Finding an Executive Job Abroad

Today’s world is increasingly global and more and more executives are building an international career. For you as an executive, this will bring new experiences and insight and may elevate your career to the next level.

Recruiting an executive is always risky and expensive. In international executive recruitment, the risks are even bigger and there are more factors to be considered and evaluated. Therefore, before considering an international career, you should first do proper analysis and self-reflection.

You may choose to work abroad for just a few years or more permanently or work in a global company moving within their organization regularly from country to country. However, if you decide to become this ex. pat nomad building your international career within one company (typically working as an ambassador of the company transferring their culture, values, and best practices from country to country) you may not necessarily integrate into any country and culture. Often you stay in one country for a short time, live in ex.pat community, and mostly interact with fellow ex.pats.

Finding an executive job from another country is a similar process to finding any executive position. However, when moving abroad there are several more aspects to consider. You should think of not only yourself but also your family and people close to you. What will happen to your career after you return home? Is the move an advantage or disadvantage for your future?

The process starts with knowing yourself, your motivation, and your potential. When analyzing your values and principles you should also analyze if something is conflicting with these in your target country. How will you and your family members who follow you, and those who will not follow, adapt to the new situation, environment, and culture?

Typical drivers for executives finding a job in another country are:

Opportunities the market is offering.

Bigger earnings, lower taxation, lower cost of living.

Professional growth.

Experiencing and learning new.

Creating something new, exceptional, and your own.

Getting international experience and appreciation.

When you are analyzing your strengths like skills, experience, and talent you should carefully consider what unique and add value you bring to this market, country, business, and company. How much this is in demand and what is the competition? Do you stand out from the crowd? In addition to your professional skills are your language skills and people skills sufficient? How does your personality and management style adapt to the local and corporate culture?

You should conduct proper research on the location and the market. Find out about life there, culture, society, values, politics, legislation, taxation, work practices, business environment, employment regulations, immigration, Visa and Work Permits, salaries and benefits, health care, social security, cost of living, housing, schools, logistics. Follow international and local news. Read about political and financial developments in this country. Try to understand megatrends and market driving forces. Follow business news in this market and identify opportunities where you could add value. Picture yourself in these opportunities and draw a SWOT. This way you may crystallize your focus.

Once your focus is clear I suggest you set your goals and start planning the approach strategies to potential employers and recruiters. Draw a list of countries, markets, businesses, and companies you are interested in, and think about what added value you could deliver to them. Prioritize and screen it down to a Short List. Based on this Short List find the right people to contact in their organization and plan how to reach and approach them.

Most executive jobs are found through a contact network. The challenge in finding a job in another country is that you may not have a strong network there. However, you can build this network. Analyze who you know who could help you find a job in this country. Go through your contacts and colleagues who work in your target companies. For instance, you may know a colleague who has or is currently working in this country. He/she might further have contacts, who may give you additional information, and help you to find the right people. He/She could even recommend you to a potential employer. If your current or former employer has operations in this country, they may be able to offer you a position in this country or at least they may give you contacts.

In addition to your current network, you should expand your network by LinkedIn. I recommend you join professional groups within your interest in this country and take part in discussions there. You should also find the people in your target group you want to talk to and connect with them. I also recommend you contact international and local Executive Search firms. However, I advise you to choose the firms and partners/ consultants there that work in your business and on your level. You should remember that Executive Search firms are serving their clients. They are not employment agencies. Therefore, you should contact several and be active also directly contacting the people in your target companies.

You may also issue your CV and application to the recruitment portals of your target companies. When you do so you should have a clear focus on what you bring to the table, why you are interested in this company and relocation, and how you separate from the crowd.

The first meetings or interviews are today normally digital. You should demonstrate that you have digested the move and prepare arguments to convince this. I would advise you to go to the location as soon as it is sensible for you as this shows that you are committed to the relocation. Visit conferences, exhibitions, and other events there and network.

You should have an approach strategy for how you approach different employers and recruiters derived from their needs. It should be each time unique. In your plan, you should have a timetable and metrics to follow up and adjust.

Doing your homework properly is important. As mentioned earlier executive recruitment is expensive, and it will be bad for the company recruiting – and not good for you - if after several meetings you decide to withdraw for reasons that were known to you in the beginning. During my career, I have witnessed cases where the candidate has been very motivated and committed but for instance for family reasons after receiving the job offer has declined. The circumstances may also change, and this is why due diligence is important. For instance, I have seen that after a few months of employment for political reasons in the country, the business climate has changed, and the employer has been forced to release the executive they hired.

Either you have decided to become an international nomad working mostly for one company in several countries or to move to a new country for a longer time it is a big decision on your career with consequences. In the worst case, you are stuck to this one company and/or nomad life for good. If you have lived a long time in one country and at some point, decide to return home it may be difficult for you to find a job from your home country which would have nothing to do with your previous location. However, in today’s global economy having working experience abroad can be a great plus for your career. It will give you a wider perspective and view of many things and in many cases, it will increase your market value considerably.