You can have a dream job in a dream location.
What if you could earn a living doing what you love wherever you want? If location is indeed everything, here is the lowdown on locating ideal jobs in the most perfect places.
Over There, Over There
Would you prefer a Paris flat, a Tahitian houseboat, or a seaside spot in Belize? Clay Hubbs, publisher of Transitions Abroad (transitionsabroad.com), says you should ask yourself a few questions before booking a ticket or updating your resume.
- Where do you want to go? If don't have a clue, start with a general region of the world and narrow it down from there.
- What do you have to offer? Landing a job overseas is not that much different than landing one at home. It comes down to whether you have the skills and knowledge that a prospective employer needs. Even though jobs in China are easy to come by, for example, it's tough to get a work permit in Western Europe and other developed nations like the United States. It requires proof that you are uniquely qualified for the job--and even more qualified than a native. Before you get too discouraged, keep in mind that your keen insight into the American psyche may prove invaluable to a company looking to tap the U.S. market. Jobs for Americans, especially those teaching English as a second language, are plentiful in Eastern Europe but the pay tends to be low. Pay for ESL workers in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea is much higher.
Would you prefer a Paris flat, a Tahitian houseboat, or a seaside spot in Belize?
- What kinds of jobs are available? USA Today reports that "work-wherever-they-want" telecommuters may be the wave of the future. If you want to work for an American employer, seek out U.S.-based companies that have a strong overseas presence. The smaller, more innovative, and flex-friendly companies of the high tech industry are also good bets. Or you might track down the local English language newspaper online and peruse their employment section.
- What kind of contacts do you have? If no international connections leap to mind, keep thinking. Doesn't your uncle have a second cousin in Athens? And didn't a former co-worker's wife once work for a company with an Argentine affiliate? If you really come up dry, hop on a plane and do the same thing you'd do in any new place--network like crazy!
Warm sea breezes, swaying palm trees, white sand, and clear blue waters. That's what Vicki Phelps, a homemaker who had been working part-time in her husband's software business, pictured when she decided to move to the U.S. Virgin Islands to bake cookies. On all of her previous Caribbean vacations, Vicki noticed how few island-themed gift items were actually made locally. Spying an opportunity to relocate herself and her family to paradise, she decided that the recipe for success lay in capitalizing on the island's native fruits and spices. That was the start of The Original Caribbean Cookie Company. It was an immediate hit with the tourists, and Vicki's husband was soon able to close his business and join her full-time.
In countries like Italy, for example, it's all but impossible for a non-European to find a job. So, says Hubbs, starting your own small business overseas can be a smart move. That's exactly what Jules Maidoff did. Bucking the stereotypical image of the starving artist, Maidoff is living proof that (like Phelps) you can have your cookies and eat them, too.
Since his humble beginnings as a summer art class instructor to a handful of American students in Tuscany some 25 years ago, Maidoff went on to found Studio Art Center International (SACI) in the heart of Florence. Billed as a "school with a view," SACI teaches more than 100 students--many with no formal training or even a college degree. They are drawn to the school's wide range of offerings, everything from fresco and lithography creation to ceramics and art conservation.
If you're thinking about starting a business overseas, Hubb says, visit the foreign country's branch at the American Chamber of Commerce Web site (uschamber.com). Or pick up the latest edition of his book, Work Abroad 2001: The Complete Guide to Finding a Job Overseas. It offers a comprehensive guide to all aspects of international work, including work permits, short-term jobs, job listings by profession and region of the world, key employers by country, and starting your own business.
Paradise Without a Passport
Whether you want to move halfway around the world or just to the other side of town, the same basic rules apply. And, thanks to the Internet, you won't need to track down local newspapers for employment listings. CareerBuilder, for example, lets you search 70+ sites for job openings nationwide. It also offers a unique Salary Wizard (tm) that tells workers what they should expect to earn in the tropics or mountains, in Honolulu or Helena.
Remember: You can always create your own job. Fearing that their stress-filled jobs and long commutes had them "heading for a heart attack," Dean and Darlene Jacobson transplanted themselves from Philadelphia to Charlottesville, VA. Motivated by their love of horses, they saw an unfilled niche market and decided to tap into it. With the help of the free one-to-one counseling they received from the Service Corps of Retired Executives, the Jacobsons now publish the Virginia Horse Journal right from their farm.
Like all major work/life transitions, this took some time. While Dean was getting the publication up and running, Darlene continued to work in her field. When she was finally able to quit and join her husband, their combined income dropped by about $100,000. But they're not complaining. "Every so often," Darlene says, "I ask Dean, `Are we working or are we having fun?' and he says, `I think we're working.'"
Testing the Waters
If you're not ready for a permanent international move, try a short-term stint. A good place to start is Working Abroad (workingabroad.com), an international networking service for volunteers, workers, and travelers. Projects can be short or long term, paid or unpaid, skilled or unskilled, depending on your needs, qualifications, and interests. You might try black bear tracking in Canada, excavating archaeological sites in France, working as a management trainer and administrator in Ghana, or something else. Crunched for time and money? Take shorter and cheaper trips as an air travel courier. This job involves carrying shipping documents on international flights for a courier company in exchange for discounted airfare to, say, Rome or Rio for less than $200. To learn more, check out the Air Courier Association (workabroad.com).
The number one rule in any real estate search is location, location, location. Apply this same principle to your work life and you may not only find your dream house but the life you've been dreaming of as well!
Valerie Young, a self-described Dreamer-in-Residence, abandoned her corporate cubicle to launch www.changingcourse.com, an online resource to help others discover their life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, The Guardian (London), Edmonton Sun, Chicago Sun Times, Dallas Morning News, Boston Globe, The Oregonian, Redbook, and Reader's Digest. An internationally known speaker and workshop leader, Dr. Young has addressed over 20,000 people in such diverse organizations as CIGNA, American Women in Radio and Television, and MIT.
