Working overseas is almost a right of passage for many Australians. It’s an opportunity to go and travel but earn some money at the same time, helping to fund weekends away and pay off some of that student debt.

Many Aussies choose to go into the hospitality industry when they travel overseas – it’s often easier to find work in this sector and there is no shortage of opportunities throughout Europe, the UK and Ireland.

This doesn’t have to be the case, however. It is entirely possible for you to find a role in another country in your current industry or an industry you would like to pursue a career in once you return home. There’s also a possibility that you might find a permanent role that you enjoy that means you can forge a successful career as an expatriate living in another country.

Whatever you plan to do during your time living and working overseas, it definitely pays to do your research before you go and identify the things that you might want to do, including where you want to base yourself, where you want to travel and what sort of work you want to do.

Tips for working overseas

There are many reasons why people choose to travel overseas and spend time in another country. Whilst it is common for a lot of young people to travel after they finish university and before they start working full time, there are many people who have already started a career who still want to experience life living in another country.

No matter what time of life you choose to go overseas, or at what stage of your career, it can be helpful to start thinking about the details and logistics that might impact on your travel experience and the things you are able to do when you are away from home. Here are some travel tips to consider:

Research locations

Perhaps the most important piece of research to carry out is deciding where to base yourself. You probably have a good idea already about the country you want to live and work in, however, there are often many different experiences you can have depending on where you base yourself.

You can find plenty of advice on our site about different destinations including the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and Japan, however, it also helps to talk to other people who have experienced life in the country you plan to base yourself in.

Understand your visa options

A lot of people base their final destination on the type of visa they are able to secure. Some visa types require international workers to return to their home country periodically whilst other visas can be extended if you have ancestral roots in a particular country. If you are planning on carrying out casual employment when you are overseas, be sure to understand the requirements and if any minimum commitment is required.

If you are looking to progress your career overseas, continuing to work in your chosen industry, then many employers can help with the visa process so it pays to research companies that are hiring before you leave and find out what support is available.

Understand the infrastructure

Many people who travel overseas cannot afford to purchase their own vehicle, certainly not initially. This means you need to consider the infrastructure of the places you are looking to base yourself and find out how easy it is to get around on public transport. There is so much information available online today and many public transport networks around the world have fantastic apps that can really help you to plan out potential places to live and work.

Find a community

Undoubtedly one of the best things about travelling, living and working overseas is the opportunity to experience a new culture, meet new people and try different things. It does, however, also help to have people around you that share the same interests and have common characteristics. Wherever you travel in the world, you will typically find there are expat communities where people from the same countries all live and work within close proximity. These communities can really help you to settle into life in a new country and make you feel more at home until you meet people through work or socialising.

Look outside the box

When you first arrive and you are job hunting, don’t get disheartened. It can be tricky for international workers to get work straight away but you need to keep positive. Whilst it can sometimes seem easier to take a role in hospitality as they are more abundant, if this isn’t what you want to do, try and stay patient.

Make sure you look outside the box when it comes to employment as well. Many large businesses offer the possibility to work in a wide range of departments and you may well find an opportunity you never knew existed. 

One great example of this is a company like Betway Casino. With locations in London, Malta and Guernsey, Betway offers the opportunity to work across a wide range of departments including marketing, technology, HR, analytics and insights, finance, creative, and international markets. They are just one of thousands of examples of businesses that offer you the opportunity to work in an exciting industry no matter what career path you are seeking.

Other companies with huge potential for working across a wide range of career paths include JP Morgan Chase, Amazon, BP, Sainsbury’s, and GSK. All of these brands have been ranked as the best businesses to work for in the UK and all offer a huge range of diverse career opportunities.