Working abroad and international job search resources Job seeking
If you're thinking about working in another country, there are a few things that are useful to consider.
- The type of work and what you want out of it.
- Will it be temporary or more permanent?
- Is it to progress in your career or to gain experience of living and working abroad?
- Learning about working conditions, including tax arrangements, and researching the local labour market.
- Finding out about specific requirements for the location and your area of working including visas and language requirements. The gov.uk Living in country guides give advice for UK nationals living abroad including work visas and specific advice relating to the UK's departure from the EU.
- Researching where to find and apply for jobs, start with the international job search engines and directories we have listed later in this article.
- What skills you might offer as an international worker and what challenges you might face compared to a local graduate such as how well you speak the language and navigating the working culture.
- Finding out if you need to get your Open University (OU) qualification recognised and how to go about doing it.
A good way to gain insight into working in another country is from those doing it. You could connect with other students and graduates who work abroad via LinkedIn. Find advice on networking with LinkedIn and access the OU alumni page. Also try joining international student groups or professional associations related to your field. You could also use AI to gain insights which can be useful as a starting point to do further research, however, it's important to verify any information gained.
Making a job application in a different country
When applying for an opportunity in a different country, it's important to do your research and ensure your strategy is effective. Things you may need to consider include:
- Different hiring practices, for example depending on the country and type of company, some organisations may prefer different formats for CVs and applications such as length and whether to include a photo.
- Interview styles can vary greatly between countries and organisations, ranging from formal to informal settings, and may include behavioural or competency-based formats.
- Recruitment cycles – some countries and organisations may recruit a year in advance or at different times of the year so it’s important to research this.
Prospects working abroad have advice on the application process by country. If you’re applying for a job in the UK or a country or company which has the same application processes, you can find lots of information and advice in our CVs, applications and interviews articles. Then see international job search engines and directories to start researching and searching for opportunities.
International recognition of your OU qualification
Many employers outside the UK will recognise UK qualifications and many understand that an OU degree is equal in academic standard to a degree from any other UK university. Smaller employers may be less familiar with the OU, and you might need to provide additional explanatory information. If you intend to use your qualifications to seek work or do further study abroad, then check whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career, and ideally before you enrol on any course.
You can apply for official recognition of your degree, but it’s a complex process as each country has its own legal and administrative framework, so check with prospective employers and only seek this if it’s necessary.
For more information about how you can use your OU qualification abroad when looking for work or further study see the OU's guide to recognition of qualifications outside the UK.
Needing professional body membership or status
You may also need professional body membership or professional status, in addition to your degree for example in Chartered Engineer jobs. If this is the case, you'll need to find out if your chosen degree will allow entry to the next qualifying stage. This could include additional professional examinations and/or a period of accredited work experience.
Secondments, work experience and internships
Larger international employers may offer secondments (if already working for the employer) or transfers abroad so it may be worth researching companies to see what opportunities they have and where their head offices are based.
If you're looking at work experience or internships, there may be specific schemes available or companies that will manage placements, although always consider what costs may be involved. The Prospects working abroad pages have information on summer jobs and internships.
International job search websites and directories
Here are a few job search sites to help you get started.
Europe
Worldwide
Careers and Employability Services support
Job search, applications and interviews work differently in different countries. Our Careers and Employability Services can support you on what you need to consider and how to research answers. However, unless you're applying within a multinational organisation, it'll also be helpful to discuss your approach and get feedback on your application from experienced professionals in your field in the host country.
