How to land a job in a different country using LinkedIn

LinkedIn can be a huge help in your
quest to work internationally.

Have you thought about working in a different country, but have no clue as to where to start? 

These 10 tips can help you get started on your path to employment in a land far, far away.

1) Create a strong LinkedIn profile to show that you are a viable candidate.

• Make sure that your spelling and grammar are correct and that your profile is written in the language of your target country.
• Include a friendly-looking head shot photo of you dressed professionally.
• Indicate languages that you speak and write fluently. List your target country’s main language first.
• If your name may be difficult to pronounce in your target country, add an easy-to-say nickname. Example: Dahye (Debbie) Kim. This can give others confidence that they can pronounce your name correctly.

2) Have at least 100 LinkedIn connections. (Have many more than 100 if possible including connections in your target countries). This gives people in sought-after countries confidence that you are not a spammer.

• Mention in your invitation if you have mutual connections.
• Consider joining LinkedIn Open Networker groups and inviting people from these groups to connect. To find these groups, type “open networker” into the search box.

3) Join up to 50 LinkedIn groups including job-related groups (one group has more than a million members!)

• Particularly join job-related groups in your target countries.
• Join groups related to your industry or field. Such groups can be great places to learn about influential people who you can invite to connect.
• In addition to groups, follow companies in your target countries to learn about job openings. To follow companies, visit Companies and then Search Companies.

4) Participate in group discussions. Ask questions, share news stories and start your own discussions.

• Seek to become a respected participant so that people will come to know and trust you.
• Pay attention to who participates frequently. These people can be the first and best people to invite to connect.

5) Customize your LinkedIn invitations to explain why you want to connect, but don’t include wanting to work in their country in the invitation.

• If you are not strong at writing in the language of the person you are writing to, have someone who is good at it, proof or write your message. Save your proofed invitation text in Word so that you can simply copy/paste it into the invitation box when inviting other people to connect.
• As much as possible, learn and use the language of your target country.
• Don't use words like "Dear Mrs. (NAME)" or "Madam/Sir" or flowery language in your invitation message. This makes you sound like a spammer. Instead, just use the person's first name and get to your point. Example: Bob, We are both in the same LinkedIn group for financial analysts. I have learned a lot from your group discussions and would like to invite you to connect. If I can be of help to you, let me know. Thanks, YOUR NAME
• Once you have established the connection, you can explain to the person your intentions. Example: Bob, Thanks for accepting my invitation to connect. I am seeking a financial analyst position in New York City, so if you ever hear of opportunities, please let me know. I have the necessary visa to work in the U.S. Thanks, YOUR NAME

6) Feel free to invite me to connect. I will accept and then you can ask me questions there. I am the Kathy Bernard in Greater St. Louis (USA).

• Visit WiserUTips.com often for job help articles about how to write your resume (CV), how to network and interview, etc.
• Particularly check out the Job Tips by Topic section for career tips by category. Subscribe for free to receive new tips via email.

7) List the types of industries in which you want to work in your LinkedIn Summary section, plus the kind of work that you can do (specific job titles).

• Include the skills that you have for those jobs in your Skills & Expertise section.
• Get friends and connections to endorse your skills. Seek to have many endorsements.

8) State your employment status for being able to work in another country. Do you have the necessary visa to work elsewhere? If not, learn how to get it within your home country and take every step possible to acquire the proper paperwork. Most companies in another country will not hire you without them.

• Once you have the needed paperwork, mention it on your profile.
• Share your knowledge of how to work internationally with other job seekers in relevant LinkedIn groups. Also share information about companies that hire international workers. By doing so, you will quickly become recognized for your helpfulness.
• Add a standard "signature" at the end of your group discussions so people will know that they can invite you to connect. Simply type: YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, Seeking LIST JOB TITLES in COUNTRY NAMES, Open to connect

9) Mention on your profile if you have already worked internationally and where. This will help convince people that you have the necessary paperwork.

10) DON'T expect miracles. Most people will not be able to help you get a job in your target country because they don’t know how the work visa process works.

• Be aware that some people will not accept an invitation to connect from someone from another country.
• Watch out for people who promise you an international job that seems too good to be true. Only work with reputable sources and government agencies.

What have I left out? Share YOUR ideas or questions about how to land a job in a different country!  -- Thanks, Kathy

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