A small city in the Commonwealth of Virginia with a population of around 30,000 persons, it is rich in history and heritage. Fully invested in industries such as advanced manufacturing, food and natural products manufacturing, global logistics and distribution, and retail commercial development, the city offers lots of job opportunities to its residents. Although there are jobs available to expats looking to find work here, the salaries paid to workers are relatively lower than those paid in larger cities in the US. Thus, expats only interested in becoming wealthy should consider moving to bigger cities as the county only provides a simple yet comfortable lifestyle for its small population. Depending on an expat’s age and duration of stay, there is numerous seasonal work available for short-term stay. Per the basic employment law, every employee must be issued a contract of employment, be it full-time, temporary, or seasonal.
Finding work as an expat
Looking for work is easy, but getting it is the difficult part. Expats who have highly qualified quickly land jobs in foreign countries while those with low-level qualifications go for low-level positions in companies, industries, and factories. An expat looking for work can search on the city’s portal for job opportunities, or other recruitment websites advertising positions in the US. Knowing the types of jobs in demand helps speed up the process of looking for work. According to recruitment agencies, the jobs in demand include sales managers, skilled workers, salespersons, engineers, drivers, cooks, etc. Skillful workers in pharmaceutical and medicine are much needed in food and natural products manufacturing.
Requirements for expats applying for work
There are some requirements expats looking to work abroad must satisfy. They include some of the following:
Proficiency in English
Being able to speak good English and communicate well with locals is an important factor when being considered for a job here. An applicant has to submit proof of proficiency in English usually in the form of a certificate issued after a test of proficiency. Expats looking to work in the city or anywhere in Virginia should ensure they have a good grasp of the language before relocating.
Drafting a great CV
CVs are usually submitted when applying for jobs. They allow the recruiting organization to know the applicant better and decide if he or she is suitable for the role given previous experience, education, and skills. The standard format of a CV is keeping it as simple and short as possible. It must only contain necessary information about one’s career objectives, experience, and qualifications. As an extra, applicants can add their language proficiency and other certification they have earned in fields related to their line of work.
Well-written cover letter
This is normally presented while applying for a job. Aside from looking for a job, an expat must ensure the required documents are properly prepared and in good standing. Cover letters are often required during a job application. If the organization you are applying to requests one, draft the letter with the following in mind; introduce yourself as simply as possible, add details of previous achievements, include information on the company and what it does as per your research, mention skills and abilities related to the role and how you intend to meet the requirements. Do not submit the same cover letter to different companies; every role has its requirements and thus, a different cover letter must be written.
Work visa
This is a type of Visa that grants a foreigner access to live and work in the city. It is usually issued by the embassy or consulate in the expat’s home country, to a new employee of a domestic company. Anyone applying for a work visa must have received a letter of employment from an employer. Sometimes an expat can option for traveling to the city before applying for a work permit. A permit allows a residing foreigner to work while living or studying (if such expat is a student).
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