Developer career abroad - tips for job hunting

Career AdviceCareer

Looking for a job abroad is still unfamiliar territory for many tech professionals. After all, there is a shortage of IT specialists in Austria. Nevertheless, the immense added value of a job abroad cannot be denied. The world view expands, new experiences are gained and you expand your international network. And that's not all. Working abroad is automatically accompanied by a deepening of foreign language skills and is often the cornerstone for new career advances. We provide important tips on what you should consider when looking for a job abroad.

International CV

job search. Abroad. Two words that initially inspire respect for many. Basically, it is not that difficult to get a job abroad with the right application. Especially as a tech professional, many doors are open to you with the right qualifications. The first step in a successful job search abroad is an optimally written CV. But be careful! What is considered a perfect CV in Austrian companies is promoted to the "P" file after the first two seconds, shaking one's head elsewhere.

HR managers generally decide within a minute whether the applicant is suitable or not. Therefore, the so-called cover letter is extremely important. If possible, this cover letter should be addressed to a specific contact person (Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.). A maximum of two A4 pages is the limit! In English application letters, the subject comes between the salutation and the introductory sentence. Depending on whether you are applying in the USA or the UK, you should pay attention to the spelling of the date. US: MM/DD/YYYY and UK: DD.MM.YYYY.

The following rules apply when setting up:

• In the UK, the CV is given the heading “Curriculum Vitae” – this is omitted in the USA.
• Application photos are not common in most countries.
• The structure is anti-chronological, i.e. with the most recent first.
• References are very important – i.e. personal advocates from whom the company can obtain information directly about you.

Good English knowledge

Good English is the most important basis for securing a job abroad. Especially if you haven't decided on a specific country at first, English is always the language of choice everywhere. In the tech industry, nothing works without English anyway – so tech professionals are usually already fluent in reading and understanding. But the key question when looking for a job abroad is: How is your active English? You should be able to communicate verbally at any time without having to think about it for long, and you shouldn’t have any difficulties with writing correct e-mails, for example. If so, then there is a need for action!

Where and how can you do that? There are suitable language courses for every entry level in every adult education centre. You can also find offers for English courses with an IT focus or courses for business English in every larger city – just take a look around. If you also have the opportunity to take an internationally recognized language certificate with you: Make sure you seize the opportunity! Otherwise, practice makes perfect. Talk to English-speaking colleagues from the IT or development department as much as possible, or participate in discussions in English forums and blogs – perhaps directly on the topic of “job search abroad”.

Intercultural competences

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression! It is precisely the small and fine stumbling blocks in social interaction that quickly shake the dream of working abroad. How is it negotiated? How do you greet each other? First a little small talk or rather get straight to the point? In the Netherlands, you can expect to be addressed as “Du” in your first job interview, as well as quite direct questions about personal interests and hobbies. In South Korea there are three different addressing formulas, one of which is reserved for the boss alone; almost like a “you de luxe”. The differences from country to country are huge here. Good preparation will help you avoid blunders from the outset.

Comparable qualifications

When applying abroad, it is of course important that you can make the other person understand what school or university degree you have. With a "Matura" or "Diplom-Informatiker" not every HR manager can do something everywhere. It is therefore important to find out in advance how you can translate your qualifications according to the educational and professional standards of the respective country. For example, there is the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), which classifies school types and school systems. In addition, it is possible that you will have to present certain certificates or proof for your job search abroad. An example are the references, which absolutely must be part of your application abroad.

Good language skills - not only for the job abroad

As they say? French is the language of love, English for business and German for training the dog. Of course, English is of the utmost importance when it comes to facilitating job hunting abroad and also living abroad. But what about other national languages?

Certainly no employer (outside the UK and US) will expect you to speak the local language like your mother tongue. But the better you speak the language of the target country in addition to English, the more positive it will be for your job search abroad. So: start early! Then you score victorious in the job interview. And not only in your new job abroad, but also in your everyday life in the new environment, you will feel comfortable much faster.