Job Opportunities Worldwide

How about an exciting job overseas?  Or even a rather

ordinary job overseas?  It's certainly an appealing idea to

live and work in a foreign country.  Something maybe everyone

considers at some time.

Foreign jobs offer not only an exciting and different

lifestyle.  Many of them offer work in a warm and sunny

country.  Many of those countries (but not all) offer wages

that are far higher than the U.K.  So it could be a good

idea!

The purpose of this guide is to summarise the main

opportunities in the world at the moment for you to follow up

further.  It's just intended to be a pointer.  You can then

go and look in libraries for more detailed information.

DECIDING WHAT YOU CAN DO

Many talented countries will accept people with skills and

talents to offer, others are reluctant.  For this reason,

it's often unrealistic to think of starting a whole new

career overseas.  It can work, but it's much more difficult.

Hence the best thing is to work within the type of job you

already have skills, experience and qualifications in.  This

will make job seeking far easier.  The effect of this is that

you look for an overseas country where your skill is in

demand.  Not a country you like and try to fit in!

Unfortunate, but this is the best way of doing things.

WORK PERMITS

Most countries will accept foreigners with job skills to

offer, but the chances of getting in vary.  Some are eager to

attract other foreigners, some discourage them.  Before even

looking for a job overseas, find out if a work visa and

permit is needed.  And, not just that, but if there is any

realistic chance of getting one.

Virtually every country has an embassy in London, and they

usually public a sheet giving details of requirements. 

Subsequently, a telephone call to the embassy will find out

if the chances of being accepted are realistic.

Most, but not yet all, EEC countries do not require U.K.

citizens to have entry visas or work permits.  So you can go

and live there without consent.  The catch is that you will

still need a residence permit, so check the chances of

getting one.

SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION

After using this guide, you still need to go and get more

information.  The availability of information varies as to

countries.

Some countries publish information bulletins on jobs in their

countries, available from embassies.  Others don't, but you

can always ask for help.

Failing that, try libraries and bookshops.  Most of the

better known countries have books, lesser ones don't.  You

may have to adapt the ideas from tour guides in some cases. 

In some countries there are specialist books to help you.

AROUND THE WORLD

The main point of this guide is to give you a quick pointer

to the countries of the world so that you can select one.

This is as follows, and provides a pointer for you to follow

to the countries with some openings, few or many.  Countries

not listed generally have none or very, very few.

EUROPE

Belgium - Good potential.  Good pay.  Opportunities can be

limited.

Denmark - Good pay.  High taxes.  English widely spoken. 

Good for professional jobs.

France - Very high pay.  Modest taxes.  Different culture. 

Jobs limited.

W. Germany - Very high pay.  Can be double U.K.  Highish

taxes.  High standard of living.  Needs technical/skilled

people.

Greece - Low standard of living but great culture and

weather.  Opportunities growing slowly.  Pay low.

Italy - More advanced than generally known.  Some technical

jobs available.  North better.

Holland - Small country.  Unemployment has been a problem. 

Few opportunities.

Portugal - Slowly developing country.  Good weather.  Cheap

housing and prices.  Very low wages.

Spain - Fast developing.  Excellent weather/social life. 

Still cheap.  Wages acceptable.

MIDDLE EAST

In the past it has been a popular place for overseas living

and working due to the oil industry.  This is receding

slightly and there are fewer people going.  The heat, and the

often restricted social life, are the main reasons.  But

wages are still very high.

Most opportunities are for men, virtually none for women. 

These are mostly technical and engineering, usually for

employers in the U.K., which is the best way to get them.

The best countries to work in are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UEA)

states.

Countries to be avoided include Iran, Iraq and Libya.

Egypt is interesting, but poor.  Jordan is much

underestimated.

AFRICA

Kenya - One of the most developed African countries.  Needs

skilled staff.  Wages and living conditions are good for this

continent.

Nigeria - A more prosperous African country.  Jobs in oil. 

Attractive wages.  Expensive and unappealing to live in.

S. Africa - Richest African country.  Good jobs available. 

Not as well paid as was.  Political troubles.

Zambia - Rather underrated.  Technical and agricultural jobs

available.  A little backward.

Zimbabwe - Now starting to develop.  More advanced than most. 

A few jobs available.

NORTH AMERICA

Canada - Offers good potential for U.K. citizens seeking work

in virtually every sphere as in U.K.  High wages and good

standard of living.  Takes many immigrants yearly, but quite

difficult to get to.  Get details from authorities.

U.S.A. - Very high standard of living.  Good wages, but

nowadays difficult to get a visa to work there.  Best way is

to get a job with a U.S. firm with a base in U.K.  and then

get transferred, or a U.K. firm with an office in the U.S.A.

CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA

Most of the Central and South American countries will accept

foreign immigrants without too much trouble.  Many skills are

in demand.  The main snag is that wages are generally low,

even for good jobs.  Living conditions range from poor to

satisfactory, depending on the country.

The best places to work in are the Caribbean Islands.  After

that, countries like Mexico and Brazil.  Central American

countries are generally to be avoided.

ASIA

Generally a much underrated area for immigration.  Often

standards of living are quite good and jobs are generally

available for skilled and semi-skilled people.  Wages are

generally low.

There are particular places that offer the best potential and

the best standards of living for foreigners.  These are

principally Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, and perhaps the

Phillipines.  Hong Kong has problems regarding it's future. 

Japan is good, but difficult for foreigners to find suitable

work in.

AUSTRALASIA

Australia - Generally one of the best places to move to. 

Good wages.  Good standard of living.  Many immigrants are

taken in, but it is quite difficult to qualify.  Get details

from the authorities in London.  It's not as easy as it

seems.  A complex system to gain admission is used.

New Zealand - A good alternative to Australia, but offers

less money and a slower pace.  Some jobs not required, but

some professionals are in demand.  Generally attractive

though.

Papua New Guinea - A small country, but rather underrated for

immigrants.  Some well paid jobs are available and these are

sometimes advertised in the U.K.  Not the most advanced

country though.

Other South Pacific islands offer interesting, if remote,

opportunities for people, especially in local administration,

government etc.