Have you ever dreamed of working abroad? Searching for a developer job locally can be relatively simple, however, getting a similar position working abroad presents its own set of challenges. This article will give you all the steps to find and secure a tech job abroad.
Let’s jump right in!
How to Prepare Your Resume
Structuring your resume well is the first step to setting yourself apart from your competitors. One way to write a well-structured resume is to list experience and skills in order of relevance. Recruiters scanning through resumes read top to bottom, which is why it is crucial to structure it in this manner.
When preparing your resume, avoid simply making a long list of your job history. Rather, place the focus on why you are the best fit for the company to which you are applying. Emphasize and add more detail to parts of your resume that the recruiter might find interesting, and leave out or decrease the amount of irrelevant information included.
How to Stand Out
Keep your resume from being tossed aside by companies by applying the following tips:
- Make your resume easy to read. Recruiters aren’t reading every syllable you have written in your resume, they are scanning through the page to check if you have any of the job requirements or skills they’re looking for. Use features like bolding, italics, and a readable modern font (e.g., Montserrat or Tahoma) to emphasize important sections of your resume.
- Demonstrate your passion and expertise. To do so, include personal profile links on your resume that show off your abilities and know-how. These can include your personal website or technical blog, links to profiles on GitHub, Stack Overflow, HackerRank, or similar. But make sure the content they contain deserves being shown off. An empty GitHub profile won’t make your resume/candidacy more attractive!
- List your accomplishments. Job-seekers tend to list responsibilities, rather than what was accomplished in the position. Set yourself apart by showing on paper ways you helped your prior companies succeed and grow.
- Explain your achievements as they pertain to skills. Under the “experience” spot on your resume, describe what you accomplished with the particular skills listed. For instance:
Developed a highly available, redundant, and fault tolerant microservice architecture based on JBoss, Docker, Postgres and HAProxy, allowing for mid-day rolling releases.
- Use numerical data to show your accomplishments. Being vague won’t impress employers; use numbers to demonstrate how you delivered results. Here are a few good examples:
Built automation framework from scratch using Java, Selenium, TestNG and Maven, increasing test capacity by 70%.
Developed and maintained automated analysis system capable of processing 10 million statistical operations per day.
- Write a brief cover letter. This will show companies that you did your research on the company, and that your resume is not just one of the hundreds that you sent out. Here’s a great read on the topic, with helpful tips and an example for inspiration.
Resume Length
Your resume should typically be 1-2 pages in length, depending on how much relevant experience you have. When applying to tech jobs abroad, research what is typically common for resume length in that country or region. For instance, while in the U.S. it is usual for resumes to fit everything onto one page, in Europe two pages are more common.
Also, depending on what country you are looking to relocate to, there may be different standards on what should be included in your resume and what should be left out.
Adapt Your Resume to the Job
Simply copying and pasting the same resumes for multiple companies just won’t cut it. Recruiters are looking for specific details and experiences you may have that will be valuable for them. Modify and tailor your descriptions to fit the one you are applying for.
How to Search for Developer Jobs Abroad
Luckily for you, there are specialized websites that have filters for “relocation” and “visa sponsorship” to make job hunting abroad that much easier. To name a few:
- Relocate.me – A platform built to specifically find international IT opportunities. To explore jobs abroad, simply use the search bar to enter keywords or job titles and your target country.
Jobs pertaining to the search will then pop up and you can select any of them to find out more information. One of the best features of Relocate.me is the relocation package highlight. This feature lets you see which job postings offer relocation packages and what exactly is included in these relocation packages.
- AngelList Talent – A leading website for individuals looking for tech jobs at startups. To start searching for jobs with visa sponsorship, you’ll have to sign up and fill out your profile. From there, you should be able to set up your search parameters such as country and job title. In the Filters tab, there is a section named “Immigration” at the bottom, and an option for “only show companies that can sponsor a visa.”
- Arbeitnow is a job board intended for locating tech jobs in Germany. To find a position that helps with relocation, simply select the “visa sponsorship” option on the homepage.
You can find a complete list in my repository on GitHub.
Other job-seeking tools I advise utilizing:
- Hacker News is a social news website with a focus on the tech world and entrepreneurship. It has a monthly thread – “Ask HN: Who is hiring?“ – that you can use in your job search to find positions that might not be posted on typical job boards. Use the keyboard hotkey Command/Ctrl + F to find job offerings with the keyword “visa.”
- LinkedIn Jobs and Indeed. They both have similar features that can be used to specify your search. For example, to use Indeed to find a job, first select the country you are looking to relocate to, then enter “relocation,” “visa sponsorship,” or “visa” along with “developer” into the search bar. This will bring up quite a lot of job results that relate to your search.
- One of the ways to find jobs that offer relocation is to use Google to perform a Boolean search.
To do this, first, think of a job title that you qualify for or are just interested in. For example, “Developer.” Next, consider the location abroad you dream of living in, for example, Berlin or Amsterdam.
Now, type site: and the web address of an applicant tracking system (e.g., apply.workable.com, boards.greenhouse.io, jobs.lever.co, or jobs.smartrecruiters.com) or another website (twitter.com, for example) where you’d like to try searching for international job opportunities.
Use keywords that apply to your job search. Some important keywords and phrases to search for regarding securing a job internationally are relocation and visa sponsorship.
Next, add your desired working location abroad. This will further narrow down your search and help you find the right position for you.
Finally, connect all of the above with Boolean search methods, using terms like AND, OR, NOT, with parentheses and quotations as necessary. An example of the final product would be:
site:apply.workable.com (developer OR engineer) AND (golang OR python) AND (berlin OR amsterdam) AND (relocation assistance OR relocation package OR relocation support OR visa sponsorship OR visa support)
- Networking is still considered the best way to get a job offer, and this applies to jobs abroad as well. Some ways to network include:
- Letting friends, family, and coworkers know that you are searching for a developer job abroad.
- “Cold calls” online and through social media platforms such as Facebook and Linkedin. Send messages with questions to people working in your dream position or area to build your network.
- Job fairs (example) can be a fantastic opportunity to connect with potential employers abroad.
- International (tech) recruitment agencies like Global Skills Hub, Toughbyte, Agile Search, Zero to One Search, Global {M}, and TechBrainJobs, to mention but a few.
Tech Job: Application Strategies
Applying to positions without a strategy in mind will lessen your chances of matching with a company. Some strategies you can implement in your job search are:
- Applying through specific job boards or aggregators. Use job boards (as shown above) to increase your visibility and chances of nabbing an interview. The more specific you are during your job search, the better.
- Approaching target companies. Company targeting is recognized as one of the best ways to secure a job, besides networking and referrals. Determine which specific companies you want to work for and build your network to connect with hiring executives at those companies.
- Referrals. Ask connections on Linkedin who work with the company to refer you. You can also try to ask strangers who directly work at the company as well. At the very least, you could receive some career advice from someone who works with your desired company.
Do’s and Don’ts of Preparing for Interviews
Recruiters interviewing potential candidates abroad often run into the issue that interviewees are usually more interested in relocating than in the company. This hurts your opportunities to move forward with the company, as they are looking for a candidate who has more interest in the values and goals of their business.
Do:
- Research the company beforehand. Not every application you fill out requires diligent company research, however, if you have been selected to interview, it is 100% necessary. Check up on the company’s information on their website, blog, and social media profiles, and find out their mission statement and recent developments.
- Become familiar with the products and services they offer. This will show the interviewer that you have researched the company, and additionally help you to connect your skills to match their product and services.
- Be prepared for typical interview questions. Practice these with a friend or in the mirror to answer them confidently when the time comes to interview.
- Ask questions. Preparing a few smart questions to ask demonstrates your interest in the position. These questions help not only you to understand the role for which the job you are applying, but shows the company your genuine eagerness for the position.
Don’t:
- Be late. This just demonstrates to the company that they aren’t worth your time. This is not only disrespecting their time, but it is also showing the interviewer that you can be unreliable.
- Ask about salary. Wait until the subject is brought up by the recruiter before mentioning pay and benefits. You don’t want to give the impression you are just interested in the salary.
- Imply you are only interested in the job for the location. Employers want to see that you genuinely care about working with their company, not just for the relocation aspect.
- Speak badly of your prior boss or company. This reflects poorly on you and can be seen as immature and petty. If prompted as to why you would like to leave your current position, it is best to stick to reasons such as career advancement, professional development, etc.
Preparing for Relocation
Relocating is something that should take plenty of consideration before deciding to move. However, if you have made up your mind, many companies offer relocation assistance to help make the transition seamless.
Below are some tips I’ve given on how to prepare for relocation:
- Familiarize yourself with the location before moving. If you can, research and visit where you will be relocating. Make connections with people who have lived there or currently live there and look up information on weather, current news, etc.
- Discuss a relocation package with your company. Relocation packages can vary depending on the company, so it is important to ask about the benefits that are offered. Typically, basic relocation packages include flights and visa sponsorship/paperwork. Advanced packages include not only flights and visa sponsorship/paperwork, but also housing support, on-site assistance, and possibly other monetary compensation/financial aid.
In the instance that your company does not offer relocation packages, do not hesitate to ask and/or negotiate.
- Research the cost of living in the area. Being able to financially prepare for how much rent, taxes, groceries, transportation, and other essentials is something to consider. Additionally, consider creating a budget based on those expenses to ensure your finances are well-planned.
Finding a tech job abroad in tech can feel overwhelming, but I hope with this guide you can apply these tips to secure the right position for you.
