Are you looking for an IT job, whether abroad or remote, but you’re not sure if it’s still possible during the latest COVID variant outbreak? It seems like these new variants just won’t go away, and they keep disrupting everyone’s plans. But you can still find an IT job and move abroad despite the changing economy and countries having ever changing travel restrictions.
Finding a job abroad during the latest COVID variant outbreak is absolutely possible, and you will have the highest chance of success by pursuing a remote position. Afterall, the ever in-demand IT sector is consistent in providing job opportunities, even overseas.
Despite COVID-19 outbreaks, plenty of people are moving around and starting their careers overseas, and so can you! Relocation and talent mobility will always exist, even in hard times like these. In addition, people will never lose their enthusiasm and wanderlust to move abroad and start their working and living abroad experience. So read on for more tips on finding and getting a dream IT job overseas!
Finding an IT job abroad during COVID: Everything you need to know
The pandemic has indeed made it harder to find IT jobs overseas. Some countries have also tightened restrictions on working visas because of COVID. But getting a job and moving abroad isn’t impossible! Companies worldwide are still hiring during the pandemic. So here’s how you can still get an IT job abroad despite Covid being an obstacle.
First, IT professionals must take into account country restrictions
When looking for a job abroad during the pandemic, the most crucial step is to keep an eye on the country’s restrictions. The last thing you want to happen is to obtain a work-related visa, only to not be able to enter the country because of COVID measures.
Therefore, it’s crucial to keep track of all entry restrictions, isolation measures and heightened entry requirements. These are especially prevalent in EU countries.
It’s essential to find out the local restrictions of the country you are about to be relocated to. This way, you can avoid getting into trouble with customs, the local police or receiving a fine. These rules may vary significantly between countries, so make sure you are updated. Some questions that are good to think about are:
- Do you need to do a coronavirus test and stay in quarantine afterward until you receive the results?
- Are there any local mobility restrictions?
- Do you need to wear a mask indoors/outdoors?
- What are the social distancing guidelines?
Ultimately, the restrictions imposed to fight against the pandemic have made international mobility quite a challenge. Here are other key aspects to take into consideration before moving to a new country during COVID:
- You may need to show a negative COVID-19 test result upon arrival. This requirement died down during the summer of 2022, but with a new variant, prepare yourself for this possibility.
- You may need to quarantine after arrival.
- The shipment of your belongings might take longer. You’ll need to be patient as shipping companies currently have reduced air freight capacity and soaring prices because of airline cancellations and restrictions. Hence, it’s a better idea to keep it lightweight and don’t take much.
Look for a remote IT job
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many nonessential jobs switched to remote work, at least temporarily, and more IT techs have been needed. Many positions are likely to stay that way, at least for some time.
Ultimately, the pandemic made getting a remote job easier. With a remote job, you will have the highest chances of success when looking for an IT job abroad. However, remote jobs are also extremely popular right now. In fact, job searches for remote work are up 460%.
That means that for many job openings, recruiters will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate that they can be successful working remotely. At best, your resume should highlight your experience telecommuting.
For example, when describing your previous job duties, specify how you were self-accountable when you worked from home. You should also mention which technologies you already have access to at home — reliable high-speed internet, business software, video or audio equipment.
Here are the best websites to find an independent location IT position:
The best remote IT jobs you can get abroad during the COVID
Generally speaking, many remote positions fall either in technology or communication areas. But many traditional jobs are now available remotely, such as a nurse or English teacher. So even if you have a second skill or background, that might come in handy for you.
Ultimately, the best remote jobs to get abroad in 2022 are:
- Help desk technician
- IT service desk dispatcher
- Customer service representative
- Data entry clerk
- Bookkeeper
- Translator
- SEO Specialist
- Editing and proofreading
- Social media manager
- Virtual assistant
- Copywriter
- Transcriptionist
- English teacher
- Sales Agent
- Software Engineer
How to ensure you get a remote job?
How can you increase your chances of success when it comes to getting a remote IT job abroad? In the end, employers want to see you are capable of working remotely and can do it successfully. Hence, make employers see how customer facing you are, how reliable your internet is, as well as your experience. Then you are good to go.
Find the most in-demand IT jobs abroad
Finding an IT job with high demand will be a more successful process than looking for something a bit more niche.
As we said, IT positions are always in demand. But you can use your IT powers to get remote positions in logistics, health, medicine and even retail as so many companies are going remote. Whether that’s fully remote or a hybrid work environment, there are IT opportunities in the most in demand sectors.
Therefore, you should be focusing on these industries when applying for a job abroad:
- Hospitality and foodservice
- Manufacturing and construction
- IT and technology
- Retail
- Trucking and transportation
- Health care
- Agriculture and food processing
In the UK, the highest numbers of vacancies are in (2022):
- Technology
- Management and business
- Accounting and finance
- Engineering
- Construction and property
- Banking, insurance, and financial services
- Law
As a result, you will have a better chance of getting a job in one of those fields even during the pandemic.
Niche down for IT opportunities during Covid
We’ve already said it a million times–IT jobs are always in high demand all over the world, despite the pandemic. Here are some of the best and future-oriented IT jobs to work overseas:
- Cybersecurity
- Analytics professionals
- Data scientists and data engineers
- Full-stack engineers, especially developers
To enter the IT world, you need to look for IT support jobs. Most remote IT support jobs presume either technical or customer-related work.
Some of the support IT positions are:
- IT Technician
- IT Service Desk Dispatcher
- System Administrator
- Customer Success Manager/Specialist
Some of the common IT jobs abroad with opportunities for newcomers include:
- IT technician
- IT service desk dispatcher
- System administrator
- Software engineer
- Developer
How to easily get started in remote IT work
A relatively easy route into this industry is by starting off as an entry-level remote IT tech. They are also known as technical support engineers who help solve technical issues for clients or provide support for a specific company’s servers.
This can be an interesting and rewarding career for people interested in network systems, troubleshooting techniques, and operating systems. However, they should have good customer service and communication skills to diagnose problems remotely.
The IT technician should also be a person who is good at interacting with people, has comprehensive technical skills, and has the ability to follow procedures.
Are you looking for a job as an IT technician? We got you covered! Apply for one of our available positions here.
Read more about how to become an IT technician in this article.
But what if you don’t have IT skills?
The beauty of the IT world is that everyone can learn the basic fundamentals of it. You will just need to choose the right learning source, e.g., a company that provides professional certificates, and go through one of them.
Hence, to bridge the knowledge gap, we highly recommend taking part in one of the training or further education programs in your field. Some of the best IT certifications are:
- Apple Certified Support Professional (ACSP)
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)
- Comp TIA A+
- CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+)
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- ITIL 4 Foundation
- Linux Essentials Professional Development Certification (PDC)
- Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
- Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
- PMI Certified Associate in project Management (CAPM)
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner
Most of them aren’t taking much time and money to complete. It’s a good investment in your future career abroad.
Furthermore, here are some ways you can continue learning and improving your IT skills:
- Contributing to open-source projects
- Pursuing a personal passion project
- Online courses
- New certifications
- Publishing articles or speaking at a virtual conference
Be flexible
Being flexible is at the core of success when looking for any IT job during COVID outbreaks. Constant changes in policies and regulations force everyone to improve their flexibility limits. Even if you don’t get a desirable job, you should be open to other opportunities.
For example, take on an internship for 3 months before starting a full-time job.
You might also be offered a lower salary than an equivalent employee in the local market.
Be prepared for online IT recruitment and IT teleworking
In almost 100% of situations, your IT job interview will take place remotely. Most employers will use well-known software such as Skype or Zoom, which you should have access to.
A video interview is also a good opportunity to demonstrate your digital skills, sound quality, and competence in participating in calls. Performing well will give your prospective employer confidence that you can work effectively in a remote setting.
When to start looking for an IT job overseas?
Technically, you should always be looking for your next IT job opportunity, and the earlier you start, the better. In a normal job market, it can take up to six months to find a suitable position.
Getting a job abroad takes longer than in your home country. The reason for this is that you can encounter a long and drawn out visa and work permit process.
Besides, sometimes the interviewing process can take a few weeks to a few months. Keep in mind, that pandemic makes a job search even harder – job postings are historically low and competition is high unless you are a very valuable talent.
Consequently, one of the best ways to ease anxiety about finding your job abroad is to prepare for the job search.
Is it difficult to get an IT job during COVID outbreaks?
If you are considering western countries for relocation, such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European countries– then yes. Due to the pandemic, getting a job has become more difficult. But truly, many companies around the world have cut back on their expenses by letting go of employees.
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