Useful info & resources

Working abroad can be challenging, exciting and rewarding and to get the most out of this experience you need to be prepared. Our recruitment consultants, many of whom have lived and worked abroad themselves and have years of experience of placing candidates in the same locations and customer sites as you will be working in, can help and advise you on important considerations including:

Accommodation, transport and even social opportunities in your new locality
Tax, social security obligations and insurance
Company Solution – what is the best way for you to ensure compliance whilst maximising your retention rate.

If you have some valuable feedback or interesting information about working abroad that you think would benefit our network of candidates on matters such as accommodation, travel, local regulations or even the best places to go out in the evenings then please get in touch. We will be pleased to hear from you.

CV Tips

A well organised and presented CV is the crucial first step in getting you that job interview. Use our check-list to make sure your CV ticks all the boxes:

Include a profile statement of 2-3 sentences at the top of your CV, stating how your skills, experience and industry knowledge is relevant to the position
Tailor your CV for each job application – one cap does not usually fit all
Give examples of your achievements. Recruiters and prospective employers won’t know the impact you had in a role unless you tell them
Avoid leaving chronological gaps in your employment history or giving details of your salary or contract rates
Choose an easy to read font, such as Arial and a size of 10 or 11
Be concise – keep your CV to 2-3 pages if possible. More senior candidates will have longer CVs but bear in mind long CVs are less likely to be read by busy hiring managers
Check for errors – don’t rely on spellcheck to check your CV for you; read it with your own eyes!

Interview Tips

Now that you’ve got yourself noticed, here are a few tips for making the right impression at the interview stage:

Do your research on the company and the market in which it operates
Re-read your CV carefully and think about how your past experiences are relevant to the role you are applying for
Anticipate the questions you are likely to be asked and prepare your answers to include ‘situation-action-result’ scenarios. Also, be prepared to answer questions about difficult situations you have faced
Prepare some questions of your own to show enthusiasm for the company and the position you are applying for.

For face-to-face interviews…

Plan your route beforehand and be punctual. Aim to be there 10 minutes early
If known, memorise the names and titles of the people who will be interviewing you
First impressions are important. It’s better to play safe and wear a suit for the interview
At introduction, shake hands firmly and maintain eye contact
During the interview maintain a good posture and eye contact
Try to relax and smile
Support your answers with responses that relate to your real-life experiences
Be honest. If you are not sure how to answer a question say so, or ask for further clarification
Show enthusiasm and be assertive by asking them what the next step will be.

For telephone interviews…

Find a quiet place to take the call where you will not be disturbed
Ensure you have enough battery life for the duration of the call if using your mobile
Make sure you are in a good network reception area if using your mobile
If possible, early on in the interview ask the interviewer exactly what kind of profile and skill set they are looking for. Use this information throughout the interview to give real-life examples of how your experience matches their expectations
Towards the end of the interview, ask the client if they have any reservations about your experience and if so, try to address their concerns. It is better to deal with them in the interview than leaving doubts in their mind.