How to Work Abroad
Ask yourself what you want to get out of working and living abroad. Is your desire focused on a specific country or region? Do you want to gain experience outside the United States to enhance your career? Or, do you just want to experience living and working in a different culture? The less particular you are about where you specifically want to work and the kind of work you want to do, the better your chances.
Next, list your assets for working abroad. These would include: a) proficiency in a foreign language; b) an employer with operations overseas; c) a heritage that would allow you to obtain a second passport; and/or d) enough capital to consider expanding your business overseas.
The easiest way to work abroad is to transfer to another country through your current employer. Your employer deals with much of the paperwork hassles, and may even offset additional expenses of living abroad. You will also be less isolated, as you instantly have the community of employees who work at the foreign site. Talk to employees who are already abroad and ask questions about living and working there.
Search the web site of any countries where you may be entitled to a second passport. For instance, if you can obtain an Irish passport, this might give you entry into the European Union labor market as well.
If you are currently self-employed, check the regulations of a country concerning foreign businesses. Someone willing to set up their own business in another country is usually viewed more favorably (since they will be generating revenue) than someone who is going to apply for a job as an employee (since they will be viewed as taking revenue away from a native). If you aren’t self-employed now, consider working for yourself for the first one to two years in the United States first. This will give you marketing information and industry contacts in your chosen profession.
Failing that, you will need to research work regulations of other countries. The Internet is invaluable here. You probably want to start with the State Department, http://www.state.gov. Check out their site for information about Americans working abroad, internships that may be available and services offered to Americans working abroad.
Research countries where you will have the right linguistic skills. If you speak English only, your options will be more limited. Australia and New Zealand tend to be the most welcoming of English-speaking countries, but may limit the amount of time you stay. Unless you are a highly talented individual, or do something very specialized, most of Western Europe (including Britain and Ireland) will be off-limits. As members of the European Union, those countries insist your potential employer must explain why they can’t find anyone else in their entire country, and then the entire European Union, who can do what you do.
Of course, there is more to a country than their rules about working abroad. The way you, as a person, will be treated is also something to consider. Check out Amnesty International’s web site (http://www.amnesty.org) and the State Department web site for information on human rights issues. Locate third-party sources which detail what the country is like and what cultural differences exist. Talk to friends or acquaintances from the country in question, if you can. If you belong to a global professional organization, look up colleagues in the country(ies) you are targeting and ask for their input. For instance, gay and lesbian workers will want to check out the Damron web site (http://www.damron.com) for travel guides, and check their web links for additional information.
You may also want to check out the web sites of global non-profit organizations. A good start might be the Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov. Other groups can be found by searching under “working abroad” or “working in [name of country]” on your favorite search engines. If you are unfamiliar with the group, check references and do more research to be sure the agency is legitimate and not a scam. (You don’t want to be 5,000 miles from home only to discover a group is not what it appeared to be.) Again, ask about any risks in the countries they operate, especially for gays and lesbians. Also ask about the organization’s policy on domestic partners.
Regardless of how you find a job abroad, do be sure to brush up on IRS tax guidelines for Americans working abroad (http://www.irs.gov). You will probably still have to file a U.S. tax return, but exemptions for living and working abroad will cover quite a bit of your income. You will also probably have to pay taxes in the country you choose. Check with that country’s government or the non-profit agency you will work through to determine what your tax situation will be.
Working abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your career. But the more homework you do before leaving, the fewer hassles you will have when you get there.
