Question: Hi Jennifer, Thanks for accepting the [LinkedIn] invitation! I follow you on Twitter. I’m interested in seeking a new job abroad, I am looking for in London. I’ve been applying to several positions for a month now and I got no answer so I am trying to broaden my network since I can use some advice. I would appreciate any recommendation you could give me. Thank you for your time.
Answer:
Hi C,
First of all, I love Madrid. I miss the yummy Spanish food and my Spanish friends. If I make it back to Spain, before you move to London, I’ll get in touch so that you can treat me to lunch. Glad to hear you’re following me on Twitter – make sure you engage in the conversation and retweet comments of my mine that you like. Twitter is a great way to connect with people all over the world!
Now, on to answering your question about how to find a job abroad. Looking for a new position in another country is very tricky and requires deliberate and methodical preparation – if you want to get the job you want, rather than just ANY job. Here are some steps I recommend:
1) Be very clear in your mind about what job you want. Visualization exercises work really well for this. Make sure that you have everything written down as well. As you’re talking to your network, you need to sound like you know exactly what you want to do.
2) Make sure that all of your online accounts reflect your desire to move to London. For example, on your LinkedIn headline, you could write something like “Spaniard with a love for England!”, or something that reflects your personality.
3) As you talk with your network of friends and associates, be clear about WHY you want to move to London. Be clear about what types of jobs you want. Be clear about ideal companies, industries, etc. That is why #1 above is critical BEFORE you start talking to your network. [Note: Did you catch that I said "talk", not email, not Tweet, not post, etc. I'm serious about networking on the phone and in-person.]
4) Talk with people who have successfully transitioned from Espana to England. Find out what they would’ve done differently knowing what they know now.
5) In May 2010, I interviewed my sister-in-law about her experience looking for work in London. Check out the Job Club Radio podcast archive: http://ow.ly/blDIL.
Good luck with your search! I’m sure you’ll do great and have a wonderful adventure. (Just so you know, the food in London isn’t nearly as good as Spain…)
