Four tips from an RMIT alum on taking your career overseas

Building a career overseas is a great way to expand your skills and build entirely new ones in a different cultural context.

The experience of working outside Australia will allow your skills to grow in new directions as you begin to understand the differences of working in another country. It might involve everything from slightly tweaking your skills to learning totally new systems.

Working overseas is an exciting way to see the world while also strengthening your professional and personal skills. It can also enhance your resume and potentially offer more opportunities once you return home.

A group of five people sitting in a modern, glass-walled indoor space, engaged in a discussion.

How one alum took her career abroad

RMIT alum Hayley Knight always knew working overseas was for her. She graduated with a Bachelor of Environment and Society in 2019, and during her studies, she also did a Global Cities: Urban planning and Entrepreneurship, International Intensive Course with RMIT Europe. It inspired her to aim for an international career, but it was her grandma who planted the seed of wanderlust.

“My grandma used to tell me stories about her travels across Europe and Africa when she was 19 – she backpacked from the UK, worked for the US Army in Germany, and later joined the Red Cross in Ethiopia,” she said.

“Hearing about her adventures and the friendships she made along the way sparked my curiosity to explore the world and really get to know other cultures.”

In 2024 she took a career break to learn about urbanism and sustainability in Berlin, Germany while also working there as an au pair. She has since moved to the UK, where she is now the Transport Project Officer for West Northamptonshire Council.

Hayley is also one of the new committee members of the RMIT Alumni UK Chapter.

Her move from Australia to Germany and then the UK took careful planning and plenty of determination. Here are her top tips for success in moving overseas.

Tip #1: Investigate which type of visa you want to apply for

Truly considering the visa type you apply for and the restrictions you will be bound by is Hayley’s number one tip for those looking to work overseas. These restrictions generally encompass the types of work you can do, the number of hours that can be worked, and the maximum time spent working with a single employer.

“Visa issues are a challenge - so I would also say having this against my name on a [job] application was difficult,” she said.

“The administrative side is tedious and staying positive was essential.”

Australia has reciprocal working holiday arrangements with numerous countries, so Australians can generally stay for up to 12 months and undertake short-term work and study.

The visa rules are different in each country, so you need to get in contact with the country’s consulate or embassy to find out what criteria you need to meet. You can also start your research on the Australian Government's Smartraveller website.

Tip #2: Consider visa sponsorship as part of your job search

Some countries require an employer to sponsor you before you can get a work permit or visa. But even if the country you want to work in doesn’t require this, sponsorship can make your move overseas much smoother.

Most employers are looking for specialist skills or roles that are in short supply in their country. To search for sponsored jobs, you can use a filter for ‘visa sponsorship’ on recruitment websites such as Indeed, LinkedIn and Glassdoor.

Searching for a job overseas can be challenging, and at times disheartening, but Hayley said it’s important to keep learning along the way to refine your job search skills.

“I definitely experienced job search fatigue,” she said.

“I have learnt a lot more about how to get to events that are targeted to my field of interest. This was one of the things that kept me hopeful in my job searching days.”

Tip #3: Be financially prepared

Finding a job overseas can take time and while searching, you need enough money to survive - even have temporary work in the meantime.

“Have that nest egg - I’d say six months of expected expenses if possible,” Hayley advised.

She also recommended finding initial accommodation that is affordable and suggested online communities such as Worldpackers, where travellers can exchange their time and skills for accommodation and meals.

If you are living in a foreign-speaking country, you may also consider teaching English to supplement your income.

Tip #4: Get involved in industry networks

With an Australian-only network, it can be hard to make headway in your international job search. This is something Hayley initially encountered in her efforts to secure a position in the UK.

“Since my network is Australian based, it was difficult to know how to enter the workforce here,” she said.

A good place to start creating your overseas network is through RMIT’s alumni chapters. RMIT has chapters in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

By connecting to these groups, you’ll most likely find others who were once in the same position as you were and can lend some helpful insights. These international chapters welcome new members and invite them to stay connected with regular networking seminars and social events.

Overseas work experience is likely to be challenging, but also highly rewarding. In the process of living and working overseas, you’re bound to prove to others and yourself that you’re versatile and always ready to learn.

Story: Kate Jones

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RMIT global alumni chapters

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RMIT global alumni chapters

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