Working abroad: Finding employers
Finding potential employers will depend on the sort of work you would like to do and the sector, if any, you would like to work in. Use the suggestions here to find an employer who is right for you...
- UK employer with overseas offices - check company websites to see if a specific company has offices overseas. However, you will need to be realistic. There are no guarantees that you will be able to work in an overseas office. There are likely to be more overseas opportunities once you have gained experience. Some companies only offer opportunities in particular destinations, while others may be happy to send you anywhere in the world.
- Companies that recruit worldwide - examples include investment banks/retail banks, solicitors with international divisions, accountancy firms - particularly those with a consultancy arm, oil companies, fast-moving consumer goods companies, civil and structural engineering companies, the armed forces, and the Civil Service. Many government departments offer both short-term and long-term postings overseas as well. These include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The main route for graduates is via the Civil Service Fast Stream, but other vacancies are advertised by the individual departments via Civil Service Jobs
.
- Overseas job postings - explore international job-posting websites, such as 4 International Careers & Jobs
, to learn about potential employers. Services such as Going Global
, which are often available through university careers services, have lists of international vacancies.
- Business directories - such as Kompass
and Europages
are searchable databases of companies. Professional associations frequently publish their members on their websites, effectively providing you with lists of potential employers. If you need help finding the appropriate body, check with their UK equivalent.
- Recruitment agencies - check the country profiles for links to recruitment agencies in specific countries.
- Online journals, magazines and newspapers - these usually have a jobs section and may show which employers are active in your chosen country or area. Newspapers are usually more general and advertise a range of jobs in various sectors, from casual to professional level. Kidon Media-Link
provides access to foreign newspapers.
- Networking - contact people in your chosen career field who are working in overseas posts to learn more about how they got their job and to get advice. You could also try speaking to people from the country you want to work in to get local information about the best places to look for jobs. For further information, see networking.
- International students - international students graduating from British universities should note that UK-based international companies regularly recruit those interested in returning to work in their home countries. Similarly, companies from overseas regularly target international students (and home students) studying at UK universities.
AGCAS
Sourced by Suzanne Agnew, University of Edinburgh
