> Common Reasons for Rejection

> Hints and Tips for International Positions

> Popular Locations for International Positions

Common Reasons for Rejection

Are you permitted to work there?

If the employer has a selection of candidates who do not require sponsorship for a working visa, then if you don't have a current work permit you are likely to be eliminated from the process early on. However, certain countries rely on international staff and our advice on this topic can be found in the hints and tips for international positions section.

Is your CV as good as it could be?

Employers only see what job seekers have submitted into their searchable CV. Many candidates will have very similar qualifications and duties to you, so it is important to fill out all 7 steps with as much detail as possible, In particular, do try to write a good personal statement - it is a chance for you to show your personality and ambition to potential employers – individualise your CV!

Have you aimed too high?

Though employers look for the ambitious, it is important to pitch yourself at the right level. When seeking your first full time job on leaving college it is highly unlikely that an overseas employer will rank your CV above other keen candidates with 1 or 2 years experience behind them. Likewise, if you have just graduated and you only apply for senior positions you are likely to loose out to a non graduate with several working years of senior experience. Always try to look at your CV from an employer’s point of view and seek positions for which your previous experience qualifies you.

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Hints and Tips for International Positions

Cruise Ships

This is a great way to see the world at the same time as getting excellent spa experience. College leavers are rarely accepted but a solid 6 – 12 months of full time work experience is often enough to secure a place on board. Full training is usually given and with ships being floating hotels this is often a good springboard into the hotel spa jobs market when returning to dry land.

Language Skills

Think about the language skills you have and apply for jobs accordingly. Whatever your nationality, an ability to communicate in English is usually a real asset. If you are applying for a job in Europe then clearly you will have a better chance of securing a position in countries whose language you speak. However, it is also important to consider the nationalities of the spa guests. Sometimes it is more useful to the employer if you speak those languages rather than the national language of the spa location – for example in Dubai or the Maldives to speak English and some German or Russian would be more valuable to an employer than a knowledge of Arabic.

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Popular International Destinations

If you want to work outside your own country it makes sense to apply to those where permits are easily given – or where your nationality is accepted.

Here are some suggestions which may be worth considering:

Middle East - all countries in the middle east are popular destinations for people wanting international experience, since few staff available locally, so most are recruited from overseas

Maldives – few staff are available locally, so most are recruited from overseas

Australia/New Zealand – British Citizens can work on holiday working visas

UK – Operates a Youth Mobility Scheme for citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada, and offers Ancestral Visas for anyone with a Grandparent born in the UK.

EU countries – if you are an EU member and speak the local language it is worth applying – and each country also has individual special visas for non-EU nationals

Bermuda – some employers will sponsor strong candidates

Caribbean - with the cruise ships being the easiest route in

Worldwide – by applying for work on a cruise ship.

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