The prospect of moving abroad to continue or start your career is a very exciting one. The allure of a new career abroad is becoming greater; according to Lloyds TSB International, almost a third of Brits living abroad have been lured by new work opportunities, with around 70% finding they could earn more than they could in the UK.
Working in a foreign country allows you to experience a different culture, learn a foreign language and increases your resourcefulness and resilience – all of which makes you more marketable to future employers. But how can you strengthen your job applications to appeal to international businesses?
A recent study by international health insurance company Expacare highlighted exactly what employers overseas are looking for when they sift through piles of CVs. The study polled 1,000 decision makers of companies that employ between five and 1,000 members of staff.
While businesses are not allowed to explicitly state what age, sex or marital status they are looking for when advertising a role, the survey revealed that workers with first-class networking skills are the ones who are most likely to be successful in their role overseas, as stated by 60 per cent of participants. If you are fluent in a foreign language you have a 55 per cent success rate, and if you have a knack for selling, you stand a 41 per cent chance. In terms of age, over half of the business leaders surveyed claimed that the ‘ideal candidate’ would be in their late twenties to early thirties.
Interestingly, the number of female expats is increasing; research from the Mercer consultancy firm in 2012 revealed that there had been a 3% rise in two years. According to the co-president of the Professional Women’s Network London, Ines Wichert, women are better suited for overseas roles due to their “strong interpersonal skills which can make an important difference when a person has to show cultural sensitivity and build relationships with new colleagues and customers abroad.”
If you are thinking of moving abroad to further your career, it helps to know what employers are looking for, and brushing up on your networking skills, foreign languages and selling techniques will certainly put you in pole position.
If you are considering moving abroad, Cadogan Tate will assist you every step of the way – from your first enquiry to unpacking at your new home, we are here to help and advise you. For more details about Cadogan Tate’s specialist international removals services from London, click here.
Information correct at time of publication.