Tips for finding work outside the UK
Advice on how to find work in other countries, and the practicalities to consider.
Whether you plan to return home after your studies or you want to establish yourself in a different country, this advice gives tips on steps you can take to find a job there.
Where to look for opportunities
MyCareerHub includes international jobs and internships. Use the location function to filter results by ‘international’:
To get an idea of an organisation’s recruitment timetable you can use the expired opportunities function on MyCareerHub to view the roles which have already closed. To do this, select the “Jobs and internships” tab, click the “More search options” arrow and select “Include expired opportunities”.
GoinGlobal is an online platform which has resources for over 40 countries around the world with a separate section for major cities. We subscribe to GoinGlobal so you don’t need to set up your own account. For each country, the resource includes:
- employment guides,
- links to major job sites
- jobs and internship listings
- CV and cover letter guidelines
- background information, for example about the cost of living.
GoinGlobal (University of Edinburgh login required)
Work Abroad initiatives - from the academic year 2023/24 onwards, the UK Government's Turing programme will be funding Study and Work Away activities as the UK's participation in the Erasmus+ programme ends on 31 May 2023:
In the Working Abroad section of the Prospects website, you’ll find reports for over 30 countries – all written with students and graduates in mind. This has information on popular graduate jobs, internships, major industries, vacancy sources, language requirements, visas and applications:
The GradLink sites are aimed at international students in the UK. They include graduate opportunities and labour market information and cover South East Asia, the Gulf, Canada, Europe, Africa and India:
Online national newspapers and journals will show which employment sectors are growing and which organisations expect to recruit graduates. Social media can also be helpful when looking to work in another country so by following local companies, organisations, embassies, consulates and key people this will help you keep up-to-date with what's going on.
Preparation and support
Do your research before signing up to anything.
Networking can be a great way to stay informed of country-specific information e.g. you can gather information on which roles are in demand and recruitment trends. Expanding your network can also be a good opportunity to make beneficial connections and a source of support and the good news is that building your network can be developed from a distance. Use Platform One, an online community for University of Edinburgh students, graduates and staff, to seek advice from people based in different countries:
University Careers Services in your home country or city can be useful as their websites may include resources on where to look for work. If you were a student in your home country before you came to the UK, check whether you are still eligible to use your previous university or college's Careers Service.
Check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice before booking travel:
GOV.UK - Foreign travel advice
Immigration departments for the country you’re interested in are the most reliable source for information about visas and immigration. Familiarise yourself with any restrictions and contact the relevant embassy or consulate for further advice.
National employment agencies exist for many countries (the UK equivalent is Jobcentre Plus). They often support jobseekers by advertising jobs and providing advice on practical requirements such as registering to pay social security and tax.