5 ms·

Best Foreign Country to Go Work in? (for a new college grad)

6 points by joshhagler 12y ago

I am graduating this coming summer and I am feeling as though if I am ever going to live in another country and travel the world, now is the perfect time. (I am non-technical so that cuts out all those jobs) My job will likely be in sales, marketing or education. I want to live and work in a foreign country for at least 1 year...Options as of now: Argentina, Asia, Europe, Australia/New Zealand Does anyone have any experience working abroad? What countries are hiring the most Americans? Paying the best? What industry is best there? Thanks for any input!

mec1 12y ago
Your college should have a career office staffed with advisers who can help you with your search.
- Blackthorn 12y ago
  Good advice to use these people if your college has one, but lots of smaller colleges (like mine) were completely useless in this regard.
falsestprophet 12y ago
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa US nationals can get working holiday visas for Australia and a few other countries. Your pay will almost certainly be highest in Australia because it is a very prosperous country at the moment. Argentina - It's easy to live there semi-legally. But, expect very poor pay if you work locally. You could do remote call center work in the US and live there reasonably well. It is useful to speak Spanish to get along with the locals. There are a lot of Americans and Europeans hanging out there in the Northern winter though. People call it the Paris of South America. The Paris of France is way nicer.
akg_67 12y ago
What can you offer to the companies in foreign country that they can't get from locals? As an American, you may be a desirable English Teacher/Trainer in non-English speaking countries. China, Korea, Japan seems to hire a lot of fresh graduates for English teaching. Some foreign companies may need a foreign face to impress their foreign clients in meetings or even local communities in promotion materials. You could potentially be that face for such companies. You could also be part of sales, marketing, project management team with focus on US/Foreign clients for Foreign/US companies. I am not sure how easy/difficult would be to get into such roles without any experience. Easiest bet most probably be teaching English in Asia or Eastern European country.
kamphey 12y ago
Have you thought of cruise ships? I worked for 5 years on ships, traveled the world. The work is not amazing, the hours are terrible, but the views are awesome. Depending on your degree you can do Entertainment Staff, Youth Staff, or IT, or Shore Excursions if you're outgoing. And it's a good way to find out which countries you'd like to live in, meeting people from all over the world is amazing. I personally met a Japanese girl that I just married after 6 years of being together (mostly on ships).
Gustomaximus 12y ago
I'm a mid-career guy that has lived in 3 countries and work across 20+. I've done time in London and can thoroughly recommend this. Amazing cultural history, you'll be fine only knowing English and its a great hub to travel from. Asia could be interesting as an up an coming world but personally I'd not like to live somewhere like Shanghai/Beijing/Delhi. It's amazing to visit but it's just too polluted and too mercenary for me. If you are keen on Asia, Singapore is worth having a look at and while I've not spent time in Tokyo I've heard largely good experiences. I'm in Australia now but wouldn't recommend this if you're looking to get maximum career experience. We remain a bit insular to the rest of the world, of course the right company will be the exception as I have now but I wouldn't expect this. You're more likely to have valuable career experiences in Europe/Asia.
kwhitefoot 12y ago
It depends on why you want to go to a foreign country. Practically anywhere has something to offer someone. The question which something do you want. If you are interested in fine art and history then almost anywhere in Europe puts you less than a two hour flight away from every European country. Of course for another type of fine art and history it's hard to beat China but you won't see much of it if you get stuck in Shanghai or Beijing, you need to get out into the countryside, take trains, buses, local taxis, etc. But if all you want is a job in marketing or sales then it will probably be tough to break in because you will lack the connections and social knowledge specific to the place. If you are only intending it to be for a year then you should probably aim low on the job front and look for something with more flexibility rather than money so that you can get time to explore. On the question best pay and hiring most: these can be in conflict. My country of residence (Norway) pays American expats on average 20% more than its own citizens and long term residents like me (I'm English) but they are relatively few and mostly highly skilled and very experienced people in the oil sector so mostly not new graduates.
JSeymourATL 12y ago
Go backpacking for a year, join the grape harvest in France, then Australia. You meet some cool folks, get a work-out, and drink some great wine. Serious career stuff will await your return> http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/22/grey-nomads-backpackers-and-locals-the-truth-about-picking-grapes-in-australia http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/22/grey-n...

6 points by joshhagler 12y ago

mec1 12y ago

Your college should have a career office staffed with advisers who can help you with your search.

Blackthorn 12y ago
Good advice to use these people if your college has one, but lots of smaller colleges (like mine) were completely useless in this regard.

falsestprophet 12y ago

Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_holiday_visa US nationals can get working holiday visas for Australia and a few other countries. Your pay will almost certainly be highest in Australia because it is a very prosperous country at the moment. Argentina - It's easy to live there semi-legally. But, expect very poor pay if you work locally. You could do remote call center work in the US and live there reasonably well. It is useful to speak Spanish to get along with the locals. There are a lot of Americans and Europeans hanging out there in the Northern winter though. People call it the Paris of South America. The Paris of France is way nicer.

akg_67 12y ago

What can you offer to the companies in foreign country that they can't get from locals? As an American, you may be a desirable English Teacher/Trainer in non-English speaking countries. China, Korea, Japan seems to hire a lot of fresh graduates for English teaching. Some foreign companies may need a foreign face to impress their foreign clients in meetings or even local communities in promotion materials. You could potentially be that face for such companies. You could also be part of sales, marketing, project management team with focus on US/Foreign clients for Foreign/US companies. I am not sure how easy/difficult would be to get into such roles without any experience. Easiest bet most probably be teaching English in Asia or Eastern European country.

kamphey 12y ago

Have you thought of cruise ships? I worked for 5 years on ships, traveled the world. The work is not amazing, the hours are terrible, but the views are awesome. Depending on your degree you can do Entertainment Staff, Youth Staff, or IT, or Shore Excursions if you're outgoing. And it's a good way to find out which countries you'd like to live in, meeting people from all over the world is amazing. I personally met a Japanese girl that I just married after 6 years of being together (mostly on ships).

Gustomaximus 12y ago

I'm a mid-career guy that has lived in 3 countries and work across 20+. I've done time in London and can thoroughly recommend this. Amazing cultural history, you'll be fine only knowing English and its a great hub to travel from. Asia could be interesting as an up an coming world but personally I'd not like to live somewhere like Shanghai/Beijing/Delhi. It's amazing to visit but it's just too polluted and too mercenary for me. If you are keen on Asia, Singapore is worth having a look at and while I've not spent time in Tokyo I've heard largely good experiences. I'm in Australia now but wouldn't recommend this if you're looking to get maximum career experience. We remain a bit insular to the rest of the world, of course the right company will be the exception as I have now but I wouldn't expect this. You're more likely to have valuable career experiences in Europe/Asia.

kwhitefoot 12y ago

It depends on why you want to go to a foreign country. Practically anywhere has something to offer someone. The question which something do you want. If you are interested in fine art and history then almost anywhere in Europe puts you less than a two hour flight away from every European country. Of course for another type of fine art and history it's hard to beat China but you won't see much of it if you get stuck in Shanghai or Beijing, you need to get out into the countryside, take trains, buses, local taxis, etc. But if all you want is a job in marketing or sales then it will probably be tough to break in because you will lack the connections and social knowledge specific to the place. If you are only intending it to be for a year then you should probably aim low on the job front and look for something with more flexibility rather than money so that you can get time to explore. On the question best pay and hiring most: these can be in conflict. My country of residence (Norway) pays American expats on average 20% more than its own citizens and long term residents like me (I'm English) but they are relatively few and mostly highly skilled and very experienced people in the oil sector so mostly not new graduates.

JSeymourATL 12y ago

Go backpacking for a year, join the grape harvest in France, then Australia. You meet some cool folks, get a work-out, and drink some great wine. Serious career stuff will await your return> http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/22/grey-nomads-backpackers-and-locals-the-truth-about-picking-grapes-in-australia http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/22/grey-n...