Twenty-four hours earlier, I was in Starbucks just a couple of blocks from The White House. My wife of one-month was in Buenos Aires, and I was missing her.
"Why be here in Washington and miss her when I could be in Buenos Aires and be with her?"
Unable to speak Spanish and with no job opportunities lined up, I got on the plane and headed south.
The captain had no sooner said, “You are free to move about the cabin,” that I had my laptop open and began job hunting on LinkedIn.
Before the stewards made their first round of drink requests, I landed an interview with La Nacion, Argentina's largest newspaper. I would be meeting with the editor within 48-hours of landing.
How did I do it? There's no secret sauce. I don't have the inside track. I just did what anyone can do.
Deciding to move overseas is a big step. Life will be turned on its head. Finding work is one of the essentials. Finding a new home is important, but failing to get a new job may lead to the whole wagon coming apart.
Don't worry. There are many options when it comes to finding work as an expat. One of those options is LinkedIn, the largest social media platform for professionals online.
Here are some tips on how expats can use the platform to thrive in their new country.
LinkedIn can work to your advantage if you know these five ways to use it. Success will be seen as you get a chance to live and work anywhere.
Headline
The headline is the most overlooked feature on LinkedIn. Most people don't mess with it and just put “Blogger”, or “Financial Advisor at Acme Freight”.
The headline is your best shot to make a difference and get noticed on the platform.
Make connections
It really should be obvious, but for some people, well.
The adage, “it's not what you know, it's who you know” serves well here. If you're thinking of beginning a new life overseas, the best way is to connect with hundreds of professionals in that country.
Hint: Connect directly from the person's profile. If you do it from the “People You May Know” page, LinkedIn sends a generic connection request. But do it from the individual's profile, you can not only send a personal request but also see if they are truly a good fit.
Find job openings
A pleasant thing about LinkedIn is your ability to find out about job openings in any city or country — globally. Many companies allow you to apply directly to a job offer by clicking the “Apply Now” button.
Before applying, check to see if you are already linked to someone in the company who can hire you or maybe someone who can refer you to the hiring authority.
Follow and contact
Besides making connections with individuals, follow the news updates of a company in which you may be interested. When you check out a company profile, you may also find out if you have any connections with any of its staff members.
Be sure to click on Follow Company to receive their updates.
Promote your expertise
Be sure to promote your expertise on LinkedIn by adding directly to your LinkedIn profile.
Besides just adding links, you are also creating a portfolio and sharing your work. This is your chance to stand out, so make sure what you share is relevant to your job search.
Don't try to sell your passion. A mark of a newbie is the idea that being passionate about their work will win them a spot in the Job-Finders-Hall-of-Fame. It won't.
Companies which are hiring are looking for professionals. They don't really care if you've been passionate about design since you first picked up a red crayon in Mrs. Shaver's first-grade class at Possum Holler Elementary.
The takeaway
If the stress is getting to you, and you've simply had enough, then it's perfectly okay to leave the job search until you've settled into your new home.
Use the time to get a feel for your new city and then make informed decisions.
And remember, if the job you want, doesn't exist, it's time to create it.
