International Career Advice & Overseas Employment Tips

It’s an obvious statement to make, but there are many ways to find your new job or next career move. In my experience – the most successful way of searching is by utilising as many of the job seekers tools as possible. Some will work better than others, and some may not work at all, but it is vital to give yourself that extra chance to land that new role.

By sticking to one tried and tested method, you are severely limiting your opportunities and networks. You are bound to have a favorite job search tool, or one that seems to be most effective, but it’s always worth trying out the other ones too.

I have never been a keen cold caller – but if it works for the recruiters, it can very much work for you. Cold calling for career opportunities may seem a little base , but as the old saying goes ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’
The fact is – many many job opportunities are never actually advertised to the average seeker. These ‘closed’ career moves are accessible usually via people already working in the company already. It’s not that this information is embargoed to the public, just that you’ve got to dig a little smarter to find them.

So, you need to get that telephone directory out! Seriously, the first step is to make a note of all the companies or organizations you are keen to work for. It doesn’t matter how many you have on there either – the more the merrier and more chances of ‘winning’ You could also fined, at a later stage that your ‘dream employer’ isn’t quite that when you get to check them out via interviews, so keep your options wide open.

You can’t expect to cold call a main number and retell your working history to the receptionist. You need to know exactly who it is you need to speak to. Make an initial call and find out the name of the hiring manager in your speciality. The general Human Resources manager is not quite the help you need at this stage – it wouldn’t do you any harm, but focusing at this stage will be more productive.

A full name (check gender) and job title is really important as many hiring managers take a dim view on any generic communications that do not address them personally.Once you have the right information – you can direct your CV or resume to the right place. The harder part of this, is that once you have done so, you will then need to pick up the ‘phone a few days later. You want to know if they have received and read your CV and any feedback they can give. Are there any openings? If not, can they keep your information in case any thing comes up. You need to ask the right questions. You shouldn’t be pushy, but it’s important for you mot to take a simple ‘no’ as your final answer.

The best way to approach cold calling is to have a plan of attack before you pick up the phone. It’s important to not have a set script written, but it’s vital to have some planned responses or statements. You don’t want to sound like a rehearsed sales pitch, and also, you cannot say what the person on the other end of the call is going to respond with.
Your ultimate goal in the cold call process is to secure a conversation with the relevant hiring manager – you then need to use this conversation to leverage an interview in person.

Don’t be scared! Pick up that ‘phone!

The whole truth..

Let’s face it, there is a whole lot of career advice out there to wade through. First off all there are your nearest and dearest dishing out that job advice in their caring way, then there is the internet, with millions of articles telling you what you need to do to secure that next career move or job, may contradicting each other in the process.

It’s a dog eat dog world out there in the job hunting game, so you need to know how to tell the job search delusions from the job search truths… whether you are searching jobs in Abu Dhabi, Honk Kong, or Miami.

Delusion: Go into detail on your resume about past experience to show your potential employer what you have achieved and convince them to employ you.

Truth: Your resume is a call to action, not an autobiography. You need to create enough interest to garner yourself an interview. Hold something back to share at the face to face meeting.

Delusion: Describe your ideal role to potential employers in your resume, so employers see your passion and focus immediately.

Truth: This is a harsh one. Potential employees don’t actually give a fig what makes you happy. They want to know how you can make them happy. Focus on the organisation at hand and detail how you will improve things for them and why.

Delusion: Make sure resume looks original and stands out enough to catch the recruiters eye.

Truth: No, No , and again No. Yes it’s my pet hate. Crazy fonts and coloured paper only serve to make sure your resume is specifically filed – in the shredder. Unprofessional and try hard, colours and fuss simply take away from the facts, and that’s all the recruiter needs to see. Your resume may also need to be faxed or emailed. Keep it clean and readable folks. Read more…

It sounds so simple doesn’t it? If something doesn’t feel right or it’s not what you had in mind, then say no. Easy. Or is it?. You might have spent weeks chasing particular role, perfected your skills on how to make a resume, waited for the recruiters or head of HR, had an interview and then another. Great! You got the job! But something doesn’t gel. You are not sure what, but you don’t feel like accepting the role now. You feel like you should, however, do the job anyway because of the effort invested by both sides.

Stop right there. It is a hassle for all concerned and time wasted, but it’s far more important to work in a job you want to be in, for employers who deserve you. There are a few valid reasons for declining job offers;

Keep your ears open. Anything can happen in the business world, and often does. Even large organisations can rumble with little public warning – Look at Lehman Brothers as an example. If you start work with a company that may be restructuring or part of a merger, your job may not exist by the time you have barely started. Listen to the ‘rumours’ and assess their credibility before you take the plunge. Do your full ‘due diligence’ and take advice if unsure.

Watch the comings and goings. All business shed staff, but if during your due diligence you discover the company sheds rather more than you’d like, and at a steady rate, you may want to think again. Also, be sure to listen carefully during the hiring process. Do interviewers keep referring to folks who’ve left the company or mentioning a total lack of redundancy? These could be signs that people are leaving faster than replacements can be recruited. Read more…

Sydney is the biggest city in Australia and is also a tourist destination for people around the world. Aside from being the state capital of New South Wales, Sydney is also known for its friendly people.

As it is the biggest city in Australia, job opportunities can be good than the other cities.

The quality of life is high if you are living in Sydney and it is also a great career destination. It can also be called as one of the most livable city in the world. This is the reason, this city is a first choice for immigrants and people seeking for jobs in Australia.

If you like Sydney and you want to work in Sydney, then you would like to know how to find jobs in Sydney?

If you are planning to get a job in Sydney, you have made the right choice. Read more…

It’s the ultimate isn’t it?

Achieve a better work life balance by working from home!

Supplement your income with a little work from home!

With the onset of the recession and the tightening of purse strings, not forgetting the age old problem women face when limited work out of home options are available, the scammers are out in force.

Work From Home With Google is the perfect example of ‘if it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!

Preying on the financially, or time vulnerable – these organisations promise the world in return for a ‘small’ investment. When you come across such ‘work from home’ promises – how can you protect yourself from your fingers getting burned? Read more…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Social Media networking sites are moving towards the ‘essential’ pile for those of you on the international job search.

The popularity of sites such as LinkedIn and twitter has gone crazy since the onset of the global recession, and it’s not hard to see why.

In the article Looking for a Job? Try LinkedIn or Twitter, it has confirmed that:

Since the start of the recession in December 2007, about 6.7 million workers have been laid off according to latest statistics — at a time the popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have exploded, drawing millions of users per day.

As these sites continue to alter social and cultural landscapes, they are also transforming the job search process, enabling more and more people to connect with potential employers, promote their own skills, set up support groups and search for job leads and contacts.

Read more…

With the ‘Intelligent Nation 2015′ plan placing Information Technology at the heart of the Government’s strategy to improve economic competitiveness in the next decade, Singapore Jobs‘ IT Sector has plenty of grounds for optimism going forward. In the last couple of years, Singapore’s IT sector finally seems to have left behind the slow growth period of experienced at the beginning of the decade, benefiting from improved economic conditions by most measures. Singapore remains one of the most affluent countries or regions in Asia, with around 90% of

The key sectors that the Singapore ICT Industry is known for are e-government, financial technology, intelligent transport systems and telecommunications.

Singapore is a recognised global leader in e-government, and was ranked the top e-government country by Brown University), the top country in Networked Readiness Index by the World Economic Forum and second and seventh on e-government participation and readiness respectively by the United Nations). Read more…

It’s that time of year again. As the summer draws to a close, executives return to their desks with trepidation, having relaxed and enjoyed their vacations all over the world. Graduates and school leavers look towards new horizons or seeking new opportunities for London jobs after studying and most thoughts tend to drift back to those sunny cosmopolitan climes from where we have just returned.

Many of us will keep dreaming of our place in sun, but for others that holiday feeling just won’t go away, and as the new term mentality approaches, thoughts may well turn to making a permanent move to take a career in another country, maybe thinking about landing in Singpoare jobs or jobs in Dubai.

But where? You may have enjoyed your break on the beaches of Brazil, but there may not be much demand for your key IT skills. It’s not quite as easy as picking up your passport and heading for the airport either. Planning is required and many important factors to be taken into account. Possibly the most important things to consider would be visa requirements , the countries required skill set and any language barriers you may need to overcome.

But don’t let any of that put you off! Here’s a guide to a few of the most happening places to work in. Read more…

At the Interview – YOUR the boss..

Interviewing for a potential new position is really nerve wracking for the job seeker, and rightly so. It could be the job you’ve dreamed of, or be offering you the longed for option of working abroad.

It’s a given that the Employer has the upper hand in these situations whether you’re looking for Sydney jobs, jobs in London, or wherever it is you want to go. They hold the cards and the choice of who to recruit is entirely with them, they will have assessed your credentials and experience next to their job requirements and invited you along to meet you in person.

But how much do YOU know about THEM. How much research and home work have you done behind the scenes to assess their suitability for YOU. In the midst of global economic uncertainty, nobody wants to be wasting their time and energies on an ailing organisation, no matter how big they are, or how slick the brochure.

When it’s time for reference check, don’t forget your own. Joining an organisation that goes belly up only a matter of weeks after you arrived would be soul destroying and set your career trajectory back for sure. It’s only fair to mention that many people made redundant in the current downturn weren’t actually aware their company was in trouble until they were told to clear the desks, so without being Sherlock Holmes, there is only a certain amount of snooping that can be done.

Here are a few tips on what to look for when choosing a new employer, and signs the company isn’t as healthy as it seems: Read more…

You have that polished resume, and excellent letter, and that elegant suit for the next job interview. Now what? You don’t really want to ruin that opportunity with a nervous state of mind. No need to worry, we’ll help you prepare for that much awaited discussion with your future employer. Here are effective job interview tips that you should know by now.

1. Do Your Research – Don’t go into the war without ammunition. Do your homework and research about the company especially if it’s for an international job opportunity, their profile, products/services, history, etc. Having familiarized the company profile gives you an idea what exactly they are looking for in a candidate. Besides, doing your research will give you that jumpstart point in the interview.

2. Be Honest – Do not ever underestimate the power of background check. You can’t get away with lying on your resume or on your interview. Do not embarrass yourself with false information. Be honest. Lay down your limitations and weaknesses in the job profile. Employers will appreciate you for it and they’ll know what (and not) to expect from you on the job.

3. Be Neat (Physically!) – This must be the oldest trick in the books. Just as presentation is a vital part in your resume, your physical appearance is Read more…