The Rise of International Freelancing

A laptop and an internet connection are all that’s required for many jobs these days, as such many people have the flexibility and freedom to finance their travels through online freelancing. In fact, the international freelance economy is booming and there are plenty of opportunities to be found no matter where you are in the world.

10 Freelance Jobs You Can Do Abroad

There are some professions which are ideally suited to freelancing. Typically, these roles can be done online from anywhere in the world. Some examples include:

1. Online Tutoring
2. SEO Content Writing & Blogging
3. Digital Marketing
4. Journalism
5. Graphic Design
6. Software & Web Development
7. Photography
8. Sound & Video Editing
9. Interpretation/Translation
10. 3D Modelling & CAD Design

Where to Find International Freelance Jobs

Online marketplaces are the most commonly used way to find international freelance jobs. These are websites that enable employers to connect with freelancers who are looking for work. Some examples of popular freelance marketplaces include Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer. You will be competing with other freelancers, so you may need to charge low rates until you build up a solid portfolio. Reviews help to build credibility, so always ask your clients to leave a rating once you have completed a project.

When leveraged strategically, social media can be a great way to attract new business. Firstly, you will need to ensure that all your social media bios have up-to-date information about your services and include a link to your portfolio. To build awareness of your services and to position yourself as an authority in your field, engage in relevant online groups and forums.

Once you become more established, client referrals can be another excellent way of finding new work. In order to generate referrals, you will need to build a strong relationship with your clients. You can increase the likelihood of getting a referral by:

• Sending a thank you card for any referral someone has sent you
• Promoting your clients on your own social media
• Following-up & keeping in touch with clients

10 Time Management Tips for Travelling Freelancers

1. Communication: Before taking on a client, be upfront about what they can expect from you and set clear boundaries around your working hours.
2. Stop Saying Yes When You Want to Say No: Know when you are at capacity and learn how to politely but firmly say no.
3. Establish a Routine: Treat your work like any other job and establish set working hours. Define a clear work-life balance and try not to think about work during your time off.
4. Automate Processes: Sign up to a good project management system that can automate as many menial tasks as possible.
5. Get Professional Help: If you have a lot on your plate, consider hiring a virtual Personal Assistant (PA) to take care of time-consuming admin.
6. Download a Time Tracking App: Use an app to monitor how much time you spend on work so you can ensure you don’t go over agreed-upon hours.
7. Travel Slowly: Book long stays to give yourself plenty of time to work and enjoy the destination without sacrificing your sanity.
8. Take Breaks: Self-care is important for good mental health. Avoid burnout by scheduling in lots of little breaks from work throughout the day.
9. Find A Productive Working Space: Whether you decide to work from your accommodation or in a co-working space, make sure that the environment is quiet and has reliable access to the internet.
10. Plan Ahead: Meticulously plan out your work and travel ahead of time to prevent last-minute scrambling.

Learn more about working freelance in another country, by checking out the below infographic guide.

Whether you’re looking for work at home or abroad, it’s common knowledge that when it comes to writing CVs, a cookie-cutter approach simply won’t work. No matter where they are based, today’s employers expect individualized résumés that highlight the candidate’s work ethic and meticulousness.

According to The Ladders, recruiters only spend 6.25 seconds examining each candidate’s CV. First impressions never get a second chance, so it’s important to ensure that every little detail is correct. This is especially the case when writing a CV that is intended for international use.

Writing an International CV

If you are firing off CVs to jobs around the world, you may find that what is considered a high-quality CV in your home country may not enjoy the same level of success when sent abroad. One reason for this may be that your CV does not adhere to the cultural norms and conventions of your chosen country.

What Can You Do to Boost Your CV’s Chances of Success?

Before applying for any job abroad, you should bone up on the job market and workplace culture in that country. Investing time and effort into doing your homework should improve your CV, impress employers and boost your odds of making it to the interview stage. If you are finding it difficult to get information online, then you could get in touch with a of a career advisor from that country.

What CV Elements Stay the Same the World Over?

Whether you’re applying for a job in Dubai or Dublin, you will always need to include the following information in your CV:

1. Your name and contact details
2. Your qualifications and skills
3. Your work history

Should You Call It a Resumé or CV?

In general, the term CV” is preferred in Europe and Latin America, whereas “resumé” is mostly used in North America and Asia. However, the two terms tend to be used interchangeably in the UK and Australia. If you are applying for jobs in the US, then it’s important to be aware that a “Curriculum Vitae” is a longer document (up to 20 pages) that is typically written by researchers, educators, or academics.

Average CV Length

As a rule, employers across the world prefer CVs that are shorter in length. A two-page CV is usually the max that an employer would accept. However, in some countries such as Saudi Arabia, Germany and Greece it is acceptable for highly-experienced candidates to submit longer documents of up to five pages.

Should You Include A Photo?

Convention as to whether or not you should include a photo of yourself on your CV differs a lot around the world, so it’s important to find out this information before ever setting pen to paper.

When to Use A Photo

Employers in many nations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America expect candidate photos. If you are submitting a photograph to an employer, invest in professional photography. Remember, you can use this on your LinkedIn profile as well.

When NOT to Use A Photo

There are a number of countries (the UK, Australia and Ireland to name a few) that have anti-discrimination regulations in place which prohibit the inclusion of photos with CVs. This means that any CV that includes a candidate photo will be immediately tossed.

via GIPHY

Personal Information

The US, UK and Australia have strict anti-discrimination and privacy laws for employers. As such, candidates are discouraged from sharing personal information such as their age, marriage status and parental status. Employers are also discouraged from asking about these details during job interviews. However, this is not the case in many countries around the world. For example, in the Middle East it is considered standard practice to include your gender, nationality, date of birth, marital and parental status on your CV.

Getting the Language Right

If applying for a job in a country that speaks a different language, prepare two copies of the CV – one in English and one in the language of the employer. Ask a native speaker to review the document for errors. If you are applying for a position in an English-speaking country, you’re not off the hook! Find out if the recipient uses British English or American English and then amend your application accordingly.

Learn more in our infographic guide, “How to Write A Resume That Crosses Borders”, below.

If you are in the process of firing off international job applications and would like to learn more about how to write an international CV, then be sure to scroll down to our infographic guide below.

There are now over 66.2 million expats worldwide and this is expected to reach 87.5 million by the year 2021. Research has found that expats are 2.5 times more likely to experience anxiety and/or depression than domestic workers. So why is this?

What Are the Top Expat Stressors?

In 2015, Internations conducted a major international survey which identified the top expat stressors:

How to Maintain Good Mental Health While Living & Working Abroad

Expats work an average of 13.4 more hours than people doing similar jobs at home. Try to avoid overworking and prevent burn-out by switching off the “24-7 business mentality.” Establish a clear work-life balance by not bringing your work phone home and by not checking your email on weekends. Instead, use your free time to socialise and to participate in healthy activities.

Working abroad can be isolating, so be sure to dedicate time to making friends. Don’t shy away work events and network groups. Try out apps such as MeetUp to connect with new people.

Make sure to schedule in time for chatting with your loved ones who still live in your home country. Take the lead on communicating with home and plan regular one-to-one interactions through Skype, social media or on the phone.

In addition to all of the above, don’t forget to look after your mental health. You can do this by limiting alcohol consumption, getting 8 hours sleep every night and by exercising and eating healthily. What’s more, learn how to recognise the signs of stress and work hard on developing stress management skills.

Preparing to Move Abroad

Just 6% of expats are concerned about mental health before relocating. However, taking some simple preparatory steps before you set off can make a big difference to your mental health down the line.

Research can really help to ease the relocation process. While reading up on your new home, don’t forget to look into ways of making friends, the work & social culture, methods of contacting home and potential stress outlets.

It’s also important to check in with yourself and know your limits. Keep a journal to help record and recognise your stressors. Get educated by familiarising yourself with the warning signs of stress, anxiety and depression.

Finding Support Services Abroad

The number of mental health workers per 100,000 persons ranges from less than 1 in low-income countries to over 50 in high-income countries. It can be even more difficult to find a counsellor that speaks your language. One excellent resource is the International Therapists Directory which contains contact details for English-speaking therapists, counsellors, psychologists, and psychiatrists in more than 50 different countries. Alternatively, you could ask for a referral from your embassy, HR Department or even other expatriates (particularly medical professionals).

If a face-to-face service is not an option, you may want to consider e-counselling. These are online services that allow you to connect with specialists in your home country via video-chat. Just be sure to check that the counsellor is licensed and look into the services’ privacy policies.

Video: The Ultimate Guide to Expat Mental Health

To learn more about how to look after your mental health during a move abroad, take a look at our video below.

As the famous journalist, Charles Kuralt once quipped: “If you really want to learn about a country, work there.” Working abroad is a wonderful opportunity to truly immerse yourself in a different culture. However for most people, finding employment can be one of the most daunting parts about moving abroad.

Without the connections, local knowledge and language, it can be difficult for migrants to navigate the tricky waters of job-hunting and the corporate world. Fortunately, advancements in technology mean that it has never been easier to find work overseas. In our latest infographic, we provide practical tips on how to use the internet and word of mouth to find your next dream job abroad.

If you are researching from home, your first port of call should be an international job search engine. Some good examples include: Indeed, SimplyHired and CareerJet. These global databases have listings for jobs in many countries and usually include a variety of language options.

America, the original “Land of Opportunity” is easily the most popular choice for Canadians seeking a move abroad. Those planning to immigrate into the United States may want to consider using one of the jobs sites specific to the country. Some popular options include Career Builder, Careers.org and HotJobs.

Word of mouth is also a powerful tool for jobseekers. If possible, take advantage of your professional network to discover connections who may be able to help you find a position. Alternatively, leverage virtual word of mouth by joining a professional online network such as LinkedIn or whatever the preferred platform is in the region. This will enable you to contact companies and recruiters and to build your general understanding of the local jobs market.

Read the infographic below to learn more about how to find a job abroad.

When considering moving to a new city there is so much to consider. Even if you have a good job lined up, you have to (more…)

Ottawa, November 8, 2013 — Today, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced changes to improve the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) so that the program continues to attract top quality candidates.

“The Canadian Experience Class has allowed more than 25,000 people to stay in Canada permanently to contribute their skills and talents,” said Alexander. “The government is taking concrete action to reduce backlogs and processing times. By making these changes to the Canadian Experience Class, we are moving toward a more effective and efficient immigration system.”

In order to manage intake, maintain reasonable processing times and prevent a backlog from developing in the CEC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is introducing an annual cap on the number of new CEC applications. CIC will accept a maximum of 12,000 CEC applications from November 9, 2013, to October 31, 2014.

Despite the annual cap on applications, the department will admit approximately 15,000 individuals under the CEC in 2014.

CIC is also seeing an overrepresentation of certain occupations in the program. In order to bring in as diverse a skill set as possible, the department will introduce limits on the number of applications under certain occupations.

Effective November 9, 2013, CIC will introduce sub-caps of 200 applications each in certain skilled occupations. Also, six particular occupations will no longer be eligible for the CEC.