Editor’s note: This article was first published in June 2012, during the Spanish economic crisis. The G20 job-demand warning, the job losses in Spain even in summer, and the countries recruiting at the time (Ireland, Germany, Norway) reflect mid-2012, as do the examples of demand by country.
The G20 group of major economies warns that a large demand for jobs needs to be filled to overcome the crisis. Ireland, Germany and Norway are taking in immigrants and can offer them the best career options while, meanwhile, Spain is losing more jobs every day, even in summer, and more language skills are being demanded of those who do get work.
England, France, Asia and Latin America are other destinations for engineers, doctors and IT professionals who want to cross borders and look for their chance to work in any of these or similar countries.
But how do you get there and succeed?
First: do your research
Try to find out where your job is and what it requires. Not every country has openings for what you studied. For example, Germany is asking for engineers; France, for doctors and administrative staff; China is looking for finance professionals.
Be very clear about the professional profiles they want and how well you fit them, so that you can be useful abroad and feel satisfied with the job opportunity. Be very clear about your best professional competencies and values, so you can commit to their project with the skills it needs.
Get up to date on the paperwork you need to leave Spain and join the other country as an employee. Look into bilateral agreements and the requirements for working abroad. Don’t just show up and improvise: you might find a job and not have the permits you need to stay.
Second: how you present yourself
Show that you’re versatile. The ability to adapt to the job is valued more than a specialist narrowly focused on one role. Breadth is a key asset for securing the job: they’re not looking for a mere financial risk analyst, they’re looking for an analyst, a legal expert in regulations and a negotiator of terms, all in one employee.
Your CV matters, but so do your social networks. The two should be connected and complement each other, because the company will do more than look into your CV: it will look for your ideals, values and ways of working on your social media.
Third: during the selection process
Remember, first of all, that you’re a foreigner. They’ll invest in you if they trust your professional quality and believe you’ll stay in the country. Show that mobility and distance from your hometown are a manageable handicap that you, as the candidate, accept. They’re looking for people who take risks and aren’t afraid of the unknown or of being far from family and friends. Prove it to them.
Language is vital. No country accepts a candidate without at least some command of the local language. They won’t ask where you studied it or how many certificates you have; they’ll simply listen to you during the interview and check your language skills. Give priority to English: it’s the one that will open the most doors.
Know your values and professional competencies. Show them who you are, what you’re looking for and what you offer. Make a logical, demonstrable case that you’re the best person for the job, despite being an immigrant.
