Working Abroad...no idea where to start

Girlfriend and I are both looking to work abroad next year for 1 or 2 years due to the fact we have just purchased a house and feel we now have a bolt hold we can use.

 

Ideally we would like to move to an Asian hub like Bangkok, Singapore, KL, Mumbai and I work in a private school as some kind of netmanager / ict leader. Failing this I would be willing to work any IT job but really want a 'proper' job as we had promised ourselves we don't want to take 2 years out and work in a bar/fruit picking as we are past that stage and have got the t-shirt. In reality though we would travel anywhere as long as we could both get semi decent jobs (GF is a print designer) .

 

The problem is I have no idea where to start searching + applications. I have found a few bits in the TES but it seems generally quite difficult to find websites and jobs that offer things in America. Would ideally find a recruitment agency that specialises in this sort of thing.

 

Also if anyone is willing to have a peruse at my CV I would be forever in your debt.

Hello,

 

I think you'll be hard pushed to find work before you go as this is a pretty broad area to work and I'm sure local talent would get preference because it's simpler for them to get someone local.

 

Have you ever considered TEFL? You could both get work before you go. The salary isn't that bad, it's no that bad a salary - pretty good, but it does depend where you go.

 

Best of luck.

I've been looking into this is New Zealand as they as desperate for IT Staff - there is a website http://www.workhere.co.nz that specialises in forign Workers

TEFL is a good idea, if either of you were teachers the international market is massive, but a TEFL can put you in some exotic places and the work can be more relaxed than a school environment/

 

LinkedIn is pretty good for jobs and you can join a number of groups where you can get some good info.

 

Also look at an agency like ESP - Education Support Professionals presumably if you're here, you're most likely in education ...? there aren't that many intl IT postings in schools, but they do exist and getting in when they appear is vital. spk to @Will_Townsend

Thanks vik! Esp has some experience working with international schools and it's an area we are heavily investing into this year, teaching and non teaching, get your cv to [email protected] and I will get in touch with you

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using EduGeek

Hello,

 

I think you'll be hard pushed to find work before you go as this is a pretty broad area to work and I'm sure local talent would get preference because it's simpler for them to get someone local.

 

Have you ever considered TEFL? You could both get work before you go. The salary isn't that bad, it's no that bad a salary - pretty good, but it does depend where you go.

 

Best of luck.

 

Cheers. Im Hoping to go for not just a pure tech role ideally which I hope will stand me out slightly. Not a qualified teacher but having been officially teaching as an unqualified teacher for a while and hope I can fill some sort of ICT leader role

 

TEFL is a good idea, if either of you were teachers the international market is massive, but a TEFL can put you in some exotic places and the work can be more relaxed than a school environment/

 

LinkedIn is pretty good for jobs and you can join a number of groups where you can get some good info.

 

Also look at an agency like ESP - Education Support Professionals presumably if you're here, you're most likely in education ...? there aren't that many intl IT postings in schools, but they do exist and getting in when they appear is vital. spk to @Will_Townsend

 

Joined LinkedIn now. Its amazing who you know! Do you think its worth paying for the membership?

 

Thanks vik! Esp has some experience working with international schools and it's an area we are heavily investing into this year, teaching and non teaching, get your cv to [email protected] and I will get in touch with you

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using EduGeek

 

Thankyou. I will ping my CV over as soon as I have tidied it up

Joined LinkedIn now. Its amazing who you know! Do you think its worth paying for the membership?

I wouldn't, see how far you get without. It's useful if you're searching for staff or wanting to promote your business, but as a lay user, i don't see great benefits.

for what you want its definitely not worth paying for membership

Hi Mate,

 

I work for a international school in BKK,

 

other than BKK you will struggle to get work in other countries as the locals are very good at IT,

 

Thailand is different, the Thais just dont get IT, they cannot grasp the concept that you have to work hard to get results.

 

Most employers out here will not consider you unless you have lived here for a bit.

 

when you do get a job its because the previous 4-5 IT people have failed and they now want a foreigner to do it properly.

 

Jose

Jose you are not entirely correct. @vikpaw is a case in point.

 

As with any role, you do need to look at the job market where you are wanting to work. IT is a sought after skill the world over, but the workers are in shorter supply in some countries than others.

 

Also you need to do your research into which skills are most needed, IT covers a vast range of skills, and maybe do some training to make sure you are as marketable as possible.

Well,

my impression of the far east market, and this based on what i've heard is that it's much easier for establishments (not just schools) to employ teams of locals at a fraction of the cost of an expat. I'm sure one of the examples they use was Patana but i don't know how accurate that is, though teh impression was locals were more than capable.

 

I know that on the MIS side, there are lots of expats in the Far East - members of SEASIMS (South East Asian User Group), as well as SIMS ME (the middle east equivalent).

 

I'm sure that purely for IT, it is much easier (and cheaper) to employs locals in many areas, or certainly show some bias on nationality - it defo happens in the middle east, especially in dubai. It also depends on the level of the job.

 

I think work ethic is an issue every where you go.

Edited March 24, 2014 by vikpaw

Jose you are not entirely correct. @vikpaw is a case in point.

 

As with any role, you do need to look at the job market where you are wanting to work. IT is a sought after skill the world over, but the workers are in shorter supply in some countries than others.

 

Also you need to do your research into which skills are most needed, IT covers a vast range of skills, and maybe do some training to make sure you are as marketable as possible.

 

Hi , the OP has about South East Asian countries, Vikpaw is in the Middle East,

 

Countries like Thailand have very strict Work permit rules, yes theres always ways around them but you need a employer to want to fight your corner.

 

Every red blooded male in the west would like to work in BKK,

Despite it being hard, I would advise the following.

 

1. Check jobsdb Thailand 4-5 times per day

2. Check thaivisa forum for jobs

3. Check Bahtsold for jobs

 

4. Get yourself out here, being able to interview the same afternoon if need be can help.

5. Don't overprice yourself, a Englishman is better than a Filipino/indian but if they work for half the price.....

 

Always try to get your CV to a Foreigner in the company school, I only got my current job as I sent my cv to the Head of ICT after the schools HR man had not shortlisted me.

 

- - - Updated - - -

for what you want its definitely not worth paying for membership

- Whats people opinions on contacting relevant staff directly on linked in. Is that creepy or clever?

 

Hi Mate,

 

I work for a international school in BKK,

 

other than BKK you will struggle to get work in other countries as the locals are very good at IT,

 

Cheers for advice. Gonna push the ICT angle more strongly as opposed to purely technical as I have been teaching ICT for a few years now and have several other school responsibilities. Would be difficult for me and GF to relocate without jobs in advance. How did you get your job? And whats it like living/working in Bangkok? I have visited but not longer than a week.

 

 

Well,

my impression of the far east market, and this based on what i've heard is that it's much easier for establishments (not just schools) to employ teams of locals at a fraction of the cost of an expat. I'm sure one of the examples they use was Patana but i don't know how accurate that is, though teh impression was locals were more than capable.

 

I know that on the MIS side, there are lots of expats in the Far East - members of SEASIMS (South East Asian User Group), as well as SIMS ME (the middle east equivalent).

 

I'm sure that purely for IT, it is much easier (and cheaper) to employs locals in many areas, or certainly show some bias on nationality - it defo happens in the middle east, especially in dubai. It also depends on the level of the job.

 

I think work ethic is an issue every where you go.

 

Jose you are not entirely correct. @vikpaw is a case in point.

 

 

Also you need to do your research into which skills are most needed, IT covers a vast range of skills, and maybe do some training to make sure you are as marketable as possible.

 

I think this is the angle I will take.

Edited March 26, 2014 by titch

Technically you should only connect to people you know and without paying you can't contact people directly or at least it's limited.

 

In practice networks are large and often include people who may be useful. It depends on the person whether they see your approach as clever or spammy.

 

You could use the info to send an email direct to the person if it's available or publicly available rather than a general one to their website.

 

I find a lot of LI messages are usually spammy and touting for business.

 

Many people are not active users.

 

It might be worth a shot though.

I have a 'paid' jobseekers membership to LinkedIn. I got it free as I'm ex-services. They have changed it to US only now though. I've used it to get my CV together and there is an App to produce it in PDF. I believe all that is included in the free membership though.

 

Good luck to you. After a week in Tenerife, I'm looking at the possibility of finding a job there. It would be good, but I have been thinking about TEFL for a few months.

Edited March 26, 2014 by creese

- Whats people opinions on contacting relevant staff directly on linked in. Is that creepy or clever?

 

 

 

Cheers for advice. Gonna push the ICT angle more strongly as opposed to purely technical as I have been teaching ICT for a few years now and have several other school responsibilities. Would be difficult for me and GF to relocate without jobs in advance. How did you get your job? And whats it like living/working in Bangkok? I have visited but not longer than a week.

 

Working in Bangkok is totally different to just being a tourist, I lived in Hua Hin for over a year before coming to BKK to find work. Its a great place to live but it has many temptations can result in late nights.

 

You should really has some savings built up at home and ideally a 2nd income from working online before coming out here, Thailands only a great place if you have cash to spend.

How do interviews work for working abroad? Do you have to take a lot of time off to go to an interview in another country or are there people in the UK who interview on an employer's behalf?

I looked at this a few years ago, most international recruiters have offices in the UK so you interview there and then if successful they normally have their own relocation folk to help you out. Choose wisely though, I have friends how came home after a few months having been sold a dream that was far from reality.

Good luck though!

Jon.

How do interviews work for working abroad? Do you have to take a lot of time off to go to an interview in another country or are there people in the UK who interview on an employer's behalf?

 

It depends on the company, our senior management go out to annual job fairs, in Aus, Bangkok, India, UK .. . so there is a well known circuit for education. Outside of that there are recruiters / helpers but they won't do the interview, it will more likely be done on Skype if not able to meet at a fair. Leaving staff are entitled to a certain number of days based on service for attending interviews, but it would barely cover 1 job i think so going to a fair makes sense.

 

Saw this on LinkedIn - i'm sure it's an extreme example, but shows what can happen.

http://image-store.slidesharecdn.com/a2f75bf0-a05c-11e3-9362-12313d1c3a13-large.jpeg

 

It is used by and large in ways it was not intended for, and it's very easy to fall foul of the official rules. Even with things like Group Membership, if you get blocked in a group, you would be blocked from participating in any other group. This SWAMing has caused a lot of controversy lately, but i think might be changing slowly. anyway, i digress a little too much.

My colleague Jordan is about to post a pure technical role in Saudi if anyone following this thread is interested, VLE (frog) related

I have been looking at Qatar, plenty of jobs there for English speakers, salaries can be about £1300 a week but living is on par with London costs for housing, but then again you can order a chauffeur driven car for about £100 a week.

Anyone got a job going in Boston, MA? Hah.