I'm often asked by people who want to move into the Asia Pacific region, especially those with training in Asian languages, "How do I get a job there?". There are also a lot of people who find themselves in Asia, gain good local language skills and knowledge who also want to leverage that into a corporate position. Now as a Headhunter I can rarely help these people directly. But I have seen a lot of people in the past use the following method to get their footstep in the door in the Asia Pacific and not just get a job, but build a career.
Firstly, remember this: you are in a
very lucky position! It's unlikely that at many other times in your career will you have such a clean slate to work with on
where, and what you want to do. Next, try the following steps to thoroughly to really give yourself some choice.
1. Establish the skills and experiences that make you valuable
for companies. By this I mean analyzing your experience and
finding great stories of how you can help others from your recent experience. Make sure
you are convinced of the validity of these stories of your experience
and that you can back them up with both referees and if necessary hard
numbers.
2. Choose a group of 10 companies through online research where YOU think these stories will really resonate.
3.
Find someone in these companies to try your story out on. Anyone will
do but ideally someone who has been with the company or in the industry
for more than 5 years. When you approach them ask them if you can do a
quick, "information interview" on their company. Ask them what is
valuable to them in an employee etc. Finally tell them one of your
stories and ask them, "honestly do you think my experience is useful
for your kind of company".
4. Go back to your original list of 10, from what you've
learned from the people you spoke to, is your experience still valuable
to them or should you look at another industry or position? If the
group is right then congratulate yourself. You now have a real world
understanding of where you can add value quickly. That is what
companies care about, knowing this point is CRITICAL to selling yourself.
5. Now that you know the industries that will benefit from you
start researching which companies you want to work for in the region.
Once you have that list it's time to approach them and actually see if
they have a need for you now. Often the people you spoke to in your
first calls will recommend someone as long your original value and personality has
resonated with them.
This may sound a little difficult
but it should give you more choice that YOU want. The fact is there are
many jobs for good people, if you are a good person you won't have a
problem finding a job. But finding a career you love is a different
story and I think the process above can help with achieving that.
Checkout Austin
jobs at itzbig.com.
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