If you are in a declining industry in the United States, you may find that your skills and accomplishments are in demand in foreign countries and that opportunities that no longer exist in the U.S. are in abundance elsewhere in the global marketplace.
Banking -- along with energy, home building, and healthcare -- is hot in Brazil which still has a booming economy and is the fourth largest democracy in the world.
Brazil, Russia, China, India--and several countries in the Gulf region are hot destinations for American executives as global capitalism booms due to changed political systems. The result is a growing need for experienced knowledge workers.
But while jobs might be plentiful -- especially for American - educated and trained employees -- picking up and moving isn't easy. Experts and Amercians who have moved abroad were asked to develop a guide for finding a job in emerging markets and provided the following tips to assist you in marketing yourself and finding a job abroad.
1. Research
If you have your sights set on a certain country, find out what industries are looking for employees. From there, focus both on finding multinational companies with offices abroad and businesses that are local in that nation.
Gulf countries of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait need professionals in financial services, tourism, hospitality, and consumer goods. There is also a strong need for Western-trained physicians.
China offers a lot of work for executives from the failing U.S. auto industry. Other hot industries there include consumer goods, manufacturing, life sciences, technology, and green technology.
India desperately needs human resources professionals, information technology workers, and network architects.
All of these countries are hiring infrastructure experts like civil engineers, electrical engineers, project managers, and architects.
2. Network
Ask everyone--colleagues, family, and friends--if they know anyone in the country you're interested in moving to. Get in touch with those people and see if they know anyone in your industry who might be useful to talk to. Ask what it's really like to live there--what are the challenges and other important details about cost of living, safety, and banking? Also, it's useful to know people in advance so that the transition is smoother.
3. Use a Headhunter
Many executive search firms now specialize in emerging markets. These firms can help line up meetings with appropriate contacts before you visit:
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S&T Group specializes in financial services in the Middle East
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Emerging Globe Group works worldwide focusing on emerging markets
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Hudson Human Resources and Amrop Hever, also have offices worldwide
4. Go There
Nothing is more useful than visiting the country and setting up informational interviews with companies for which you would like to work. Make sure that you leave your résumé behind. It shows potential employers that you're serious, and it gives you a chance to impress in person.
5. Cost of Living
Just because it's an emerging market doesn't mean the cost of living is cheap. Know what you're getting into. For instance, Dubai, Qatar, and parts of China are very expensive places to live. Go with three to six months worth of living expenses, especially if you're going without a job.
6. Compensation
Salary depends on whether you land a job with a multinational company that sends you over or if you find a job at a local company. If you're working for a multinational, the deal will probably be sweet. You'll be paid just as you would if you worked in the states. Benefits can include compensation for moving expenses, a driver, and, in some cases, housing costs covered for your American home. The situation is different if you work for a local employer. Salaries are typically lower than what you'd make at home, and benefits can be difficult to get.
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Gulf firms often offer higher pay than comparable roles in the U.S
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In China, expatriate employees of locall companies generally make less and are lucky to receive health benefits
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Currency in Brazil is up 21% this year against the dollar and you can come out ahead in the long run.
7. Language
This depends on the position and the country. In the Gulf region, where the expatriate population outnumbers the locals, English is spoken almost everywhere. In places like China, Russia, and Brazil, speaking the language helps newcomers acclimate but isn't always a business requirement. However, many on-the-go businesspeople are using downloadable podcasts of language lessons. Check out the list of languages offered at www.praxislanguage.com.
8. Visas and Taxation
The U.S. is the only country that taxes its citizens while they're living abroad. But in many cases you'll still be taxed less, since Americans are generally only taxed on their income above $85,700. When you arrive in the new country, contact the U.S. embassy to let them where you live and provide them with all your contact information. This is useful in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
Get out your phone book and call your contacts, research countries and available jobs, contact recruiters, take a trip to explore opportunities, make sure that you have an updated resume that shows your skills and accomplishments, and find a job overseas that you will love.
Outsourcing Yourself Abroad
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