Work Abroad Guide

We thought we’d have an end of the week open discussion forum at Shelter Offshore, and the following are the overall results and the general consensus of opinion held here – written up by our Africa expat correspondent.  The subject matter touched upon today is whether it’s worth taking the risk of working abroad illegally when it’s a fact that work permits are very hard to come by.

Obtaining a work permit in the country where I live is a mission.  It requires overcoming mountains of bureaucracy and red tape to get the necessary papers.  Most organisations think twice before employing foreigners as a result, which is of course the government’s intention.  They are trying to promote employment for their own people, and who can blame them in a country where at a conservative estimate those in formal employment constitute only 5% of the population.

I know quite a number of people who claim they are working “more or less legally”, not only here but in other countries abroad.  As any lawyer worth his or her degree will tell you, there are very few countries (if any!) where the employment law allows for the concept of “more or less legal”, you’re either legal or you are not.  Many expats are faced with the dilemma of how to work and earn some money in a new country.  Often the rules in the new place seem burdensome and irritating.  It seems easier to circumvent them for a while, earn a few bucks and then get your paperwork in order.  For young people travelling around the world, taking a year out to discover new places, working illegally is almost a rite of passage.  Most of us have done it, and then had the inevitable problems with being rushed out the door at work as the labour inspectors arrive, being informed on by a colleague or whatever…

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What’s the point of teaching abroad?  Are those who go overseas and work at international schools looking for adventure, escaping their reality, gaining personal strength or perhaps interested in becoming a global educator?  Everyone has an opinion about those teachers who pack up and head abroad to work, and perhaps you do too.  Perhaps you’re a teacher in the UK who’s currently dissatisfied in their role but unsure about whether an international school could offer you better opportunities?

Well, at Shelter Offshore we always believe that it’s only those who’ve ‘been there, done that’ who can really comment and give an honest opinion – and when it comes to talking about what teaching abroad can really teach you, it’s important that only experts comment.

So, in this report we’ve enlisted the help of the educational recruitment specialists Teachers International Consultancy, and we’ve been able to interview two of their teachers who speak from their experience of moving to live, work and teach overseas.  They share with you what their international assignments meant for them – and how, if you want to get ahead in education, going abroad can be a massive step up!

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When I first moved abroad with my boyfriend at the time, I was determined not to be a ‘trailing spouse,’ (or girlfriend to be more accurate): not for any sort of high moral reason you understand, but because I didn’t want to be bored or skint!  I was young enough not to be too worried about going in search of a career immediately, but not young enough to be happy doing a really menial job having paid my way through university and then even further education…

Without really thinking about it, I knew I’d get a job and as it was a fairly affluent time globally, (unlike now), and I was moving to a centre of strong employment, my conviction that I would find a job easily paid off!  However, I appreciate now that I was very, very lucky.  What’s more, I have a good friend who is currently in a similar position to where I was all those years ago, and she is finding it nigh on impossible to gain employment abroad.

Now, whilst a lot depends on you, your skills and where in the world you’re moving to, if you are of working age and you and your partner want to move abroad together, how can you move abroad as a couple and find work or start a business together?  There have to be ways right?  Right – and we’re here to give you some good ideas and some pointers and tips to help you on your way.

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