When looking for a new role, many people constrain their search to their local area, or maybe a few nearby cities. However, with a wealth of opportunities to be had in construction and engineering projects overseas, why not widen the search?
Overseas transfers can be quick and easy
For those who have never worked abroad before, the possibility can be daunting, but in reality it needn’t be. In the vast majority of cases, roles have been well established, and companies used to having employees travel abroad to take up new jobs. Large companies will have departments dedicated to helping workers move, aiding with accommodation searches, school placements, and tax legalities.
So what are the benefits of having a stint abroad? Well, there are lots of upsides for a career. Having some time in a different environment will help employees learn new construction and engineering skills - say by helping design and build homes in a very different climate - and gain a wider perspective on their role by immersion in a new culture, increasing their employability in the future both overseas and at home. Sometimes overseas roles come with enhanced pay and living conditions over their equivalents in the UK, as enticements to encourage people to make the move.
Boost a CV with a variety of experience
It’s also often not necessary to speak the local language to work effectively - for example, engineering workers in Dubai only need to speak good English - though of course having foreign language skills will sometimes make someone a more attractive employee depending on where the role is based. Having overseas experience on a CV marks an employee out as someone who is not afraid to step out of their comfort zone and learn new skills. European citizens have the right to work in any country in the European Union, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, without a permit.
A wide variety of overseas construction and engineering roles are often available. The most well known will probably be opportunities within the oil and gas sectors, where jobs frequently come up that are based in resource-rich territories such as Africa and the Middle East, as well as roles that require frequent moves. It’s also possible to work as an engineer overseas, especially after a few years experience in the UK; opportunities for qualified engineers regularly come up in New Zealand and Australia, for example, that often include a relocation package. If in any doubt about how to find out more, then ask a recruitment consultant to outline current and future positions in greater detail and offer CV specific advice
Browse our latest International Jobs
