Jobs That Let You See the World
Not all jobs are translatable to international positions without a little extra learning or language proficiency -- and you will need to acquire working permits and other legal documentation -- but here are some jobs that can take you away if you're up for the move:
1. Teacher
It's no news that teachers aren't highly paid, but if you're an instructor in South Dakota, you're among the lowest-paid in the nation, with an average salary of $33,236, according to a 2003-04 survey by the American Federation of Teachers. Try taking your skills abroad. Learning English is in high demand internationally, and Germany, Switzerland and South Korea are among the countries that pay the largest teacher salaries. South Korea's median teacher salaries range between $25,000 and $60,000, and the country has a positive reputation for providing high income to educators. Salaries in Switzerland range from $65,000 to $80,000. An added perk to employment in Germany is that state employees are regarded as permanent workers, meaning that they are paid necessary social insurances.
Requirements: A four-year degree in education or a related field, teaching experience and a TESL/TEFL certificate. You will also need an international work visa and work permits, which can be obtained personally or through the school that employs you.
2. Chef If you are an established chef, international hotels and restaurants may offer the opportunity to build on your career overseas while, in many cases, offering you room and board for a minimum costs. In the United States, the median annual income of a head chef/chef is $40,000, and $43,000 if you work as a chef for a hotel. Kingsbrook USA Inc. is one company that works to place chefs in international regions. They reported England's hotel chef positions as offering £14000, or roughly $26,730 U.S. dollars per year for Chef deParties. Kingsbrook also reported between $32,458 and $38,186 per year for Sous Chefs and between $38,186 and $47,732 per year for Head Chef.
Requirements: An associate degree and at least three years of culinary experience. Letters of Reference, transcripts and health records and exams will also be required.
3. Caterer
Catering managers make an average median salary of $35,590 in the United States, and while other countries offer this position, the commute from national to international can literally be a matter of taste. Caterers who create a name for themselves in the U.S. industry can earn a trusted reputation and follow clients to overseas events. Rock stars and celebrities may have a variety of different catering companies working for them throughout the United States, but larger acts and A-listers like to have a trusted source to make sure their diet is in line with their requests. Working for one of these companies may put you on tour with the band, and if national gigs go well, you could find yourself overseas for the next tour.
Requirements: Chefs and management have culinary training, but staff servers may have little or no experience. To garner a spot on a worldwide tour, a caterer will generally have a lot of experience. Passports are needed for international work.
3 Ways to Revitalize Your Search
1. Take a temporary job.
While you're probably searching for a full-time job, it might be worth considering working as a temporary professional. Not only can temporary jobs help you build new skills, you also will be able to meet people who could serve as valuable contacts down the road. And a temporary engagement may very well lead to a full-time position. In a Robert Half International survey, nearly one-in-four executives said the most important benefit of using temporary workers is to evaluate a prospective employee before making a full-time job offer.
2. Broaden your network.
One of the best ways to find a job is through people you know because résumés from referrals often receive top billing among hiring managers. If you've been networking through friends and family and still haven't found work, it's time to expand your list of contacts. Talk to former co-workers and managers, college alumni and members of professional organizations you belong to. Or schedule informational interviews at businesses you're interested in so you have a contact when a job opens up. Remember that it never hurts to get back in touch with people you've already spoken with, either to let them know you're still looking for a job or to better specify what sort of position you hope to find.
3. Take classes or workshops.
It's never a bad idea to improve your skill set. You can take a class and build capabilities in new area. Or maybe you've noticed a skill requirement you don't have that keeps popping up on the job descriptions that interest you. For example, if you're an editor or writer, and the jobs you apply for frequently require "basic HTML proficiency," your lack of knowledge in this area could prevent you from landing a new position. Taking classes, either online or at a local university, or even working with a friend who knows this programming language, can help you get up to speed and improve your marketability. Just make sure to update your résumé upon learning a new skill or strengthening your proficiency in a certain area.
First 10 Minutes of an Interview Count
With such a short amount of time to interact with a hiring manager, how can you evoke a positive response? Projecting confidence and enthusiasm is key, so keep the following advice in mind:
1. Demonstrate your knowledge.
Hiring managers often start interviews by asking job candidates some straightforward questions about their experience, knowledge of the company and ability to excel in the position. For example, "Can you tell me a little about yourself?" "What do you know about our firm?" and "Why do you want to work here?" are three common questions. Research the business beforehand so that when answering these types of queries, you can relate your responses to the firm's needs or priorities.
2. Remain calm.
One of the best ways to make a good first impression is to quell any pre-interview jitters. Plan to arrive at the interview destination 10-15 minutes early. This will give you time to compose yourself and relax a little.
3. Dress to impress.
For better or worse, a good part of the impression an interviewer first forms of you depends on how you're dressed. So wear a nice suit or business-appropriate dress, even if you know the office to be a casual environment.
4. Show some respect.
Many hiring managers ask everyone who has interacted with a candidate -- from administrative staff to members of their department -- for feedback on the prospective employee. So be pleasant toward those you meet and avoid the urge to hold a loud cell phone discussion in the elevator or lobby.
5. Focus on the little things.
The fact that employers form opinions of candidates so quickly places additional importance on the more subtle points of the interview, such as giving a firm handshake, maintaining eye contact and practicing good posture. Your nonverbal cues can say a lot about your personality and interest in the position. Crossing your arms, nodding hurriedly or making tense facial expressions can all send the wrong message.
6. Break the ice.
Small talk plays an important role in the interview by helping to break the ice and put both parties at ease. If the hiring manager asks if traffic was heavy or if you had problems finding your way to the office, offer more than just a "yes" or "no" answer. Just be sure not to prattle on.
Dumb Things Job Applicants Do
To avoid scaring off employers, make sure you avoid these five dumb things job applicants do:
1. They disclose too much information
A cover letter shouldn't begin with irrelevant personal information such as: "I'm a 40-year-old mother of three who has experienced many challenges in life." While job seekers may think they are creating a bond with the hiring manager by "letting you get to know me," employers are turned off by "too much information." From an employer's point of view, an applicant who makes inappropriate personal disclosures may be likely to exercise poor judgment in other areas as well.
Information to keep to yourself includes your age, health, family, how you like to spend your weekends or anything else unrelated to the position you are applying for. In addition, make sure you aren't saying too much with an email address such as xxxxx@ hotmail.com.
2. They behave rudely
Of course you wouldn't hire someone who honked and gestured angrily at you in the parking lot, snapped at the receptionist and argued into his cell phone in earshot of customers waiting in the reception area. Nevertheless, job hunters have made these and many other faux pas.
Human beings have bad days, and interviews can be particularly stressful, but an employer who witnesses or hears about even a hint of rudeness is likely to assume it's only a small taste of things to come if the applicant is hired. So be on your best behavior with everyone you encounter.
And don't make the mistake of badmouthing your former employer; an interviewer is likely to assume that's how you'll be talking about them if they hire you.
3. They don't follow instructions
At a recent company lunch, someone handed a hiring manager a résumé for a position that had just been filled. The applicant had made the mistake of mailing it to a customer service address instead of submitting it online as instructed.
Failing to follow instructions may not only cause you to miss the deadline, it may also make you appear to be a potentially difficult employee. After all, if someone can't follow a few simple steps at this stage, how would that person perform on the job?
4. They don't focus on the employer's needs
When a company is looking to fill a position, it's because they have a need. They may want to expand into new markets, cut costs, improve services, increase profits or achieve something else they have identified as important to their success.
5. They say dumb things
Foolish statements can include obvious gaffes such as asking an interviewer who's slightly overweight when her baby is due... but sometimes it's not so obvious.
"Before I saw your job ad, I'd never heard of your company," one applicant for a marketing position told an employer, oblivious to the fact that the interviewer's proudest achievements included overseeing marketing campaigns that had generated millions of dollars worth of publicity for the company, an industry leader.
To avoid appearing ignorant, familiarize yourself with the company by reading their Web site before the interview. To avoid blurting out an inappropriate comment, pause before answering questions and if you think something might be taken "the wrong way," don't say it!
How to Blow an Interview
Even the most well-prepared, intelligent job seeker can turn into a bumbling mess once anxiety enters the equation. Nerves can't be avoided -- but some of the most common interview mistakes can.
Clothes make the (wo)man
If punctuality is important, dressing appropriately is downright crucial. Hiring managers complain that candidates come to interviews dressed in T-shirts, jeans and flip-flops.
"Research the company dress code and dress one level above company policy," suggests Dawn Gill, district director of Spherion Staffing Services in the Southeast.
"If you find the company dress code is business casual, for example, then plan to wear dress slacks or a skirt and blouse," she says. "If the company code is casual, plan to dress at the business-casual level -- which may mean khakis or other comfortable slacks or skirts paired with proper shirts."
If you have any doubt what clothing will be appropriate, wear a suit. And remember: While taking care of your appearance is a good thing, vanity can work against you.
"During the interview process, I've had a few candidates adjust their hair in the reflection in the window behind my desk -- sometimes they check themselves out three, four, five times," laments Greg Wilson, vice president of Levick Strategic Communications in Washington, D.C.
"Vanity does not become anyone in the interview process," he says. "Get it together before you show up. Otherwise I'll think you've never met a mirror you didn't like."
Timing is everything
Getting to the interview is never as simple as expected. If you need to be there promptly at 8 a.m., you can bet there will be snow, gridlocked traffic or a complete meltdown of your city's public transportation system.
Since you can't precisely predict your commute time, leave as early as you can.
"It may be only five minutes to you, but showing up late for an interview is inappropriate," says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, principal of Northampton, Mass.-based Human Resource Solutions.
"Do what you have to do to get out the door early," she says. "Worst-case scenario: You sit in the parking lot and listen to your iPod until it's time to go in."
A little too revealing
"What do you know about the company?" isn't the only question throwing job seekers off course. Unfortunately, many nervous job seekers begin rambling when confronted with a tough question, revealing potentially negative information about their skills or character.
"Usually it's the most sensitive questions where people don't know where to stop," says Diane Wilson, a Chicago career and executive coach and author of "Back in Control: How to stay sane, productive and inspired in your career transition."
These tricky questions include: "Why did you leave your last job?", "What are your strengths and weaknesses?", and "Tell me about yourself."
"The best thing to do is to write out your answers and do some inner preparation," Wilson says.
The Latest Best and Worst Cities for Jobs
The best...
Merced, Calif.
No. of employed in July: 55,200
No. of employed in October: 56,700
Percent change: +2.7
Morgantown, W.Va.
No. of employed in July: 62,800
No. of employed in October: 64,300
Percent change: +2.4
Dubuque, Iowa
No. of employed in July: 53,200
No. of employed in October: 54,300
Percent change: +2.1
Wilmington, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 138,400
No. of employed in October: 141,300
Percent change: +2.1
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, N.J.
No. of employed in July: 60,200
No. of employed in October: 61,400
Percent change: +2
Mansfield, Ohio
No. of employed in July: 53,800
No. of employed in October: 54,900
Percent change: +2
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C.
No. of employed in July: 798,200
No. of employed in October: 810,500
Percent change: +1.5
Portsmouth, N.H.-Maine
No. of employed in July: 53,900
No. of employed in October: 54,600
Percent change: +1.3
Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 500,400
No. of employed in October: 506,700
Percent change: +1.3
Iowa City, Iowa
No. of employed in July: 91,000
No. of employed in October: 92,100
Percent change: +1.2
And the worst
Greenville, N.C.
No. of employed in July: 76,400
No. of employed in October: 74,900
Percent change: -2
Columbus, Ga.-Ala.
No. of employed in July: 120,200
No. of employed in October: 117,700
Percent change: -2.1
Dalton, Ga.
No. of employed in July: 68,000
No. of employed in October: 66,600
Percent change: -2.1
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
No. of employed in July: 119,400
No. of employed in October: 116,800
Percent change: -2.2
Lafayette, Ind.
No. of employed in July: 96,700
No. of employed in October: 94,500
Percent change: -2.3
Bellingham, Wash.
No. of employed in July: 82,200
No. of employed in October: 80,300
Percent change: -2.3
Greeley, Colo.
No. of employed in July: 79,700
No. of employed in October: 77,800
Percent change: -2.4
Barnstable Town, Mass.
No. of employed in July: 96,000
No. of employed in October: 93,700
Percent change: -2.4
St. George, Utah
No. of employed in July: 49,600
No. of employed in October: 48,400
Percent change: -2.4
Gainesville, Ga.
No. of employed in July: 75,300
No. of employed in October: 73,400
Percent change: -2.5
Body Language Tips in Interview
Reading and understanding body language is critical to your success in a job interview.
1. Arms lend a hand, too
Arms offer clues as to how open and receptive we are, so keep your arms to the side of your body. This shows you are not scared to take on whatever comes your way.
Quieter people tend to move their arms away from their body less often than outgoing people, who use their arms with big movements. Keep gestures within the frame of your body, or you'll risk being seen as out of control. Avoid the negative action of crossing your arms during the interview.
Here are two common perceptions of hand gestures:
- Palms slightly up and outward: open and friendly
- Palm-down gestures: dominant and possibly aggressive
2. The wet fish versus the bone crusher
The handshake tells a story about each of us. Do you shake hands softly? Do you come in from the top and deliver a "bone crusher"? Aggressive people have firm handshakes; those with low self-esteem have limp, "wet fish" handshakes.
A great handshake is a three-step process:
- Execute your handshake professionally and politely, with a firm grip and a warm smile.
- Make sure your hands are clean and adequately manicured.
- Ensure hands are warm but free of perspiration.
3. The eyes have it
What's considered an appropriate amount of eye contact may vary in different countries. In North America, 60 percent eye contact is a safe figure -- one that can give hiring managers a feeling of comfort about you. More eye contact than this and you may seem too intense; any less and you risk appearing uninterested.
Warning: Staring at a person's lips is considered sexual, while looking at their forehead is considered condescending.
4. Get a "head" of the game
When you want to feel confident and self-assured during an interview, keep your head level, both horizontally and vertically. Also assume this position when your goal is to be taken seriously. Conversely, when you want to be friendly and in the listening, receptive mode, tilt your head just a little to one side or the other.
5 Get it straight
Posture is an important thing to master on an interview: Get your posture straight and your confidence will rise with it. Next time you notice you are feeling a bit down, pay attention to how you are sitting or standing. Chances are you'll be slouched over with your shoulders drooping down and inward. This collapses the chest and inhibits breathing, which can make you feel nervous or uncomfortable.
Why Should I Hire You? Thought as an interviewer
"I thought it gave people the opportunity to tell me what they wanted to tell me, versus me asking a million questions," Miller says. Only one candidate was able to give an answer without stumbling. What's worse, Miller couldn't envision any of these applicants having a coherent conversation with a reporter if her one question was causing so much distress.
"It is so hard to get a job these days, and I really expected people to be on their game," she says. "I guess it made my job easier though, because when I finally met someone who knew what was up, I hired her on the spot."
In today's job market, where many seasoned workers have found themselves out of a job and plenty of young but inexperienced graduates are entering the work force, do you have the right answer to beat out the competition?
he employer thinks ... you're not qualified enough.
So you ... prove you have other qualifications that will help you in this position.
The employer thinks ... you're overqualified.
So you ... prove you're ready for a change.
The employer thinks ... you don't have relevant experience.
So you ... explain how all experience is relevant.
