Top Skills & Certifications That Help You Get a Job Abroad

“Pack your skills along with your passport — because the world hires talent, not just tourists.”

You are not alone if you dream of securing a job in another country. Thousands of people in India are searching for job opportunities abroad. However, securing an international job opportunity abroad is not solely about obtaining an internationally accredited degree. What do you need then? You need to possess specific skills and certifications, including professional certifications. These skills increase your chances of getting a job abroad. Whether you want to work in tech, healthcare, business, or education, certain skills acquired through certifications may offer you opportunities. In this blog, let’s explore the most in-demand skills for getting job opportunities abroad.

List of Skills Required to Get a Job Abroad

Here are some of the key skills required to secure a job in other countries. Have a look at them.

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  Language Skills
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  Digital and IT Skills
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  Soft Skills (Interpersonal Skills)
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  Project Management Skills
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  Teaching and Education Skills
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  Finance and Accounting Skills
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  Marketing and Digital Media Skills

Let’s explore each skill in detail.

Language Skills

As you know, communication is the key to any job. Good communication skills come from language skills. Some countries require specific language skills for working abroad. Therefore, you are required to learn at least one language, such as English, which is spoken in almost every country.

Certifications

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  IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is widely accepted in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. You can pursue IELTS from the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English.
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  TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required by many US employers and universities. The TOEFL iBT registration fee is INR16,900.
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  DELE (Spanish), DELF (French), and Goethe-Zertifikat (German) are official tests to prove language skills. They have certain A to C levels. These certifications do not expire.

Digital and IT Skills

Nowadays, there is a growing demand for digital and tech skills. Digital skills, including software development, data analysis, and cybersecurity, are in high demand for job opportunities abroad. You may do various IT certifications for working abroad, such as in cloud computing, data analytics and Python programming languages.

Certifications

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  Comptia A+ | Network+ | Security+: These are recognised worldwide for basic to advanced IT support and security.
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  Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals | Azure Administrator: You may learn valuable things in cloud computing roles.
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  Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate: Available on Coursera, free of cost.
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  AWS Certified Solutions Architect: A 180-minute duration exam that may get you opportunities abroad for cloud roles.
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  Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): You can do this certification from EC Council, it is ideal for cybersecurity positions.

Soft Skills (Interpersonal Skills)

It does not matter what job or country you choose, employers often look for candidates who can work well with others; that’s where interpersonal skills come in. Wherever you go, you have to work in teams so that you adapt quickly and handle pressure. Soft skills are significant for getting jobs in other countries. 

Interpersonal Skills Certifications

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  LinkedIn Learning: Here, you may learn soft skills for professionals.
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  Coursera: The University of Pennsylvania and IBM offer free courses. They are included with Coursera Plus.
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  EdX: You may access free courses for Interpersonal Skills offered by the University of Queensland MOOCS.

Project Management Skills

There are industries abroad that require project managers. You may know how to manage budgets, people, and deadlines. These are mandatory project management skills for jobs abroad. Project management skills include budget management, risk assessment, leadership and team coordination.

Certifications

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  PMP (Project Management Professional): The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers this certification. The exam fee is INR 42,863 for non-PMI members and INR 23,459 for PMI members.
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  PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments): Mostly preferred in the UK and Europe.
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  Certified ScrumMaster (CSM): You can do this course from Coursera and Udemy. It is primarily useful in agile environments.
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  CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management): A beginner-level project management certification. The Project Management Institute offers it. No experience is required, and the fee is INR 18,270.

Teaching and Education Skills

There is high demand for teachers across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. English teachers, subject experts, and education consultants are some of the job roles. You can apply for teaching jobs in other countries by acquiring the required skills.

Certifications:

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  TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language): It is the minimum requirement for teaching English abroad. This certification enables you to teach English to non-native speakers abroad or online.
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  CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults): CELTA from Cambridge is a qualification for teaching English as a foreign language. You can do this certification if you are a new teacher with no experience and you want to travel and teach English.
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  PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education): This certification is required for teaching in the UK.
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  TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages): Similar to TEFL, however, with a broader focus. You can do this certification with TESOL. It lets you teach English to speakers of other languages online and abroad in Japan, Spain, Korea, and China.

Finance and Accounting Skills

Finance is one of the diverse fields. Accountants, financial analysts, and auditors are needed in almost every country. If you have an academic background in finance and want to explore job opportunities abroad in the finance sector, then you should acquire some significant skills. 

Certifications:

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  ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants): A globally recognised professional accountancy body. Get this certification and practice accountancy in any part of the world.
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  CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst): It is the highest distinction in the investment management profession. This certification is respected in the investment and banking sectors.
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  CPA (Certified Public Accountant): A licensed accounting professional, especially in the US, Canada, and Australia.
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  CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants): The world’s largest professional body of management accountants. It is good for business-focused finance roles.

Marketing and Digital Media Skills

Marketing is going global now. You need digital marketing skills everywhere around the corner. You need certain marketing skills to get a job abroad. Global brands require professionals who can drive traffic, establish an online presence, and effectively manage campaigns.

Certifications

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  Google Digital Garage: It covers the fundamentals of digital marketing. The course is offered by Google, free of cost and beginner-friendly.
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  HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification: Free certification course, recognised by companies worldwide.
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  Facebook Blueprint Certification: Exclusively for social media advertising. You can apply for this role if you are new to the marketing world with an understanding of advertising. This includes an understanding of best practices and Meta technologies.
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  Google Analytics Individual Qualification (GAIQ): You can track your performance with this certification. It is free of cost, and after completing this course, you may get the essential skills to get a job abroad.

Quick Tips for Getting a Job Abroad

Here are some quick and easy tips to help you secure a job abroad.

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  You may craft a global CV: You can also seek professional help to create a CV that meets international standards. Keep one thing in mind: your CV should highlight certifications and skills that are applicable globally for securing job opportunities abroad.
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  Use global job portals: You may use websites like Indeed Worldwide, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and GoAbroad to find international job opportunities.
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  Stay updated: Keep up with current trends and technologies. You can search for various online courses on MOOC. Keep upskilling yourself and get your dream job in other countries.
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  Network internationally: There are various forums, webinars, and LinkedIn groups related to your target country or industry. You can make connections through those events. It may help you in getting a job abroad.

Summing Up

Suppose you want international job opportunities. You have to start by building the right skill set. The good news is that most of these skills to get a job abroad can be learnt or improved through online courses and certifications. You can be a teacher, engineer, marketer, or IT analyst; you can work abroad with the right training and qualifications.

So, don’t just dream about travelling the world; start preparing for it. With the right certifications for working abroad and practical skills, your international career can become a reality. Wishing you safe travels and good luck on your journey to success!