At a previous student consultation, international students told us they would like support for different hiring methods, as expectations and interviews can be completely different abroad compared to the UK. I have therefore liaised with the OU Careers and Employability Services about this.
As a result, the webpage Working abroad and international job search resources in the OU Help Centre has been updated and it now contains information about making a job application in a different country. Although it is not possible to give an overview of all the hiring methods for all the countries where OU students live, the page lists the most important things to consider when applying for an opportunity in a different country.
These are:
- Different hiring practices, for example depending on the country and type of company, some organisations may prefer different formats for CVs and applications such as length and whether to include a photo.
- Interview styles can vary greatly between countries and organisations, ranging from formal to informal settings, and may include behavioural or competency-based formats.
- Recruitment cycles – some countries and organisations may recruit a year in advance or at different times of the year so it’s important to research this.
The Prospects website also has advice on the application process by country.
Students who would like to get more personalised advice can book a one-to-one careers appointment with the OU Careers and Employability Services.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind students about a previous article the OU Careers and Employability Services and I wrote about job opportunities for international students.
