Key advice
Where in the world will your degree take you? If you want to explore living and working abroad for a short period of time or longer, read our advice and use our resources to explore what's out there.
We highlight:
- the preparation you can take during your studies to build your skills, cultural awareness and make contacts for the future
- where to look for opportunities overseas with exclusive access to GoinGlobal
What can I be doing during my studies?
- Explore the opportunities on offer at Nottingham to gain experience in another country. Check out the opportunities to study abroad including inter-campus exchanges, international exchange and international summer schools.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities to develop useful skills valued by global employers, for example, adaptability, initiative, leadership and communication skills, or cross-cultural awareness.
- Start developing your networks in your target country while you are in the UK. Professional associations, online career forums, and social media networks can be useful in this respect.
- Familiarise yourself with job markets, sources of vacancies, recruitment practices and deadlines in your target destination using our continent-specific pages and use GoinGlobal (see below).
- Seek work experience overseas during vacation time to build cultural awareness and contacts.
Networking
The University's Alumni Office has developed a network of international contacts and groups which may be helpful for networking after graduation.
Visit our Networking section for advice on face-to-face and online networking including the use of social media.
What do I need to consider before searching for a job abroad?
Before you start your research consider the following points carefully:
- Where do you want to work? For how long?
- Do you speak the language? How proficiently?
- Do you have the qualifications and experience required? Are yours recognised there?
- How can you present your background effectively to local employers? What are your selling points as a foreign applicant?
- What are the application conventions for CVs, covering letters, and application forms?
- Are your expectations on salary and living conditions realistic?
Your approach will vary depending on whether your priority is to work wherever the best opportunities are for your chosen career, or whether you have a specific destination in mind. I
n this case, you might need to consider temporary or non-graduate positions as a way of obtaining valuable local knowledge, contacts and references.
You are more likely to find a permanent job abroad once you have some experience. Some multinationals operating in the UK recruit graduates for posts abroad, although many expect a period of service here before offering the opportunity to work overseas.
GoinGlobal - free access to UoN students and graduates
We subscribe to an international careers information package called GoinGlobal. You can access GoinGlobal free as a UoN student or alumni.
GoinGlobal contains:
- 42 country guides from Argentina and Japan to the United States and Vietnam. Each guide contains job search resources, resume/CV guidelines, hiring trends, industry overviews, professional and social networking groups, work permit and visa regulations, financial considerations, interview tips and cultural advice.
- 32 global city guides from Amsterdam and Delhi to Shanghai and Vancouver
- Job and internship vacancy database of 16 million employment listings updated daily
- Directory of US employers who can employ international talent via the H1B visa
How do I find out about visas and other requirements?
Familiarise yourself early with visa conditions and application procedures in your target country. Use GoinGlobal if the country is listed. Being eligible will depend on a range of factors such as shortage occupations, qualifications, age and so on.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website provides an up-to-date listing of foreign embassies in the UK which can be a useful source of information on these matters. You should also research other factors that will shape your experience of the country such as living standards or healthcare provision.