Government of Hong Kong - Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa information
- Employment Service of Hong Kong
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JobStreet.Com:
Malaysian site with job vacancies across Asia-Pacific -
Jet Programme:
Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme -
The National University of Singapore's Careers Services Useful Links page:
Includes several vacancy sources
- Goinglobal:
The United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and Norway are covered in more detail in the Goinglobal website.
You'll need your UPI and password to access Goinglobal. -
Eurograduate Live:
Graduate vacancies advertised across Europe -
Europlacement:
Information about international internships, traineeships or graduation assignments aimed at students and higher education institutions -
Prospects.ac.uk:
UK graduate careers site with job vacancies -
Reed Recruit:
Online UK recruitment agency -
Top Jobs:
Online UK recruitment agency -
British High Commission in New Zealand:
Information on visas and various job/immigration initiatives -
Teaching personnel:
Information about teaching work available in England and Wales -
RED: Recruitment for Education:
Primary, secondary and other positions in the UK and beyond.
- Goinglobal:
The United States is one of the countries covered in more detail in the Going Global website.
You'll need your UPI and password to access Goinglobal. -
CareerOneStop:
American careers and job vacancy website -
Riley Guide:
American site highlighting employment opportunities and job resources on the Internet -
US Embassy in Wellington:
US Embassy information about visas
Job choices 2012
If you are eligible or interested in working in the United States, the following publications from National Association of Colleges and Employers may help you search for job opportunities.
Job choices for business and liberal arts students
Find out about opportunities in the United States for arts and business graduates.
There are other articles as well - including one on a web cam interview.
Click on the image to go to the e-book.
Job choices for diversity
Find out about opportunities in the United States for minority and ethnic groups.
There are other articles as well - including 10 top tips for using social media in your job search.
Click on the image to go to the e-book.
Job choices for science, engineering & technology
Find out about opportunities in the United States for science, engineering and techology graduates.
There are other articles as well - including one called From student to professional.
Click on the image to go to the e-book.
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Overseas Jobs Express:
Website advertising international job opportunities -
Academic360.com:
A collection of Internet resources gathered for the academic job hunter -
World Health Organisation:
World Health Organisation job site -
Careers at UNICEF:
Vacancy information including internships -
United Nations:
Employment opportunities with the United Nations
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Teach Korea NZ:
Information about teaching English in Korea -
Dave's ESL Cafe:
Information for ESL/EEF students and teachers, general information and weblinks for ESL teachers and students -
ESL Worldwide:
Website with vacancy and other information about teaching English abroad -
Jet Programme:
Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme -
Kojen English Language Schools:
Information on teaching English in Taiwan -
NZ Embassy in Korea:
Has information for New Zealanders in Korea including Teaching English -
VIF Program: Visiting International Faculty Program:
Cultural exchange opportunities in US for NZ teachers
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Working Holiday Schemes:
NZ has reciprocal working holiday scheme agreements with several countries -
International Exchange Programmes (IEP):
Information on work programmes in the USA and Canada, UK and Ireland and France -
Raleigh International:
A charity organisation enabling young people of all backgrounds and nationalities ot grow personally through volunteering on worth while team based community, environmental and adventure projects
Voluntary work is also a good way to get experience overseas. You will find links to several sites offering overseas volunteering opportunities on Internships and voluntary work.
