Showing posts with label International Jobs for US Citizens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Jobs for US Citizens. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Jobs Overseas for Americans

Early in the month I blogged about the Obama Jobs Plan and the idea that Overseas Jobs are a good option for Americans to consider. Meanwhile back in March I blogged for a few days about those opportunities overseas for Americans who are having trouble finding work at home. Today I thought it time to bring the topic up again and provide fresh perspective on the concept. 

Working Overseas


Finding overseas jobs is something which can be a reality for those who are brave enough to do the work necessary to achieve that goal. While it's tough, very tough, here in the US for those out of work the reality is there are many, many jobs to be had overseas. That may seem like a contradictory idea, especially when we watch CNN or listen to news about the 'Arab Spring' and how it was brought about by disenfranchised and unemployed young people. That is very true but one must pause a realize as an American we have a lot things going for us that employers all over the world want. Number one is that we all speak English and we understand the motivation and behavior behind the American consumer. This may seem like nothing to you but realize that America is the number one consumer in the world and everyone wants a piece of that demand. The next important thing we have is education. It's true our education system has slipped and is in much need of repair but those Americans who have a degree or diploma and experience in the work force are head a shoulders above the rest of the world.







A Career Abroad isn't Easy


Before I paint too rosy a picture it's important to realize that working overseas is a challenge and a huge life changing experience. It's not for everyone but it can be for many. Here are a few tips to make your journey to the ex-pat lifestyle and an international career a bit easier:

  • Make sure to visit the country in which you plan to work ahead of accepting a job. It is best to research and choose a country in which you’d like to live, then begin applying and interviewing for jobs in that country. I like to say, Design your life. Then find the career that fits into it.
  • Moving overseas is a huge decision and not one to be made based on photos or statistics on a website. Even Hades can be made to sound appealing on the internet.
  • Look to our own government first. Again, this is somewhat counter-intuitive but realize that while our government is slashing and cutting at home they are continuing to spend ast amounts of money abroad. Instead of being the scape goat for your employment woes the US government could become your saviour. 

Overseas Government Job Opportunities


  • Diplomatic jobs such as Foreign Service Officer, Civil Service Officer, Diplomatic Security, Foreign Service Specialist and many others. These are jobs which support peace, prosperity and U.S. interests in overseas regions along with ensuring the safety of U.S. citizens visiting or living in the country to which these officers are assigned. Working in Embassies offers great opportunity of jobs overseas for Americans, but you must be legally eligible to work in the country where the embassy is located and typically you must have a work permit and residency visa for that country. Something that that takes a little work but is certainly doable.
  • Since the United States is currently supporting democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan there are several positions which are available to U.S. citizens on a temporary basis. Housing and accommodations are of a basic nature and these are not jobs in which a family can join the employee but for single people this can be a great way to see the world while earning some money.
  • The Peace Corps is a very worthwhile organization which has been around for 50 years this year. While working for the Peace Corps is primarily a volunteer position, it is a huge resume builder. Volunteers make a small salary for needs while abroad and the food and housing are provided by Peace Corps. When working for Peace Corps you have the ability to make a difference in the life of people less fortunate than yourself and will learn a lot  from the experience. These jobs are typically for young people ages 18-25.


  • Peace Corps also has permanent jobs relating to placing volunteers, securing jobs for volunteers and the administration of the program. To be eligible for these jobs you must meet the eligibility requirements and complete an online application.
  • Overseas Job hunting Tip - Many great jobs and resources can be found at the state department website.
  • D.o.D. - The Department of Defense hires civilian employees for many jobs at overseas American Military bases. Teaching is one of the positions for which the DoD recruits. Candidates must have 3 years teaching experience. Working on a military base can be the best of both worlds. Jobs are secure and pay better than most teaching jobs state side. On the base you have the security of the United States way of life, while outside the base you can explore the country in which you live.


Non-Government Job Opportunities Overseas


  • Middle/Upper management in manufacturing: While manufacturing appears to be a dying industry in America many places overseas are just getting into the game.  Management jobs are available in the manufacturing industry since all of our manufacturing jobs have moved overseas. These jobs usually pay well and it is expected that your family would accompany you. 
  • Construction jobs are available overseas but there are scams so beware. Do not forward anyone a fee. Go through reputable sources, such as the USAJobs.gov - the Federal Governments official job site. Private employers post jobs on websites such as USA Jobs. You do not have to be a government employee in order to work overseas safely. The Ladders headhunting company states they have careers abroad paying $100K + a year.
  • Greenforce.org is a non-government sponsored volunteering opportunity. It operates only at the invitation of the host country and its goal is to help protect and increase indigenous people’s food sources and help sustain wildlife and the ecosystem.

Jobs overseas can be temporary or permanent. Assess your goals, needs and desires before deciding what kind of job to choose.

Back in March I blogged for a few days about opportunities overseas for Americans who are having trouble finding work at home. I did a couple posts you may want to refer back to as there was some good, valuable info in those posts - check out Overseas Jobs for Americans  and International Jobs for US Citizens. Both will provide you with some useful information

Ready to learn more and make the jump to living overseas? Checkout this fast track way to make it happen - 52 Days To Your New Life Overseas

Friday, September 2, 2011

Overseas Jobs

Friday - Next week President Obama will reveal his Jobs Creation Package - yet another program to try and stimulate big business into putting just some of that boat load of cash they're sitting on back into circulation by hiring and putting American back to work. But what if it doesn't work?

What if this too is yet another failed stimulis?

Don Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports,

"The U.S. economy added no new jobs in August — the worst showing in a year — as employers cut back hiring and trimmed work hours of existing employees."

It seems big Business in America is quite happy to be sitting with a ton of cash. Lets face it the 'crisis' was a great opportunity to bust unions, cut wages and automate like mad. Actions that in the past would have  been met with a fury from workers and governments alike. But in the wake of a collapsing stock market and a collapsing economy all of a sudden businesses who fired workers and broke unions became the heros of the nation. They saved the day. So, why would they want to go back to the days of old? It's going just fine, thank you very much. Profits are through the roof and executive bonuses are bigger than ever. Plus the shareholders are wining too as the corporate stocks in their portfolios remain strong. Again, what if this latest tactic doesn't work?

Is there a Plan B?

I believe there may very be some good options for Americans seeking work and even if you don't like the idea of this, its a lot better than sitting back - hoping and praying President Obama can thaw out this long job freeze. Yes, it's always good to have back up plan.

Awhile back I blogged, just a little, about opportunities for Americans abroad in my post, Overseas Jobs for Americans. Over the next few days I will be adding a lot more to the topic. Watch this post as it grows both with information about news on the Jobs Creation Program and even more info providing some ideas and insights into this potential 'Plan B' for Americans - Overseas Jobs and the idea of working abroad...

Overseas Jobs for Americans

Saturday - I've been thinking long and hard; reading a lot and exploring options for work. How about you? Have you ever thought about going abroad for a job? Its entirely possible. Many people are doing it and achieving great success. There are very real opportunities when one broadens their horizon. Here are a few of the jobs that exist overseas for Americans in the IT field: computer graphics, programming and call center jobs. If you can step through the fear of leaving home and you're willing to work abroad, even if just for a while, then you'll soon discover you have an edge over others who are unable to find jobs in the US. Besides a solid income there are numerous other benefits to working abroad the least of which is making lifelong friends in other countries.






So let's look at a few of these job opportunities:

IT Jobs Overseas for US citizens

A segment that is showing robust potential is International IT (Information Technology) jobs for US citizens. The developing world is trying to catch up with everyone else. They have adequate manpower but lack the refined skills that an employee from the U.S. Offers. This translates into more employment opportunities for U.S. Citizens looking to expand their income and horizons.

  • Jobs in Computer Graphics

There are plenty of powerful computers around the world. But there are few experts in the use of the software. Plenty of oversea jobs for Americans exist, especially in computer graphics. If you know about marketing, advertising or graphics using computers, you could be in demand.

  • Jobs in Programming

Programming is another big opportunity. With big business going global and everyone getting connected, understanding and manipulating software technology is becoming ever increasingly in demand, especially with software as a service or web based systems, programmers are desperately in need, worldwide.

  • Call Center Expertise

Along with graphics and programming, call center services are growing fast in other parts of the world. Native English speaking Americans are especially in demand for call center positions. Especially with countries who have English speaking operators. If they even have a hint of an accent, customer service can be hurt. So native English speakers are in huge demand. Especially to train foreign nationals. The job scene in the US isn't the same as in other countries.




Nursing Jobs Overseas for Americans

If you are interested in a high paying job that allows you to see the world, you may want to consider a job in nursing overseas. There are currently a lot of job openings for nurses that work in certain specialties, so you could combine your love of travel with your method of funding the trip! Many countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and even Saudi Arabia are looking for American nurses.
  • Nursing Education 
Your education provided you with all you need to know to apply to these positions abroad. You can also continue your education while working abroad by taking specialized classes to earn higher pay. Your education taught you how to care for people of all different diversities, so now is the perfect time to put your education to use.
  • Nursing Course 
Your university may offer special courses either before or after you leave to begin your work abroad. These courses help prepare nurses for working in countries or regions that they are not used to working in. Sometimes the care practices and standards differ from the practices used in the United States, so it is beneficial to know these differences before you make mistakes while working abroad.

While the pay can be excellent for overseas jobs, and even if the pay isn't as good as you would earn in the United States, often the benefits make up for it. In many other countries, nurses receive up to five weeks of vacation and more flexible work hours. Often times, these job opportunities come with free housing, health insurance, and your earnings might even be tax-free! These are definitely benefits that should not be overlooked because it can be difficult to find these types of benefits working as a nurse in the United States.

Overseas Teaching Jobs For Americans

Many recent graduates with a diploma and teaching credentials wonder about applying for overseas teaching jobs. What are the requirements? Does one need to speak the host country's language? How are the salaries? What sorts of expenses are involved? Are there benefits?
  • International Schools Abroad
There are International Schools that cater to Americans living abroad found in nearly any country that a teacher may wish to work in. The parents may be overseas for business or because of military commitments or simply ex-patriates who want their children educated by Americans. Ironically some of these openings include countries where English is the first language.
  • Programs for Teaching Abroad
There are many opportunities for those with a good command of the English language, both written and oral. Obviously these positions are not in English-First language countries. The good news for teachers is that you are not required to be able to speak the indigenous language of the country, indeed these programs have curriculum along the training of ESL in the US.
  • Business Education Teaching Positions
A simple search of this section title will provide a wealth of possibilities. While knowledge of languages may not be required, one can deduce that the capability would be beneficial. If language mastery is not one of the applicants strengths, they should pay attention to those schools geared towards those stationed abroad for business, government, or military reasons. English is the first language for those students.

Overseas Truck Driving Jobs

Overseas truck driving jobs are a hot topic today. With an unpredictable economy and job market on the decline, many are taking their driving skills and hitting the road in foreign lands. When opportunity knocks, it is time to answer the door. Those with their appropriate driving license for truck driving are putting it to good use thousands of miles away in a strange, new world.
  • Experienced Truck Driving Jobs
The biggest job opportunities are in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Wherever there is a need to rebuild, there is a need for a trucker to carry goods and help with rebuilding projects. Truckers with the utmost experience are best suited as they will have to deal with complex situations; driving should be like second nature to each trucker. There are many dangers to be faced in the vicinity of a war zone. The load and the road are all that matter.
  • Truck Driving Opportunities
Truck driving positons are on the rise, especially in war torn areas that are rebuilding. Canada, even though it borders the US rather than being across the sea, can use truckers for delivery, especially when it cones to fuel. Answers are available for those willing to search.

For anyone with some driving experience who is unable to find work in America or who simply wants a change, a job overseas is certainly an option. It will mean hard, backbreaking work to drive long hours and take care of supplies. The driving time is long and the family may not be seen often. However, money is good and it is understandable why anyone would choose to relocate overseas now in trucking. Many see it as an adventure to join in the midst of war torn countries. Anyone selecting an international position should do their homework and research the pro's and con's of overseas trucking today.

The Best Jobs For Americans Overseas


Currently the best jobs for Americans overseas are in: IT (Information Technology), nursing, teaching, driving, medical and corporate just to name a few. Teachers will always be needed to provide instruction where English is not spoken or misunderstood by the locals. Teachers can present the English language in a simple, easy to understand manner for children and adults who have not previously been taught or lack the knowledge of certain phrases or pronunciations.
  • Abroad Careers
A career traveling abroad can mean more money, learning about the local culture and the people who reside there. Many people take classes and obtain a degree so they can travel abroad to teach a community how to speak the English language correctly, how to eat more nutritiously, how to manage information, how to run a business and more. If you are working for a national company, you may be offered a transfer to travel abroad and work at an overseas location. There many countries that don't have proper medical facilities to provide health care for the residents. Being a nurse or doctor can mean the world to a developing community that may not have the resources available to bring healthcare to everyone.
  • US Military Jobs Overseas
If you wish to live and work overseas you can join the military and sign up for one of the many positions that are offered and be on your way to a new career. Another option is writing about the experiences you or others have had while serving overseas. The National Guard offers training and college courses for those who have recently graduated from high school or college. Overseas jobs are a way to serve our country and present our culture to those who are not familiar or haven't visited the United States. It means providing services that may otherwise not exist for those in need. Show your Red White And Blue support!

Overseas Jobs

Whether one is an experienced teacher looking for a change of scenery or a recent graduate seeking a position that provides some experiences and opportunities to grow their resume, a foreign position may be exactly what you are looking for. The opportunities are easy to find, many being government positions for children of the military or of diplomats and staff stationed abroad. Careers Abroad are plentiful.

If you start thinking about it this week, you might find yourself in a new and exciting career in the very near future.

Ready to learn more and make the jump to living overseas? Checkout this fast track way to make it happen - 52 Days To Your New Life Overseas







Monday, May 30, 2011

The Best Places to Live Cheaply

It seems the prices of food and gas are rising daily and yet most peoples earnings have been at a stand still for years now. That leaves a lot of people looking for the best places to live cheaply. That is places where the dollar will stretch and last as long as possible. In this blog we continually review places to live all of the world. We spend a lot of time looking for the cheapest places to live and we also occasionally put money a side and consider things that add up to give the Best Places for Quality of Life.

In your personal quest to discover the best place for you to live cheaply we thought these resources may come in handy. Check them out and please leave us a comment if you find these helpful in finding the perfect place for you and your family.

The International Salary Calculator


One of the first places you may want to consider having a look as you scour the globe to find the most affordable place to live is to determine exactly how far your salary will take you in the a new city or country. Sure, moving means your salary will likely change but it's good to know ahead of time how much you need to earn to cover your living expenses in your chosen new location. The best place we've found to get started is:

Salary.com.  This a terrific financial site that will give you a lot of details. This is  U.S. based information so you can discover the salary range for your chosen career for specific areas in the United States The site also gives you additional information like education requirements and usual benefits, and it'll even estimate your pay check.

International Salary Calculator: For U.S. Citizens considering International Jobs PayScale.com is a great tool for broadening your search to other countries. Their dbase s still more based on US data than anywhere else but they are expanding and collecting data form other countries. SalaryExpert.com is another tool for finding out what your profession makes in another country. It has a large selection of city information for most parts of the developed world.

Cost of Moving Calculator


Sperling.com has one of the best cost of living calculators online. It takes into account where you live now and allows you to compare to where you want to live. You can alos compare your current salary and how much you will need to earn in your new location to maintain your current lifestyle.  CNN Money also has a similar calculator tool but it doesn't offer nearly the depth of detail that Sperling does. Another problem is that CNN tends to be US-Centric so their tools and information are generally limited to the United States.

Where are the Most Affordable Places to Live?


Every now and then Business Week will have some good articles on the most affordable housing  in the US. One such article noted Minot, Fort Worth and Tulsa, Ok all making the list. However, that information is a bit dated as it was originally published in 2006. Still, BW is a great resource for current information on the best places to live and its a good place to start your research. For the past few years  the economic downturn has impacted the housing market the most and it continues to have an affect on most of the country. This has certainly made real estate more affordable for those who still have a job and can afford to buy.

Another study titled 'Eight Cheapest Places to Live' is also from BusinessWeek and it gives a good list of the cheapest places to live in America including info and stats on crime and other factors to consider before moving. Making this list are: Austin,Tx;  Boise, Id;  Minneapolis, Mn and Olympia, WA.

Kiplinger.com is another site for great articles on how far your real estate purchasing dollar will go. It focused on home prices between $300,000 to $1 million. Kiplinger ranked Fort Smith one of the cheapest and also gives us a way to see which areas of the country are offering the best values in Real Estate. And lets face it who doesn't enjoy the fantasy of seeing just how far a million bucks will go!

TODAY.msnbc at msn.com offers up a great little video on the 'Cheapest Places to Rent'. They examine the top cities for living cheap by renting. The cheapest place to live on rent - Wichita, Kansas at just $470 per month for a 600 sq ft place.  In Dayton, Ohio a 500 sq ft home sets you back $570 per month. The video and article also has some interesting details about each city, including some fun facts that might make a move to these smaller cities worth your while. And if you've been searching for a high-end lifestyle at a cheap price they also discuss the top five fancy places to live that have dropped substantially in price. Where lifestyle is your most important criteria and cost secondary you can also explore the Healthiest and Wealthiest countries to live in.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Teaching Jobs Overseas For Americans

Teaching jobs overseas for Americans might be the perfect job for you if you really like to teach and have an interest or curiosity about foreign cultures. Your successful job search is not based on cheap places to go on vacation but location is a major concern most likely and should be one of your major concerns. Because there are so many different types of teaching jobs all over the world, surely you can find one that will mesh with your desires and passions. Most teaching jobs are for people that speak English and would find it attractive to teach to students as a second language.
There are a wide variety of qualifications depending on where you might teach and who the employer is. Sometimes a bachelor’s of Education degree is required and other times it is not necessary that your degree be in education at all. Sometimes it is not even necessary that you have a University degree as long as you speak English as your native language. Extensive experience is not necessary in many cases either but can be helpful to secure an attractive job. If your degree has a concentration on instructing English as a second language, your chances are increased exponentially. The pay you can command can also be greatly increased when your degree fits that job.
Martial status or life partner issues sometimes will play a roll in determining the eligibility of a person. In some cases the school will look at a couple as a more stable situation and prefer that, while others will look for primarily single teachers. If both partners are teachers this can be an advantage for the school system as the housing requirements will be less for a couple and in essence they only have to provide one residence for two teachers. Not surprisingly, most school systems no not tolerate dating of the student population and a stable relationship may be looked on as a help in this regard.
Being able to speak the local language is not usually required and it is sometimes preferred that you do not. When my friend was living in Belize as an American it forced her to learn the local language faster since many only spoke Spanish. Likewise, I am sure it will force your students to acclimate to English faster if you don’t speak the local language for them to fall back on. It is looked upon as an advantage that you do not rely on the local language and your students do not usually expect it either. Sometimes you will find there are programs provided by the school to help the teachers in their own interaction but as far as the classes are concerned the local language is usually not required.
A year teaching is the standard assignment for teaching in most foreign schools but there are exceptions to that especially when it is a volunteer job. The volunteer jobs are far more flexible with commitments than are those that are paid.
As with any job the pay depends on several factors and when you ask the question ‘what city should I live in to teach’, pay will be different. The job / contract length, what is required of you in terms of qualifications and where the job is located all make a difference in pay. The latter is primarily due to the cost of living. It would behove you to do some serious research about the cost of living before you accept any teaching job so you have a good idea what you are getting yourself into.
Something that you may be surprised to find out is that certain locations prefer certain English accents. It is generally whatever has become acceptable in the school location. In turn, that is what they want from the teachers that they hire. For instance in Mexico they want American accents but in Europe they mostly want the British accent. It really makes sense as it is what the locals are more accustomed to hearing.
One primary concern that people have about teaching abroad is around getting set up in the new location and the cheapest places where they can stay. It is often the case where the school will either provide the teacher with housing or if not, at least provide them with help in securing the cheapest place to live. Just be very careful that there is a clear understanding (in writing) about what sort of arrangement there is and who is to provide what. There is nothing that can ruin your experience faster than uncomfortable or unsuitable accommodations.
Another thing to be clear about before you make any real commitment is to figure out who (what group) you will be teaching. It could be professionals; it could be housewives, children or other age groups. Each of these groups will take a different focus and skill set so you will want to know what you are getting into.
Because you will be signing a contract in order to get these jobs you will want to be sure and research every aspect of the position and that you understand exactly what you are getting yourself into. Spend an appropriate amount of time researching every aspect of the arrangement and know exactly what it means for you to find international jobs for US citizens and then you will be able to help others along the path to finding teaching jobs overseas for Americans if you want to.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Overseas Jobs For Americans

This post about overseas jobs for Americans is a follow-up to the post from two days ago, titled International Jobs for US Citizens. In my previous research I also found more information about teaching jobs overseas for Americans and international employment that I felt like was relevant to the American who is looking to move and work overseas but would make the last post entirely too long. In that article I talked about the normal avenues to find jobs that are available internationally like the following:

international banking jobs
teach English abroad
international business
teaching jobs abroad
international nursing jobs
overseas security jobs
international business jobs
teaching abroad
oil and gas jobs overseas
international executive jobs
overseas contractors
truck driving jobs overseas
international sales jobs

international finance jobs


Beyond these, what really caught my eye was a large quantity of information about the US government and how they hire a lot of employees and of course US citizens are who they hire. The overseas jobs for Americans that I found available through the government are drug abuse specialists, teachers, housing officers, social workers, engineers, equipment specialists, shorthand reporters, procurement officers, nurses, management analysts, foreign service officers, auditors, accountants and the list goes on. I felt like as broad a range as was included in this list, there must be people in these fields that come to this blog regularly and that could use this information about overseas government jobs.

There are almost 90,000 employees that work abroad in about 140 countries so surely almost anyone with any sort of skill could qualify for some of the jobs for Americans abroad. The largest employer is the Defence Department with almost 50,000 overseas employees and the State Department is 2nd with over 20,000 working internationally.

As far as an outsider that is a US citizen just walking in and getting a job, it is not quite that easy. First these agencies look internally to hire whatever skill they need for jobs overseas but if there is no one that either qualifies or applies for the job they will post the job through agencies .
One would need to contact an agency for these lists of jobs to start an overseas job search. Following are some of the websites that may offer you assistance in finding these jobs abroad :

The Air Force Service Career Program at this site:
www.afsv.af.mil/ndex.asp

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service at this site: www.odin.aafes.com/Employment/default.asp

The Navy Morale, Welfare & Recreation at this site:
www.mwr.navy.mil/

The Army Civilian Personel OnLine at this site:
www.cpol.army.mil/library/naf/

The Navy Exchange System at this site:
www.nexnet.nexweb.org/pls/nexjobs/work4us

The Marine Corp Community Services at this site:
www.usmc-mccs.org/

Overseas Employment Conditions

There are certain conditions that must be meet for some of the overseas contract jobs. These conditions can be security related, physical, educational qualification, tour of duty. These conditions are announced at the same time as the job and will be listed as conditions, restrictions and qualifications.
There are also other qualifications that may be part of a job requirement. Things like physical examinations, security checks, transportation agreements, requirements for foreign language, depending on the job there may be restrictions on dependents too.

International Compensation

The pay and benefits are most of the time very similar both in and out of the United States but in addition there is often a pay differential, housing allowance and sometimes a cost-of-living allowance depending on the situation. The benefits are good and are very similar for civil employees everywhere.

There is a fair amount of competition for jobs abroad for Americans but for a qualified individual there are still jobs, especially as the rotation of people back from tours of duty are constantly creating openings.

These types of jobs may not be the best for everyone but for those that qualify these jobs overseas for Americans can be a real bonus for the person seeking to live in a foreign country. It certainly will give you a chance to see a new part of the world and who knows, you may find your best place to retire or even find some really cheap places to live and retire.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

International Jobs for US Citizens

As you know this Blog is all about finding the Best Places to Live in the World. For some that means a great place to spend their retirement years for others it means cutting their cost of living - finding a more affordable way to live so they can enjoy a higher quality of life. I get feedback from people all the time wanting to move and looking for cheap places to live abroad. But they also need to find places where they can still work. My good friend Mel just sent me this handout he had put together for a course he was teaching called, The Best Places to Live Abroad for Americans. He shared this segment of his course and the handout is titled,

International Jobs for US Citizens

Guest post by Mel B

Our world has changed over the last few years as the economy has declined and because the job market has shifted too, overseas jobs for Americans are becoming more and more attractive. These overseas jobs for Americans are sometimes just more attractive and more people are willing to explore the possibility. Although there certainly is an appeal and a certain amount of glamor associated with working internationally, it often fades to some degree when the effort to secure that job is spread out before you. It has become more difficult as the competition has increased as a result of the global economy and the increasing numbers of people willing to work abroad but it is certainly still possible. There are many possibilities that are often available internationally that have domestic equivalents and should make the transition possible. For instance, teaching jobs overseas for Americans are plentiful but there are many others besides. Here are just a few:
  • International nursing jobs
  • International sales jobs
  • Overseas security jobs
  • Overseas teaching jobs
  • International business jobs
  • International finance jobs
  • International engineering Jobs
  • Non profit jobs
  • International marketing jobs
  • International accounting jobs
  • Overseas construction jobs
  • International consulting jobs
It is not unusual for we Americans to believe we can just make application and if we are qualified or the best candidate we will get the job. Unfortunately that is not the reality. There is a lot more to the process and it takes far more effort and persistence to secure a position internationally. Some Americans have never even heard of a CV which is the equivalent of the resume and it can even be different in different countries. Another issue that often needs to be addressed is the very real possibility that the country that you land a job in will likely require you to have a visa and it is not uncommon for a visa to take months to get. The good news is many companies that hire internationally will help with this process but it is another hurdle that has to be overcome in the process. One option that some people overlook is the company they already work for. If you are working for a multinational company right now you may have a good chance of transferring abroad easier than finding employment otherwise. You never know until you ask. When you set out to form a plan you will need to keep in mind several factors besides what we have already discussed. First, you will need s assess your abilities so you can accurately filter the jobs you do in fact find and apply for. Also you will need to identify the companies or the industries where your skill set fits and where you have interest. Overshadowing all of these decisions is to identify the countries where you would like to live. Hopefully you will have been in these countries and actually know first-hand about the customs and the cultures. The cultural differences can also be a blind spot that need to be addressed in order to successfully prepare for all aspects of finding and taking a job in a foreign country. The culture in your target country will have an influence on every aspect of the job like:

1. Interrupting information you gather
2. The job application process
3. The interview
4. Negotiation for salary and benefits
5. On the job relationships
6. Rules of conduct in the workplace

These are just some of the ways that culture can directly effect your success of failure in finding jobs abroad for us citizens and doesn’t even begin to address your experience outside of work that so often are important in building a network of contacts to support your work. Because many Americans do not speak a second language this can have a tremendous effect on which jobs are available to even apply for but there is good news. There are many countries where English is the official language and in turn there will be many more opportunities for employment there. In the following table are listed 54 countries where English is the official language and this should significantely reduce the barriers in finding international employment.

Anguilla
Cayman Islands
Jamaica
Papua New Guinea
Tanzania
Antigua and Barbuda
Dominica
Kenya
Scotland
Tonga
Australia
England
Lesotho
Seychelles
Trinidad and Tobago
Bahamas
Fiji
Liberia
Sierra Leone
Turks and Caicos Islands
Barbados
Gambia
Malawi
Singapore
Uganda
Belize
Ghana
Malta
Solomon Islands
United Kingdom
Bermuda
Gibraltar
Mauritius
South Africa
Vanuatu
Botswana
Grenada
Montserrat
St. Kitts and Nevis
Wales
British Virgin Islands
Guyana
Namibia
St. Lucia
Zambia
Cameroon
Ireland, Northern
New Zealand
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Zimbabwe
Canada (except Quebec)
Ireland, Republic of
Nigeria
Swaziland


There is a lot to this whole international job search but we hope we are leaving you with a more in lightened approach to the matter and some tools that you can use to ease the process no matter where in the world you choose to make your next home. As one final gift we would like to leave you with is a list of some of the more established web locations where you can do significant research on finding international jobs for Americans.

Antal International
Offices in 24 countries with 50 staffed offices. Opened in 1993 and has successfully placed executive in 75 countries
ART: Atlantic Research Technologies
This firm works worldwide to place US and Canadian workers in upper and middle management . Caters to high-tech, industrial and service sectors.
Barclay Simpson
UK based corporate governance recruitment. Specializes in jobs in Internal auditing, financial crimes, information security, risk, compliance, IT auditing and public sector jobs.
CareerJet
This is a search engine for international employment. One can even browse by county, job type or geographic area.
Embassy Job Search
As the name indicates this site all about Embassy jobs but they are not job listings but there are links to the embassy websites you may show jobs available in countries where you may be interested.
Employerjobs.com
Another job search engine based in the UK with reach outside. Key word search based. It appears that applicants get some additional exposure on the front page with a rotating list of names of people seeking employment.
Eurojobs.com
Pan-European job search engine with great country search that details the results by job type and number of jobs
ExecutivesOnTheWeb.com
UK based career site offering executive job search for senior management jobs across the Middle East, Europe, UK, and Africa. Visitors need to register to apply for jobs but can search jobs without registering.
ExecutiveSurf
Executive search firm based in London with offices in Prague, Warsaw and Milan. On their website candidates can apply for positions they are qualified.
GigaJob
Large website covering many countries, some that are not often covered in the international sites. You will not be able to search the entire database at once but will need to switch from one country to another in your job search.
Goinglobal.com
This is a standout site as it offers more than most for the international job seeker. It has lots of country info as well as tools and links that are useful in putting together your resume/CV as well as your job search and cultural advise.
Hudson
An industry leader in recruitment with international recruiting offices in 20 countries. Many valuable resources for the job seeker offered online.
iAgora.com
This site focuses on the recent college grad that may be looking for opportunities internationally. You can apply for free but there is a paid membership offered.
iHipo.com
Singapore based "iHipo targets young professionals and students with a social network platform for both seekers and employers. Registration is not requred to search but it is to apply for jobs.
International Jobs
Career Services for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin
This site offers a lot of information for the international job seeker including what to expect when you step outside your home country. It attempts to prepare the uninitiated for the world of international employment and they do a pretty good job.
Jobbind.com
Great search engine for finding jobs in many countries. You will default to your country when you go to the site but you can easily change country to search another. One of the widest array of jobs and countries although some have been in the database for an extended period.
Locanto
This site brings together classified ads from all over the world including job postings. You may find jobs posted here that may not be posted elsewhere.
Monster.com
One of the 'monsters' in the industry this site speaks for itself and its reputation for job listings proceeds your visit.
NES Global
This site specializes in engineering services and specialist staff support solutions to its worldwide client base across the Oil & Gas, Power Generation and in doing so gives it a strong footing with offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
OverseasJobs.com
International jobs and overseas assignments are the foundation of this site for expats and professionals alike. You can check out jobs without registering
PlanetRecruit.com
Jobs from all over the world on this site and registration is not necessary. One nice feature of this site is you can only send your resume to the intended receipent and it will not be visable to others.
Renego
A classified search engine that has a database of UK, Spain, India, Poland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and even the US. Local language is requried on many of the countries internal pages.
SAM Headhunting
This site is a little different than most as it presents the searches it is working at the moment and you can even see the positions they are trying to fill in individual offices. They cover 19 countries.
StepStone
StepStone works primarily within Europe. Just like so many others you select a country from a map or from the dropdown menu and start your search there.
TipTopJob
This site is like many other in that it has an international list of jobs and you do not have to register to look but if you apply it will automatically register you with the details of your CV
Trovit
Covering many countries in Latin America as well as Europe and the US this classified site has a lot to offer even the casual international job seeker.
World Job List
Site offers advise as well as listing spread all over the world. Most are spa and hospitality industry although others are also represented.