So, whether your search takes you to Dubai, Tokyo, Paris, or to retail jobs in London, here are our top ten tips to help you along the way.
Tip #1
Specialist web services dealing in international retail jobs are rare in terms of having a consistent ability to deliver real service and make good on their promises, so make sure that you use a web service with a track record in this area.
Tip #2
Up-to-date and accurate information is essential whenever you're commencing a job hunt, but when you add the international dimension it becomes even more important that you use information that is up-to-the-minute accurate.
Ensure that the web service or recruiting agency you're using has a dedicated staff who constantly research and analyze the job market you're operating in so that you can be certain that you're dealing with credible information.
Tip #3
Different employers have different needs and demands, and a one-size-fits-all mentality with regard to your resume won't really show you in your best light with every employer. As such, you need to tailor your resume to each application in order to highlight the specific skill sets and experiences you have that are relevant to the particular employer and job position.
Tip #4
Check the credibility of any web service you're thinking of using; many sites are not able to deliver on their promises. In fact, there are a substantial number that have no intention of delivering anything, and this particularly applicable when you're dealing with agencies and recruiting services located overseas.
You can perform a simple check on a website by looking at the ''Contact Us'' section to see if there is a physical mailing address and a landline telephone number. Do not use the service if you cannot verify that they actually exist.
Tip #5
Protect your resume by ensuring that it's only sent out to employers when you say so!
A resume is a valuable document, and there are some shifty operators out there who will be only too happy to take your ''free'' resume and use it for purposes of mass marketing and identity fraud.
Ensure, then, that the agency or web service you're using has strict policies in place to deal with how your resume will be used and that you control who gets to see it and have access to it.
Tip #6
Working overseas may well involve the immigration laws of the country to which you are looking to move. Just being an American does not give you the right to work in another country; the domestic laws of that country must allow you to do so.
Check to see if you're eligible to work in the country you're heading to and seek some solid legal advice before you commit yourself.
Tip #7
International web and recruiting services tend to charge employers a fee to advertise any vacancy, and a commission is also typically payable once the employer and a suitable candidate make a deal.
The bottom line is that no single website or agency is going to have every employer out there signing on to their own service and paying them fees. These services are inevitably restricting how many vacancies you as a user will be able to access, and this in turn will severely impair your ability to win the position and the remuneration and benefits package you may otherwise be able to command.
Tip #8
Check on your ability to drive with a US driver's license in the country to which you are moving. This may sound obvious, but many candidates forget that they may not be able to legally drive or hold insurance on a vehicle unless they satisfy the local rules and laws.
Tip #9
Working in a foreign country is not simply securing employment and getting the local visa arranged; you will also need to make arrangements for a place to live and for your healthcare. Medical arrangements vary widely, and you may or may not need to arrange your own health insurance.
Your potential employer should be able to provide you with assistance in arranging accommodation and with any additional, but make sure you check before you make your move.
Tip #10
Living and working overseas is a great way to further your career once you return to the United States (assuming you do return to live and work here). Look for opportunities to further your experience overseas with a view to using that experience when you return to the US job market. It will pay dividends in the long term if you check with US employers about what they would find most useful in an employee returning to the US from overseas.
