Moving abroad for study or work

A. Studying overseas

Rewarding for both you and the students you will meet abroad, studying away from where you grew up can develop your international understanding as well as improving your chances of having a successful career after graduation. 

1. Identify what courses you want to study and the topics they should cover

Once you know which subjects you want to take up, you’ll be able to identify the country, school or university you wish to relocate to. For example, Germany has a great background in all engineering fields.

2. Find relevant universities that match your requirements

Not all universities in your chosen country will offer the exact course you want. So, filter down on the exact city/town you’ll stay in, by identifying the universities that do offer the course you prefer. Make sure the qualifications they offer will be accepted in the country you eventually want to work in.

3. Complete other admission proficiency requirements

Many countries have other proficiency requirements such as TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, IELTS, etc., depending on the course you wish to take.

4. Submit your essay and application forms

Most universities overseas want to check your communication skills, critical thinking skills and personality through the essay. So be careful when writing your essay. The same goes for the application form. There should be no discrepancy between what’s listed on the form and the documents you send as proof.

5. Apply for scholarship/financing

Each university will have its own scholarship/financing process. You can send these documents along with the application forms and essays.

6. Prepare to relocate

It takes a few months for universities to come back with a response. Once they do, you can select the university of your choice (assuming you are accepted to more than one) and make arrangements to move, learn the foreign language, customs and history before relocating. It makes it much easier to integrate and find friends! Infact you can make friends already before you move by using the social media platforms that past and present students of the college use.

7. Complete the country-relevant student visa formalities

After selecting the university and making the first payment, you’ll receive the admission letter. This should be submitted to the foreign embassy in your country, to complete student visa formalities which will include showing your financial strength and ability to meet the expected expenses of living there. You may be allowed to work temporarily whilst studying, and this can really help you integrate socially as well as benefit you financially.

8. Find accommodation in the foreign country.

If you don’t have family or friends there or the college does not provide accommodation, it will take a lot longer than you might think to find somewhere to live. Also remember that many landlords require a deposit and often try to keep the deposit after you leave at the end of your studies so make sure you read the contract carefully and get some advice on how to protect your deposit. 

B. Working in a foreign country 

1. Identify the job opportunities overseas

Assuming you don’t have a job lined up already (an international job transfer from your existing company is much easier as they can sponsor you), then finding out if your job skills are required in the country of your choice is important. The higher the requirement, the easier it is to relocate to that country. The embassy website will have the requisite tools that you can use to check this. For example hairdressers and plumbers are much in demand in Australia and can easily get visas, whereas finance professionals and those with IT skills are much in demand in London and Dubai.
If you are fortunate enough to have larger financial means, you can often enter on an investor’s permit, by buying into property or investing in a business.

2. Apply for the work permit or Permanent Residency 

Once you identify where you’ll have work opportunities, you must apply for the work permit or Permanent Residency for that country. You can’t apply to a company abroad without these documents.
This process includes tests like TOEFL, IELTS, CELPIP etc. where they check language proficiency. Your work records, financial records and criminal records will also be checked. You may also be asked to furnish the address you plan to live at when there.
You may also need to complete other tests if you are taking a dependent such as your spouse/family/parents there with you.

3. Network with people to find jobs 

While you wait for the visa formalities to finish, you can network online with people to find open positions in a foreign country, in the city of your choice. LinkedIn and job boards like Monster/Indeed are great for this.

4. Personalize your resume to suit the country’s accepted format 

Once you find an open position that you want to apply to, personalize the resume to suit the country’s requirements. Check what format they use, the writing tone they adopt and the cover letter practices they value.

5. Keep in touch with the recruiter/employer throughout the selection process 

Always make yourself available to help the recruiter/employer help you. Send documents on time, attend interviews diligently and be open about your work records & preferences. Make sure they feel that you are worthy for them to make an investment in you by getting much more back in return.

6. Learn the foreign language 

Many countries like Paris, Germany, Canada etc. prefer it if you are proficient in the primary language before applying for the job. This tells them that you will be able to handle the job seamlessly, without language barriers.

7. Accept the job offer and relocate to the country 

Once your work permit or Permanent Residency is allocated and you receive a job offer, you can relocate to the country. Often, for many people who are relocating on work overseas, the biggest challenge is to find a place to stay. Instead of trying to buy a home right away, consider renting a home in the economical side of town. Many sections in a city have budgeted housing or AirBnB housing or even hostels which you can choose to stay in for a very low cost. You can also ask the company to help you find a property to stay in or use their company guest house facilities for a week or two while you get settled in. 

8. Making New Friends & Keeping Old Ones

Integrating into your new country is vitally important if you want to make a success of your career. Every society has strong historical and cultural reasons for the way in which they do business and how they interact with one another. If you are to be truly of greatest use to your employer by delivering the best results, you will need to do much more than just turn up to work. You will need to embed your self in the country. This may mean spending less time with people you know from back home, and more time being a risk taker by joining local clubs, doing volunteer work and spending your time visiting museums and places of cultural importance. You might not always like or understand what you see and experience but it will greatly assist you in your career and help you to even make some new friends.