In this article, I will walk you through my personal relocation journey from the very beginning and try to answer some questions you might be asking yourself if you're planning to move abroad.
Why did I choose Malaysia?
The short answer is, I didn't. When talking about relocation, the first question that arises is about choosing the destination. For me, it was just to get a better environment than Bangladesh, so I did not choose any country in particular. Relocating to Malaysia was a sudden fortune for me.
Should I find a job or be a student again?
That really depends on you. If you have a skill that is in demand in your destination country, and have a few years of experience (5+ years is the most suitable), then you might plan to find a job in your dream destination country. That would be the very first step for your relocation. Mostly, every country only outsources skilled workers if they don't have enough resources in its country to fulfill the job market of that particular skillset.
If it does not sound really like you, then being a student might get you there. The higher the degree you are planning to pursue, the higher the chance of being successful choosing this path.
Luckily, I had the experience and sufficient skills to secure a Job in the Software Industry abroad, so instead of pursuing higher education again, I chose the job route.
How to Find a Job Abroad
So, now you need to find a job in your dream destination. But the real question is, how?
Though LinkedIn is a good choice, if you are only searching for jobs on LinkedIn, then you are just narrowing down your job search. Here is what works.
1. Connection
It is the simplest and easiest way to find a job abroad. If you have any connections, like friends, family, versity seniors, or even your LinkedIn connections, feel free to reach out to them and let them know you’re exploring opportunities abroad. Referrals can open doors much faster than blind applications. A strong recommendation can help you get interviews where your resume alone might not. Show off your skills and land your dream job. It's the easiest yet the most effective way to find a job abroad.
2. Company Career Pages & Cold Emails (Yes, Really!)
Once you are done with the country selection, you can check the companies operating in that country that have roles of your skills. You need to list down the companies and regularly monitor their career page to look for open positions. If you find any job listings that match your profile, you can directly apply through the company website.
When you find a good match, don’t hesitate to cold email the recruiter or hiring manager. Learn about what works. Personalize your message, explain why you’re interested in the role and the company, and highlight why you’re a good fit. Cold emailing to recruiters works surprisingly great if it's done right.
3. Country-Specific Job Portals
Every country has its own job platforms, and it's the most logical place to look for a job because it's obvious that they will list their jobs in the local job portals first.
To follow this path, you need to learn about the local job portals of your dream destination, create a profile on the job portals, and start applying for jobs that match your profile. You need to do some research and tailor your applications based on local norms to get interview calls. For example, in Germany, they care more about the cover letter than the resume.
4. LinkedIn and other global job portals
LinkedIn is a great platform, but don’t rely on it alone. Explore other global portals like Relocate.me, Indeed, and Glassdoor.
Be a contributor to the community on LinkedIn, do meaningful posts, and engage with others by sharing your thoughts. Search for open positions on LinkedIn, apply, and also try to reach the recruiter or any connection that is already working for the company you are applying to. That would boost your chances of getting the interview call.
For other job portals, still the same, complete your profile, apply for jobs that suit you, always try to include a cover letter or any other information they require (although if it is optional) to show you actually care.
How Did I Get My Job?
It's not always you who's looking for a job, recruiters are also looking for candidates. Luckily for me, I just got a call from a recruiter and I agreed to an interview. That's it.
Although it looks so simple, it's not that simple. To get calls from recruiters, you need to appear in the search list of the recruiters, where they are looking for candidates. You need to make your online presence to make this happen. Create profiles in local job portals of your dream country, keep your information updated, and actively contribute to the community.
Be ready to get tons of rejections before getting an actual interview call. Sometimes requiters ghosts you even after reaching out. And that is completely normal. Don't lose your hope, the first step is always the hardest one.
Preparing for Interviews
It really depends on the country you are applying for, the role you are applying for, and the companies you are applying for. To learn more about the interview process, you can use the Glassdoor platform. You can learn about the interview process, the question patterns, and the different interview rounds.
I will be discussing the interview process for the role of Software Engineer. You need to learn more about this because learning about the process can help you crack the interview easily. There are mainly two types of interview processes for Software Engineer roles. There might be a screening session beforehand.
1. Take-home assignment
In this type of interview process, you will be given an assignment with a deadline. You will complete the task and then discuss your project, how you did it, and why you did it this way. There might be several other rounds depending on the company you are applying to. This type of interview process is usually followed by local companies or startups because they care more about what you can build rather than your competitive programming skills.
2. Traditional Interviews
These can be:
Competitive: Especially in tech giants (Google, Meta, Amazon, etc.), the focus is on data structures, algorithms, and competitive coding.
Standard Problem-Solving: In many multinational companies (MNCs), the questions are simpler and focus on your understanding and approach rather than brute problem-solving skills. Practicing easy to medium-level problems on LeetCode is often enough.
Negotiating the Offer
Once you crack the interview, you should consider negotiating your offer. Do your market research, talk to a connection who is already working in that market, try to understand the budget for your position, and negotiate your offer accordingly. Remember, it's an important step, not taboo.
Don’t shy away from asking about:
Base salary
Benefits and bonuses
Relocation package
Health insurance
Family relocation (if applicable)
Remember, negotiation isn’t rude—it’s expected.
Understanding the Relocation Process
Before accepting the offer, know about the relocation process clearly. Mostly, companies will cover the relocation cost and provide you with the initial accommodation, and help you get the visa process done. If you're planning to bring your spouse and/or children with you, make sure to know about the process beforehand, and whether they cover the relocation cost for them too. It's always better to get some insights from someone who's already there in the country you're relocating to.
Final Thoughts
It's not only a matter of days. You need to be patient, confident, believe in yourself, and be someone who takes action. It's not going to be as easy as it sounds, but you're already one step ahead because you're taking action, such as reading this article. You're exploring, learning, and preparing. That's a really great start.
Best of luck on finding the dream job in your dream destination - and when you make it, don’t forget to come back and share your story!