We all know someone who managed to land an overseas job. If you are on a similar path, know that it requires a lot of hard work and patience. Landing an interview alone takes eons, but before that, you need a strong resume. The idea itself is enough to bring excitement to some people, while fear in others. That said, here are a few tips and tricks to raising your chances of landing that job.

Network widely
Getting to know people from the same background as you can be a fulfilling task. Not only do you get information about how they tackle their role, but you also gain insight into your roles and responsibilities when you land in the market. International networking, informal chats, and video meetings with people will be a way of opening up more opportunities. If you establish a good relationship with your peers, they might even recommend you for suitable positions in their organizations. If you are unsure of where to start, list down the top 10-20 companies you would like to work for. Pursue these companies, and use social media and professional platforms to help you build connections within each organization. The result would be a connection to each company, which could be the opening you need.

Research the job market
Knowing the job market is not just about the skill set and the experience you bring to the table. It is about knowing the current conditions of the country, or the particular area you want to work in. Does the place have a favorable economy? Is the pay scale competitive enough to help you cover the cost of living and have some savings as well? Is there a growth scale? What all qualifications and experience do you need to be considered a viable applicant? These are all crucial queries and you need to be on top of them to better understand the job market in your desired area. This will also help you understand the nitty-gritty of the job and company you are aiming for. Researching will bring forth the competitive scope of the market and the list of organizations that are currently hiring.

Skill development
This includes soft skills as well as the expertise required to perform your job well. There are numerous ways to sharpen your skills. You could sign up for online courses, enroll for certifications, and attend workshops, the possibilities are endless. If you are serious about landing an overseas job, think hard about all the relevant skills you will need, and set on improving them. A language barrier can be a big hassle when you want to work or study in a different country. This means learning their local language and learning it well. Take up language learning courses or use other resources to pick them up. Some countries might even require you to appear for exams to test your language skills before granting you a visa.

Practice virtually
One important step in landing any job, local or international, is the interview process. While you might have ample practice in interviewing for jobs, the nerves are hard to ditch. The sheer list of all the things that can go wrong during a virtual interview could make anyone break out a cold sweat.
But, aside from the technical glitches, you can manage the issues. Assign a family member or friend to be your mock interviewer. Have interview practice sessions with them over Zoom, Skype, or any other video calling application. This will help you gain perspective on the types of interview questions and appropriate answers. And while you are at it, you will also learn the user interface of these applications, and avoid stumbling during the main interview. Pro-tip, try to adjust to the time zone of the country you will be interviewing for. This way you won’t look like you had to pull yourself out of bed or tape your eyelids open for the sake of an interview.

Seek proper advice
It is okay to wanting to do things by yourself, but that does not mean doing so without any background knowledge. For this, search for other expatriates that have moved to similar locations, or are working in the same industry as you. Discuss and learn from their experience. You might even get to know about organizations that are open to providing opportunities to everyone.