5 Ways to Continue Professional Development Online while Working Abroad
Just because you are working outside of your home country, it does not mean that your education and professional development needs to be on hold. It may seem difficult to pursue any sort of additional education in a foreign country. The idea of taking courses in a new language and navigating the education systems of a totally different culture are definitely daunting. And the possibility of the degrees you do receive abroad not being recognized in your home country is also an issue. However, there are actually plenty of education opportunities readily available online, often...
Read MoreWorking in Brazil
I thought I’d share with you some of the opportunities and challenges of working in Brazil today. With a population close to 200 million, you can imagine the challenge of so many people trying to find a job. The Brazilian government has strict laws to protect jobs for its citizens, and companies need to prove how an expatriate is more qualified than a Brazilian in order to hire a foreigner. This is a great challenge for many companies since there are so many highly skilled Brazilians available for employment. Career Options The best way for expats to find employment in...
Read More3 Areas to Research Before Launching an International Job Search
Recently, I was in Toronto. Toronto is known as the most diverse city in the world, with more than half of its population being foreign-born. What a treat for me to spend some time speaking with other career professionals who regularly work with high-skilled, job-seeking international professionals. We discussed many issues facing this population, but I want to share with you the top three areas that were discussed regarding what international professionals need to research in order to be effective in the job search. These three areas apply to you whether you’re an international...
Read MoreGet Lost in Business Culture
As Susanne Taylor points out in her blog post “Why Getting Lost is Good for You,” it can be helpful to “get lost” in the culture of another country. Not to “be lost,” as Susanne points out, but to “get lost” by observing the nuances of the country and its culture. Learning the business culture in your new host country is critical to making a strong first impression as well as demonstrating professional behavior to your peers, whether they are locals or expatriates. The nexus of culture and your job search is where you will ultimately achieve job search success. Almost everything you...
Read More3 Strategies for Explaining a Career Gap While You Were Overseas
Almost all expats have a break in their career at some point. The moves overseas and spouses having to quit jobs to move along with their families mean months or sometimes years without working in your chosen profession. If the gap in your employment is less than one year, don’t worry about it. Employers are used to seeing gaps of a year or less, and this doesn’t put them off. But what if your gap is more than a year, what should you do? 1. Make sure to include any relevant activities during the gap on your resume. If you studied for your Master’s or took some classes during your gap,...
Read More