Consider The Benefits to Working Abroad!

DEBT

According to the Institution of College Access and Success, the average loan for 2015 graduates was around $24,000. The average U.S household is around $130,000 in debt, with an additional $15,000 in credit card debt. This amount is staggering considering what this does to your financial opportunities. Large debt can get in the way of purchasing a home, car, or in worst cases, prevent you from getting certain jobs. A few years ago I had a minor amount of debt. I needed to pay it off in a short period of time.  After getting hired for a job overseas, I obtained a six figure salary including many benefits that average Americans don’t receive stateside. I immediately began to tackle debt and examine the many benefits of working overseas. I also have a large group of friends who currently enjoy working as expatriates. I want to share with you the benefits of this type of work, and how you can began looking for an exciting and reward career overseas.

BENEFITS

There are many different types of job opportunities for various experience levels. Chances are you already qualify for these jobs. There is a multitude of benefits to working overseas. Some employers will even fly your immediate family to the country you will work. I will highlight compensation, culture benefits, and tell you what websites to leverage while searching for these jobs.

COMPENSATION

Salary

Let’s face it, it’s all about the money right? Most of these jobs pay $100,000+. Most of my friends make way over this amount and chances are you will too. Making around 8,000 a month, $24,000 in student loans can be paid off as little as 3 months. How so? You might ask. What about housing, food, clothing, and transportation? This can easily be accomplished because many of these employers pay for all of your living expenses. This includes but it not limited to housing, transportation, food, and clothing. And if you don’t currently have a passport, they will pay for you to get one expedited.

Tax Relief

When working overseas you are not taxed the same as your stateside counterparts. The IRS, gives you a deduction called a Foreign Tax Credit, which limits how much you can be taxed. Also you stop having to pay into Social Security & Medicare at $118,500. This is known as FICA when its taken out of your paycheck.

Medical Benefits

Medical care is inexpensive; Most of these employers offer healthcare. My medical insurance was provided by Cigna International for example. Many employers overseas offer top quality health insurances for a reasonably small premium.

CULTURE

Money is nice but once your bills are paid and you are debt free, the opportunity to see new and exciting things is equally beneficial. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for an urban, beach or rural setting, you will have plenty of options to choose from.

Locations

There are many locations to obtain employment in the global economy.  This includes the Middle East, China, South East Asia, Australian, and Africa to name a few. The hiring firm in most cases will pay for your passports, flights, etc. This is an excellent opportunity to see the world on the company dime. There are various types of work for one to perform overseas such as engineering, logistics, education, management, manufacturing, and finance to name a few.

Communication & Becoming a Global Citizen

Don’t be intimidated by the language barrier, most people in other countries speak English. Working with the host country will also allow you to learn the local language, and experience their culture in ways that are only possible by living there, working with the people. The earth is a pretty big places, sometimes we tend to forget that and only are concerned about our personal issues. Our issues can be pretty small in the grand scheme of things. Working overseas will give you a global awareness and help you become a part of something bigger than yourself. People all over the world face challenges that we take for granted. Some people don’t have clean drinking water or shelter. Some families struggle to find food day to day. Working overseas to help built infrastructure can help some of the 896 million people living in extreme poverty globally.

RESOURCES

So if you have read this far, you are probably interested in obtaining a job in the global economy. There are many websites that can help you in your journey. I will profile four of these websites to get you started on your search.

• ExpatJob:

  Located at http://www.expatjob.net/  ExpatJob is an excellent resource to begin your search for a new and exciting job overseas. This website is user friendly and easy to navigate.

• ExpatCareers:

  Located at http://www.expatcareers.com/ Expat Careers is very similar the previous resource. It has a great user interface. It also has a few more jobs than the previous resource.

• USAjobs:

  Located at http://www.USAjobs.gov USAJobs specialize in government jobs overseers, this resource is helpful for military members consider separating or for people who are already in the industry and want to work for another employer.

• ClearanceJobs:

  Located at http://www.ClearanceJobs.com ClearanceJobs specialize in job opportunities for people who want or have a security clearance. Don’t worry if you don’t currently have a clearance. Some companies will pay for you to obtain a clearance. Once you have a security clearance its pretty much like having the golden ticket.

GO FOR IT

When weighting your options, consider taking a job overseas. You will be compensated with many benefits that most stateside careers cannot compare too. You will also have culture experiences that will benefit you for a lifetime. Many people have a fear of traveling or going outside of their country. Discard your fear and inhibition and consider a career overseas. It has worked out for myself and so many of my friends. I can also work out for you too.