Working outside the UK

How can I plan for returning to my home country or working in another country?

It is important to have an understanding of the job market in the country where you want to work as this will help you successfully achieve the type of job you are interested in pursuing:

• If you are planning on returning to your home country, keep in touch with friends, family and previous work colleagues at home to stay aware of opportunities and changes.
• Use LinkedIn to maintain and build on your professional connections and make the most of networking opportunities as well as resources offered  by the British Council’s Alumni UK – a global network for people around the world who have studied in the UK as an international student.
• Develop your own understanding of the job market in your preferred destination through using the detailed country guides on GoinGlobal (create your BCU account by clicking on “Personalize Your GoinGlobal Experience”) as well as identifying online industry / sector publications in that country.  You may also find the Gradlink country guides useful as well as those provided by Student Circus (where you log in using your usual BCU login details).

As an international student studying in the UK, you are likely to appeal to international companies as they value employees who have experience of mixing with different cultures and who offer a “global mindset”.

• Check websites of international companies that recruit worldwide (e.g. HSBC, Shell, Unilever)
• Research UK employers with overseas offices.

How do I know whether working in that country will suit me?

If you are planning on returning to your home country, you may feel it will suit you simply because it is the country you relate to the most and you may have many years’ experience of working there previously.  But having studied and lived elsewhere, your working style and preferences may have changed to some extent.  What will best suit you now?

If you are thinking of working somewhere completely new, you may know very little about that country’s professional culture so it could feel like a big risk.

Culture Wizard is a great tool to help you find out about professional culture in the country / countries where you are thinking of working in the future.  As well as lots of useful blogs and webinars, you can take the Global Mindset quiz to compare your personal attributes and preferred ways of working to the current working culture – see how well you’ll fit in and if there’s anything you need to adapt to.  You can even compare countries to see which is the closest match to your own preferences.

Access both these tools by going to GoinGlobal, then scrolling down to “Personalize your GoinGlobal Experience” and create your account.

How can I find job opportunities in the country I wish to work in?

Making the most of your networks will help you identify and possibly create your own opportunities:

• If you are planning on returning to your home country, maintain contact with friends, family and previous work colleagues at home.
• Use LinkedIn to maintain and build on your professional connections and make the most of networking opportunities as well as resources offered  by the British Council’s Alumni UK – a global network for people around the world who have studied in the UK as an international student.

Identify relevant jobsites by checking out:

• The “country profiles” section on Prospects
• The jobsites recommended on the relevant GoinGlobal country page

Useful information for students planning to work in Europe (outside of the UK)

• Key jobsites - Eurojobs, Eures, Eurobrussels
• Europass CVs
• Guide to working in Poland

Useful information for students planning to work in India

• Naukri - India’s main jobsite
• Gradlink India – employers in India who are actively seeking UK educated international graduates
• Prospects India pages

Useful information for students planning to work in Nigeria

• Careers in Africa – Employers and opportunities across Africa.
• My Job Mag - Jobsite offering opportunities throughout Africa.
• Gradlink Africa – employers in Africa who are actively seeking UK educated international graduates
• Jobs in Nigeria - Leading Nigerian job site with graduate roles and work experience opportunities, also offers advice on CVs, cover letters and career information.
• Jobberman - Nigerian jobsite with graduate roles, internships, career advice and CV service.
• Hotjobsng - Recruitment Agency/Job Portal based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Useful information for students planning to work in China and South East Asia

Career planning and job market information:

• Global University China China Career Union (GUCCU) report on the interest of China based employers in returnee students and what they offer to returnees
• Career planning guide produced by the University of Warwick, aimed at Chinese students
• Prospects China page
• Prospects Malaysia pages
• LockIn China – useful resource for searching opportunities in China with a dedicated page for BCU students
• GradLink China - employers in China who are interested in UK educated graduates from China
• Leading China graduate jobsite with careers advice and labour market information for returnees
• Gradlink ASEAN – employers in South East Asia who are actively seeking UK educated international graduates
• GradConnection – graduate jobs and internships in Singapore